International shipping of teaware--advice

[ethan]

I recently sent a jumbo express box from Thailand to Boston (max. wgt. 25kg) w/ disastrous results. U.S. Customs broke a lot of the contents including most of the most valuable contents: a jade teapot, 3 celadon plates, 2 Japanese porcelain gaiwan. Unwrapped items were not re-wrapped; multi-piece lacquerware was not put together; bags of jewelry etc. were just emptied into the box, etc. (A jade ring is missing)

I think Customs got their blood up by tobacco-related items (1 pipe & many cigar accessories) & by many personal items being included w/ new items. (About 15 years ago I sent books, old shirts, etc. that led to expensive communication by fax, delays, an unmerited tax, & 4 missing items).

Looking at the separated knob of the lid & separated handle of the jade teapot, I imagine some agent angry about the work needed to remove the taped bubble-wrap. I've never had a large work of jade break before. Was the pot violently thrown into the box to smash against the ceramic pieces & lacquerware? Not all of the wrapping was even dumped back into the box; so, on the trip from where it landed to Boston, hard jade was able to bang against unprotected ceramics & lacquerware.

My advice is to allow maximum visibility to discourage agents from thinking something is hidden. Don't fill the space of cups, pots, etc.; leave lids off; don't use clothes for wrapping or padding; don't include personal items; don't include any item that could be seen as drug-related stuff.

From this box: Received in good shape: about $100 worth of stuff at a shipping cost of $250. Survival rate of special items: 25%.

[Chip]

Yes, I could see how your box could raise suspicions, but still, that is terrible service, and it should be reported with as much documentation as possible.

It is inexcusable.

[Evan Draper]

Ethan, I am so sorry--that is just awful. Thanks for letting us know.

[ethan]

Thanks for support. I'll use the broken goods for the main tool for complaining, but I doubt it will do any good.
Though almost every agent is polite & respectful of people & materials almost all of the time, I believe ranks close tightly when complaints come in. 15 years ago, I could not even obtain the name of the man who asked me, "Do you know what is written on page___ of the book___ you sent?"
Anyway, I vented & will move on.
Thanks again.

[futurebird]

That sucks. I hope you find some recourse.

[jayinhk]

I'm really sorry to hear about the way they treated your shipment.

[Maneki Neko]

Omg, that sucks! Sorry to hear that!

[gingkoseto]

So sorry to hear that! I've heard of quite a few bad stories like this but this is a lot worse than most others!
But unfortunately, customs is not a service. It's a superpower on top of us and they don't have to be responsible for what they damage, especially nowadays. At least that's what they think of themselves and how they act.

But can you try to get some compensation from the postal service provider? For express mail they usually have some level of guarantee.

[Chip]

So sorry to hear that! I've heard of quite a few bad stories like this but this is a lot worse than most others!
But unfortunately, customs is not a service. It's a superpower on top of us and they don't have to be responsible for what they damage, especially nowadays. At least that's what they think of themselves and how they act.

But can you try to get some compensation from the postal service provider? For express mail they usually have some level of guarantee.

Probably in their disclaimor that they are not responsible for damages caused by customs.

But definitely worth a shot.