The only info that shows up is "International Dispatch, July 19, 2010, 2:04 pm, ISC SAN FRANCISCO (USPS)"
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USPS won't honor my claim because the iPhone "is a prohibited item." Is that right?
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The only info that shows up is "International Dispatch, July 19, 2010, 2:04 pm, ISC SAN FRANCISCO (USPS)"
here's an ugly statement
131.4 Mailer Responsibility
Regardless of any statement in this manual or the statement of any employee of the United States Postal Service, the burden rests with the mailer to ensure compliance with domestic, international, and individual country rules and regulations for mailability.
http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immc1_009.htm#ep732758
131.4 Mailer Responsibility
Regardless of any statement in this manual or the statement of any employee of the United States Postal Service, the burden rests with the mailer to ensure compliance with domestic, international, and individual country rules and regulations for mailability.
http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immc1_009.htm#ep732758
I have seen international shipments go through SF many times. That is usually the last point that will be listed prior to reaching foreign customs. Other shippers will often have more points listed and may note when items enter and leave customs.
Here's the complete info:
"Your item left the United States from ISC SAN FRANCISCO (USPS) at 2:04 pm on July 19, 2010. No further information is available for this item."
I don't think people understand that. No matter if they buy insurance, no matter what a USPS Employee states, they cannot be held liable if something goes wrong with international customs, or in this case, perhaps an item that is restricted. Those here who say the USPS should have stopped the item or whatnot is wrong. The USPS doesn't do anything of that sort, since it's not their job to, it's ALWAYS up to the shipper to know the rules and regulations of the destination country.
Then San Francisco was the last US checkpoint.
Thats a stupid reply, iPhones are super popular in Russia and expensive, therefor demand for American iPhones is high. Its not like the buyer didn't pay him, as far as I can tell he did, the phone got lost in transport. Think about things before you say them.
And nothing further will be available. That was the last stop where USPS could scan it. So as far, as having complied, you did.
Don't listen to that, its a stupid comment from someone who doesn't know what hes talking about. Did the buyer pay you before you shipped?
If it was in fact confiscated in Customs, I think that tracking info would say that, or at least say that the item arrived in Russia (Foreign Customs) etc. I think that your phone was lost and probably never got to Russia. Did you call USPS today? I think that you should be good, you just have to fight through the bureaucracy.
Russian customs if rife with corruption. I used to work for Intel, in a department that often had to send equipment to a subsidiary in Russia.
RAM and CPUs would go missing at least 10% of the time. The only way we could get them back was to have our Russian office contact customs with a "This box was tampered with, and contains government-declared sensitive material. Because of this tampering, we must report this to the FSB (the successor to the KGB) and the U.S. FBI." Invariably, the material would show up a day or two later, with a lame excuse of "stuck in clearance" or some such.
Not having such a well-connected company as Intel, with connections into the right bureaucratic channels will likely make your theft impossible to trace.
In short, this crap happens so often, it's on the USPS's list of "will not insure" items. (In my case at Intel, though, we'd see $50,000 worth of stuff disappear from a shipment. And even with the treats of FSB/FBI involvement, we wouldn't get it back all the time.)
RAM and CPUs would go missing at least 10% of the time. The only way we could get them back was to have our Russian office contact customs with a "This box was tampered with, and contains government-declared sensitive material. Because of this tampering, we must report this to the FSB (the successor to the KGB) and the U.S. FBI." Invariably, the material would show up a day or two later, with a lame excuse of "stuck in clearance" or some such.
Not having such a well-connected company as Intel, with connections into the right bureaucratic channels will likely make your theft impossible to trace.
In short, this crap happens so often, it's on the USPS's list of "will not insure" items. (In my case at Intel, though, we'd see $50,000 worth of stuff disappear from a shipment. And even with the treats of FSB/FBI involvement, we wouldn't get it back all the time.)
Yes, I called and spoke to three people, and all of them told me the only option I have is to submit a letter of appeal and send it to the International Claims Processing Accounting Service Center.
I don't get a lot of peoples replies. They seem to think that the OP got scammed by the buyer some how...
Unless the buyer was working for customs and goes on to buy all of the iPhones to ship to Russia so he can steal them while working for customs
it clearly is just a case of shipping an item not allowed in Russia (no matter how stupid), and customs 'confiscating' it.
How is this a case of the OP being stupid/greedy/etc, 99% of people wouldn't check shipping requirements to Russia before shipping it out. (Although, a lot of people would just plain not ship to Russia)
Unless the buyer was working for customs and goes on to buy all of the iPhones to ship to Russia so he can steal them while working for customs
it clearly is just a case of shipping an item not allowed in Russia (no matter how stupid), and customs 'confiscating' it. How is this a case of the OP being stupid/greedy/etc, 99% of people wouldn't check shipping requirements to Russia before shipping it out. (Although, a lot of people would just plain not ship to Russia)
I've tried to say this in a previous post in a less direct way, but what it is you all need to know is that sending things through "customs" in Russia is kind of like sending your luggage through the airport at JFK before 9/11...your chances of getting things through unscathed are between slim and none.
It's a Kleptocracy. It's that simple. I am not trying to insult anyone or disparage the country or the Russian people who are wonderful, by the way, but the bureaucracy is based on theft and bribery. I base this on MANY years of working with the Russian government in its various forms.
So the fact that your iPhone didn't make it through would come as no particular shock to anyone familiar with how the system there works...sorry.
It's a Kleptocracy. It's that simple. I am not trying to insult anyone or disparage the country or the Russian people who are wonderful, by the way, but the bureaucracy is based on theft and bribery. I base this on MANY years of working with the Russian government in its various forms.
So the fact that your iPhone didn't make it through would come as no particular shock to anyone familiar with how the system there works...sorry.
Hello!
I'm from Russia and I bought iPod Touch 4g from Amazon via Shipito. I asked Shipito what if my parcel will be stolen by USPS or EMS? Shipito is right and they tell me that I must ask USPS but quicker they(USPS) won't accept my claim. I believe Shipito, but I want to know WHY Mp3 Player's insurance won't work? I know that phones insurance doesn't work for Russia, but mp3 player... Why??? I don't want to be banned by Amazon if I return my order but I don't want to lost 400$ if my parcel will be stolen. I don't know what to do...
I'm from Russia and I bought iPod Touch 4g from Amazon via Shipito. I asked Shipito what if my parcel will be stolen by USPS or EMS? Shipito is right and they tell me that I must ask USPS but quicker they(USPS) won't accept my claim. I believe Shipito, but I want to know WHY Mp3 Player's insurance won't work? I know that phones insurance doesn't work for Russia, but mp3 player... Why??? I don't want to be banned by Amazon if I return my order but I don't want to lost 400$ if my parcel will be stolen. I don't know what to do...
I second that!
I'm originally from Russia but live in the U.S.
The Russian bureaurcracy is the worst one!
In Russia the word bribe is the second most common word after "mother", I think.
I can think of a few Russian words that are more common than that. If you speak Russian you probably know what I mean
I can think of a few Russian words that are more common than that. If you speak Russian you probably know what I mean
Of course, I exaggerated a bit
Well it had to be russian customs. Did they not inform USPS that the package had contraband?
IMO, OP is screwed because you shipped something illegally. Just like if you did not have an FFL and shipped a gun through USPS and it got confiscated, you would not be eligible for insurance because it wasnt supposed to be shipped in the first place.
yes its a prohibited item. you will NOT be able to get money back. Better luck next time. your best bet would be to go through paypal...but i know that is a losing battle too. Sorry buddy, you're basically SOL.
I can think of a few Russian words that are more common than that. If you speak Russian you probably know what I mean
Das pravda