Hey, guys. I just wanted to share my frustration with the Philippine Postal Service…
About three weeks ago, Liam (yeehah1200) Graciously decided to help me out by sending me an old canopy of his because I accidentally snapped mine in half… Today, I got the notice in the mail today that a parcel was waiting for me to pick up at the post office. I rush over to get there before quitting time and guess what I should find:
A torn up and taped together envelope. Note all the scotch tape around the address and the re wrapping torn almost in half… There was also this notice:
I dunno if you guys can see but it says “The subject mail was received here in TAMPERED condition…” Yeah, right. I think Liam wrapped the case before it was put into the envelope… and even if the contents fell out of the envelope, I don’t think anything short of ripping the red wrapping open would have gotten the same result. And towards the bottom, “CONTENTS AS FOUND: 1 empty case”… Yeah, empty once they were disappointed it wasn’t some expensive bauble. [:(!]
Though, I can’t help but be a little bit amused by this. There must be some airport employee scratching his head at what to do with the little bits of plastic!![sigh] Oh well. I just decided to throw what little money I have at the problem and got another kit… I suppose that now I can replace decals I lost due to sweaty fingers, and the throttle assembly I lost to the parallel universe of the carpet. [:D]
Liam: Thanks for the effort, buddy! It’s just that packages are no match for the power of the Philippine Postal Service (service? that’s got to be an oxymoron)!! I still owe you one, buddy!
I feel your pain, I am here in the middle east where hobby shops are as abundant as pork products. I have recieved empty boxes that were once occupied by a $35.00 kit and all of the paint and accesories that were needed to complete it. Luckily, I get insurance for my mail orders and I get to deal with the United States Post office. They have treated me good, and I know that it is the host country’s customs people who are taking my new treasures. But it does stink when your stuff gets jacked in the mail.
sympathetically yours
So… you didn’t know there is a black market on canopies in the Philipines?
Or maybe they were so disappointed when it didn’t dissolve in water that they decided to show you who’s in control. (Too bad. They didn’t get their fix that day.)
My above attempt at humour aside, it really is too bad when a kind gesture turns into misfortune. Just proves that even in this day of “heightened awareness”, no good deed goes unpunished. I guess some things will never change.
Sorry that you had to buy another kit, but I admire the way you can look at it with optimism.
Liam, you’re yet another example of the good and kind people that dwell here in the Forum.
Thanks, Stinger. It really is a pity about the second kit… but i figure i can build all the options that i opted not to put in (like sawing the fuselage in half to expose the engine), and i may get around to learning how to vacuform… [:D]
Hey shrikes, that’s a great idea and I think you’ll really enjoy it.
After stressing over and finally finishing my Do17z and trying to make it “perfect” (HAH!), I bought a couple more of the same kit (cheap on ebay) and I’m now cutting everything apart to make the ailerons, flaps, rudders, basically anything that moved, move, and I’m having a ball with it. The fun part is that I don’t care if I complete it, and I’m learning a lot in the process.
Keep us posted on your “improvements”.
Just curious, but what are you thinking of for a vacuform machine?
Hi shrikes. I know just how you feel. Post office pilferages’ not new. I have several experiences in the past losing decal sheets, magazines, commemorative coins, colognes, etc, sent by friends and relatives from abroad. That’s why I stopped ordering by mail also. 'Guess you really have to put that behind you and good decision to go on with the project ( even if it means getting another kit). Be looking forward to seeing that F-86 in October at the BAC nationals.
Stinger: I read somewhere that you can do your own home vacuforming using simple materials and none of these expensive machines… I can’t remember where i read that, though. any advice on this one?
Nestor: Looks like I’m not having any parcels Phil Posted to me anytime soon… I guess I’l have to wait until I can afford Fed Ex or UPS… [:D] Oh, and i might enter the F-86F in the BAC cup this may… That is if i can get the decals in time (Allan: What’s the word on these decals?)… I’ll try and get my B-17G done before the Nationals, just for the hell of it! [:)]
Liam: I appologize again for my country’s postal service… I thought the recent reforms did some good… apparently not. [sigh]
Shrikes
For forming a new canopy, put some clay on the end of a piece of dowl and fit the old canopy on that. Take a piece of thermoform plastic and heat it until it sags, then pull it down over the old canopy. That is supposed to make you a new one. I have never tried this so I don’t know if it works, or works well. Is this your question? I’ve been having some senior moments recently, and been answering the wrong questions.
Wayne: No, i think this is it. I know you some sort of special plastic, and heat it (how i don’t know) and then it will form itself around the plastic part… Is there a site that illustrates how this is done?
Shrikes, that’s a shame buddy!! We have a guy at the LHS stealing decals out of the boxes. The owner has been trying to catch him for months, and has all of these signs posted about sending him to jail when they catch him. Casey and I were asking about it, and we were worried they were gonna start pointing at us!! LOL Sometimes people steal the most useless things, I don’t understand it…At least he only has to steal the rest of the kit now that he has the canopy!!! Sorry about the loss!!! Hurray for Liam for trying!!
07-05-04
OH MY GOOD GOD!!!
Those lousy, selfish stupid sons a b****es!!
Ok, ok, calm, calm.
Shrikes: I fired off an e-mail to the Main Office of SDS (the international/parcels-letters division of AnPost, our national carrier) and recieved a reply pretty quickly and I can assure you that the “damage” did NOT occur here. So, they have recommended a course of action, which I’ll take, but unfortunately, they say compensation will only be to a max of euro 35.00. I f I get any… not bad for a canopy, really.
They will make an enquiry to the Philippine Postal Service on my behalf, but I just wanted your permission to proceed. Can you e-mail me your details again?
I’ve included a copy of the response I got from SDS:
Dear Mr. Hourston,
Thank you for your email enquiry. The item of mail would appear to have been genuinely damaged in transit as the document in the attachment with your email seems to be an official notification for the addressee from the Philippines Postal Administration. The Phillipines Administration should inform the international area in the Dublin Mails Centre of any items that were received by them missing from this despatch from Dublin or in a damaged condition. It is difficult to establish where or when in transit the damage has taken place. If you would like us to request any further information from the Philippines Administration we can send an enquiry to them. In order for us to do this you will need to complete a Letter Post Enquiry Form which are available from any Post Office. On completion, with the relevant posting details, this form should be sent Freepost to Customer Services, Letter Post, GPO, Dublin 1. Our Administration staff would then send this enquiry on your behalf and a reply in writing eventually sent to you with their findings when a response has been received from the Phillippines. I should also inform you that the maximum compensation payable for the loss or damage to a registered item sent to this destination is only €35.00 so it is not advisable to sent any goods of a higher value to this country.
I am sure that part of me feels bad hearing about a good deed that got spoiled…but the dark side of me says “that’s what you get for building those wingy thingies and not building armor”
I have a spare copy of postal 2, if anyone wants… [:D]
seriously, living in canada rocks. i got my one revell monogram headlight of the acura nsx in 4 days and it was packaged in a plastic bag the size of my printer box, but compressed. it was in a BOX the size of 30 floppy disks, and it was ARMORED carboard.
Sure! Not a problem! I think it’s rather cool that you might get 35 Euro for a canopy! Good deeds are repaid in the end… and in cash! [(-D] My details will be on the way shortly…
-Vino
