[Rockhounds] TUCSON!- Damaged shipments

[Rik Dillen]

Since some years almost every parcel that is sent by a non-American citizen
to an overseas address is searched thoroughly. Last time I was in Tucson
(now 3 years ago) I remember that DHL had to get first a search certificate
first before being able to send my shipment (which consisted of several
boxes). Every box had been opened and (rather carefully) repacked.

At my return home from the same trip also my suitcase was thoroughly
searched. No problem, at first sight, but in the luggage I had a bag of 1 kg
of an interesting sand sample for my daughter's collection. I had it clearly
marked as "sand sample - if it has to be opened be careful, please, thanks
etc.". They found no better than to cut de sand bag, and leave it like that
in the luggage. Sand all over the place, of course. I sent a quite assertive
e-mail to Phoenix Airport authorities, and got a letter with apologies. They
suggested me in such case to request my presence during search of the
suitcase - it seems that one has that right.

Another question : does anyone have any recent experience by sending
radio-active mineral samples abroad ? I know that it is not wise to put them
in you hand luggage anyway, but can it still be sent as a post parcel or so
?

Grts,

Rik DILLEN 
E-mail rik.dillen at skynet.be 
Homepage : http://users.skynet.be/rik.dillen 

MINERANT 2009
9-10/5/2009
Antwerp Expo - Antwerpen - Belgium
www.minerant.org

-----Original Message-----
From: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
[mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] On Behalf Of Kevin Ward
Sent: zondag 22 februari 2009 20:23
To: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] TUCSON!- Damaged shipments

I shipped home several 18x18x20 packages using FedEX and one of them 
arrived with the corners
blown out and the inner packing sticking out through the holes. Never 
seen that happen before.

Kevin



At 12:24 PM 2/22/2009, you wrote:
>I had ok experienced with USPS this year, but I got killed by both 
>UPS and FEDEX.
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim" <nospam at orerockon.com>
>To: "'Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem 
>collectors'" <rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
>Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 12:47 PM
>Subject: RE: [Rockhounds] TUCSON!- Damaged shipments
>
>
>>I too have had more ripped up Priority Mail shipments (in the USPS' boxes)
>>than ever before. I think the USPS decided that treating packages like
they
>>were having a pillow fight with them is now the "norm".
>>
>>Tim Fisher
>>Ore-ROCK-On!
>>Email address at http://OreRockOn.com
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
>>[mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] On Behalf Of Gene Hartstein
-
>>Fossilnut.com
>>Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 9:24 AM
>>To: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors
>>Subject: [Rockhounds] TUCSON!- Damaged shipments
>>
>>I have another question for folks who go to Tucson to buy and ship a lot
of
>>stuff back. I noted I had a lot more breakage this year on material I
>>shipped. I've been going to Tucson to buy for over a decade and this year
>>for some reason I had more breakage than all previous years combined.  I
was
>>
>>wondering if anyone else had that problem this year?
>>
>>I used the same packing materials and techniques I always do but just
cannot
>>
>>explain this. Everything gets put into a flat, with lots of wrapping, the
>>flats get filled the rest of the way with paper and or peanuts. The flats
>>get taped shut, and heavy stuff goes in its own flat. The flats go into
>>shipping boxes with peanuts and paper to take up any empty space.
>>
>>There is no evidence of the boxes getting crushed or anything, but
dropping
>>or throwing boxes would not necessarily show up.
>>
>>My best experience remains with flat rate, priority mail but not
everything
>>fits in those boxes.
>>
>>Gene Hartstein
>>Newark, DE
>>
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www.themineralgallery.com - (251) 648-0541 - www.exceptionalminerals.com  

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