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NBD (New Bass... Disappeared?)

BassGeekJack

BassGeekJack

Mar 16, 2017
315
425
Richmond, Virginia
#1
So I spent the last couple months driving around the tri-state area going to shops to try out a bunch of basses that aren't normally available in larger retail stores. I fell in love with an MTD 535 but decided I'd try to find one cheaper online. As luck would have it, I found one! It looks like this:

MTD535.jpg

The Reverb seller was incredibly nice and prompt with his shipping. Fast forward to now, the priority mail package is now over week late. I am pulling my hair out because when I requested USPS do an investigation for the "in-transit" package (it's been in-transit for 7 days) they replied saying the parcel is "irretrievably lost." Well ****. It is my understanding that packages can lose their labels in shipment and then be virtually unidentifiable within the sea of packages that float around distribution centers. Otherwise they fell off the truck or something (my nightmare). The worst part is that it's right here in Richmond, where I live (if I am to trust the online tracking– though I think Dominos has better tracking than USPS).

Has anyone ever had an item that was "irretrievably lost" in the mail? I am not losing hope. I don't know if they are actively looking for it or not... I have more research to do, calls to make. I am so disappointed in the US mail since I've never had an issue with them, and now that that I've literally spent the most money I've ever spent on one item, that item is lost.

Okay, rant over :facepalm:
 
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#3
I wouldn't sweat it just yet. I've had several packages recently that should have taken no more than 2 - 3 days take nearly 2 weeks. I've also had packages show up at my door recently with tracking detail that didn't show as even having left the initial drop off location. Who knows.
 
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#5
scubaduba said:
I wouldn't sweat it just yet. I've had several packages recently that should have taken no more than 2 - 3 days take nearly 2 weeks. I've also had packages show up at my door recently with tracking detail that didn't show as even having left the initial drop off location. Who knows.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's comforting to hear. I was pretty quick to ask them to look for it, but again, it's because I've never spent so much on something being shipped to me, let alone anything at all :D (possibly terrible judgement on my part, but I didn't break the bank or anything at least).
 
#6
I bought my Eden WT800 off Reverb from some store in Washington DC and had my money refunded the very same morning the beat to crap package with half a label and just the amp inside with no packing material around it was left on the driveway. The amp was unharmed physically and worked perfectly when fired up. No one wanted the money back...

That was 48 days after the amp left the store and it was still listed as lost in transit after it was delivered, so... it happens
 
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#7
That stinks, but I've heard the experiences already relayed here repeatedly from a ton of people recently so I'd also advise patience too (not that you shouldn't keep calling and trying to locate it). Have you communicated with the seller? If not, I would, and reverb too. I'm pretty sure you're protected if it is declared missing. I think it's the seller's responsibility while in transit. Do you know if the seller shipped through reverb? If so the cost would mean it has their shipping protection automatically. Here's what they say about reporting a lost package:

My Package is Delayed/Lost, What Should I Do Next?

You should be OK no matter what (though it will suck not to get that killer MTD!)
 
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#8
Reedt2000 said:
That stinks, but I've heard the experiences already relayed here repeatedly from a ton of people recently so I'd also advise patience too (not that you shouldn't keep calling and trying to locate it). Have you communicated with the seller? If not, I would, and reverb too. I'm pretty sure you're protected if it is declared missing. I think it's the seller's responsibility while in transit. Do you know if the seller shipped through reverb? If so the cost would mean it has their shipping protection automatically. Here's what they say about reporting a lost package:

My Package is Delayed/Lost, What Should I Do Next?

You should be OK no matter what (though it will suck not to get that killer MTD!)
Click to expand...

Thanks. Indeed, it is insured, so I'm not too worried about losing all of what I spent, should the bass never be found. I haven't told the seller yet, that's my next step.
 
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#9
USPS is way behind and has been since before the holidays. Most retailers are listing a 2 week wait via usps. I have never seen something say it was lost like you have. But if that’s the case and it truly is lost then the seller would have no choice but to provide a full refund to you. Reverb will force that issue and the seller would have no choice.

who ships with usps in the states anyways? Something of this value and size. Seller better pray he had it insured cause usps shipping is an epic fail on their part
 
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#11
Bassclef46 said:
USPS is way behind and has been since before the holidays. Most retailers are listing a 2 week wait via usps. I have never seen something say it was lost like you have. But if that’s the case and it truly is lost then the seller would have no choice but to provide a full refund to you. Reverb will force that issue and the seller would have no choice.

who ships with usps in the states anyways? Something of this value and size. Seller better pray he had it insured cause usps shipping is an epic fail on their part
Click to expand...

I'm hoping they said it was lost because of some oversight on their part and it's really just sitting somewhere. I've usually used USPS for shipping gear and it's always worked out so far... but then again, I haven't for a couple years, and I'm aware they've kind of been falling apart recently. What do you usually use? UPS? FedEx?

I hope for the seller's sake, it arrives. I'll have to wait a couple more days before making a claim with Reverb.
 
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#15
I had a package that was “in transit” for a month with USPS. I opened an investigation and they eventually found it. But it most likely sat at one of their main distribution sites (Merrifield, Va for me) for most of that time because they were backed up.
I actually visited the Merrifield USPS facility on a work-related survey about a month before that, and they were seriously running a “Skeleton Crew”.
 
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#16
All the package delivery services are swamped right now. Give it a little more time.

I had something just show up at my door recently where USPS said (for two weeks straight) that the shipping label had been generated, but the package “hadn’t been received” by the USPS yet - so no tracking info was available.

I also had something small and expensive delivered by Fedex a few weeks ago. It was clearly marked “signature required.” And it was just dumped on my front porch.

I asked a driver about it next time I saw one. He said (this is a direct quote): “Yeah. We’re not doing signatures right now if it’s a residential address.”

Uh…ok, I guess. Hope they refunded the extra service fee they charge for requiring a signature to the shipper without being asked. (Yeah right.)

And don’t get me started on UPS. Nearly every box I’ve received from them over the last year has arrived either partially crushed, gouged, or missing a corner. Luckily none of the contents have been damaged so far. But receiving boxes in the condition UPS has left me doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in their service.

So it’s not just the USPS.
 
Last edited:
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#17
Bummer for sure but there is still hope.
The only close call that I ever had in selling/trading involved a Talkbass trade with a TB'er that was ... well lets just say "less than honerable" in the end. He's since been banned, but to the USPS side of the story. He was in Fairbanks Alaska and I was in Georgia. We worked a trade. My Skjold for his Zon. I payed almost $200 shipping my Skjold to Alaska, fully insured. He received it in 4 days. He shipped his Zon to me via USPS parcel ground, NO insurance, $26.00 shipping! Of course I didn't find this out until after he had shipped!
I won't provide all of the drama that occurred during the 3+ weeks that followed but after just over 3 weeks, with no updates other than "in transit" in the USPS system, the package tracking stated "Arrived at facility" in Atlanta GA! Up until then I had pretty much lost hope. Before the day was up though I was able to pick it up at my local post office and it arrived in perfect condition. Which was a Miracle considering how it was packaged (and in the Zon Access gig bag).

So don't lose hope yet.:)
 
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#18
BassGeekJack said:
So I spent the last couple months driving around the tri-state area going to shops to try out a bunch of basses that aren't normally available in larger retail stores. I fell in love with an MTD 535 but decided I'd try to find one cheaper online. As luck would have it, I found one! It looks like this:

View attachment 4199812
The Reverb seller was incredibly nice and prompt with his shipping. Fast forward to now, the priority mail package is now over week late. I am pulling my hair out because when I requested USPS do an investigation for the "in-transit" package (it's been in-transit for 7 days) they replied saying the parcel is "irretrievably lost." Well ****. It is my understanding that packages can lose their labels in shipment and then be virtually unidentifiable within the sea of packages that float around distribution centers. Otherwise they fell off the truck or something (my nightmare). The worst part is that it's right here in Richmond, where I live (if I am to trust the online tracking– though I think Dominos has better tracking than USPS).

Has anyone ever had an item that was "irretrievably lost" in the mail? I am not losing hope. I don't know if they are actively looking for it or not... I have more research to do, calls to make. I am so disappointed in the US mail since I've never had an issue with them, and now that that I've literally spent the most money I've ever spent on one item, that item is lost.

Okay, rant over :facepalm:
Click to expand...
Just this past year, I ordered a fretless neck from a reputable online dealer (I've ordered many things from them in the past with no issues). While "in-transit", I received a notification from USPS that my package was "damaged in transit". When I inquired as to the damage, I was told that the package was just an empty box! It must have been torn open; otherwise, how would they know it was empty? I've ordered necks from this company before, and they are double-boxed and well taped. I find it hard to believe it was an accident (but then again, I wasn't there, so who knows).

I filed a claim, and eventually got a replacement (but that took 2 months!). USPS has seriously gone downhill.
 
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