The MLP Arena
Pony Talk => MLP Nirvana => Topic started by: Glacia471 on July 25, 2012, 12:33:15 PM
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Story time~~ Grab a chair and let me start at the beginning ;) Waaaaay back in March, a pony I had been wanting appeared on ebay. She was a white Venezuelan Cherries Jubilee with light pink hair still in her box. She was an auction-style listing that started cheap, and the seller was friendly. The day she ended, I even timed my break at work so that I could watch the end of the auction, and I won! :cheer: I was so excited that I’d actually be getting one of my favorite Venezuelan ponies! I sent payment right away and went off back to work completely thrilled.
Cherries was marked as shipped not too long afterwards, and the seller gave me a tracking number to follow. I was told that once Cherries entered the US, information would appear on it.
Days ticked by, then weeks. Nothing had appeared on the tracking number and no pony at my door. As my 45 day window with paypal was coming to a close, I messaged the seller saying that I still had not received Cherries, and that shortly I would have to open up a claim to protect myself if she didn’t arrive (she wasn’t exactly cheap!). If the pony did end up arriving after I opened the claim, I would close it and resend any refunded payment. The seller was very understanding, and explained that they did not send Cherries by FedEx, as they had a habit of opening up the ponies, and opted for the slower EMS instead because the packages were sealed right in front of the post office workers.
The paypal deadline passed, and still no Cherries. The seller graciously refunded my money, and kept checking at their post office for any news. They told me that there had been some delays in Colombia, and that things should be moving along shortly since there had been many complaints. I was still hopeful that Cherries would show up at my door, and kept checking the tracking number.
More days passed. Then weeks.
Finally, on May 23rd, my Cherries was in the US! :frolic: She had arrived in Miami, Florida and was finally going to be home soon! :frolic: I anxiously stalked the tracking number.
On May 24th she cleared customs, but was ‘undeliverable as addressed’! :whoa: :faint: :drunk: The next day she was declared ‘dead mail’ and ‘Disposed by Post Office’. :cry: I wanted to cry. Had the post office really thrown away my pony? :cry: It made me sick to think she could be just sitting in some garbage can or dumpster. I looked up the phrase that the tracking number had given me, and learned that this did not necessarily mean that she was thrown away... yet. There’s a place in the US called the Mail Recovery Center, where all ‘undeliverable’ mail is sent and sorted through. If something is under $25 in value, it’s tossed. If it’s over $25, they keep it around for 3 months, and if it’s unclaimed, it’s auctioned off. I didn’t know if they would deem a plastic toy horse as being worth over $25 (I didn’t know if the label was even still on the box!), so I was still freaked out.
After a trip to my local post office, they put me in touch with the International Mail Center. The rep was friendly, and sent me some forms to fill out (basically what was in the package, the seller’s contact info and my contact info). The seller told me the information I needed for the forms, including pictures of what Cherries looked like, and I got them send off to the Mail Recovery Center with a hint of renewed hope.
More days passed. Then weeks again. No calls from the MRC. No calls from my post office. No Cherries.
My mom ended up calling and requesting more of those same forms. At this point I was beginning to give up entirely but decided we might as well send them more. My mom warned me that the rep she talked to ‘didn’t sound very optimistic’. It was mid-July at this point.
Today, July 25th, exactly 2 months since my poor Cherries was declared ‘dead mail’, I got a call from a restricted number while at work. I had no idea who would be calling, and couldn’t listen to my voice mail until later. I easily forgot about it until I got home about an hour later. It turns out that it was my local post office! They had an EMS package for me! :faint: :drunk: :shocked: Could it really be true? Could my Cherries have finally made her way home?? I called them back immediately and said I’d be in to pick it up in a few minutes. I freaked out my cats by how hyper I was, and likely confused my neighbor who saw me literally run outside to my car. I managed not to get a speeding ticket on short drive to my post office. I could see a large battered box behind the counter with foreign labels on it, and could barely wait my turn in line to get my hands on it. After expressing how happy I was to the clerk and hugging that box all the way back to my car, I raced back home.
Of course, I took pictures :silly: Here’s the box~ It’s definitely seen better days :yikes:
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But inside...
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Under all that shredded paper...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
:squee: :squee: :squee: :squee: :squee: Was CHERRIES!!! :squee: :squee: :squee: :squee: :squee:
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:squee: :squee: :squee: :squee: :squee: I nearly cried. She’s still in her box!! Her box is a bit smushed, but it’s there, and intact, and even more importantly, she’s inside!! :squee: :squee: :squee: :squee: :squee:
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:squee: :squee: :lovey: :lovey: My beautiful Cherries!! :lovey: :lovey: :squee: :squee:
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And thus concludes the long, roller-coaster story of how my Cherries Jubilee came home :silly:
Oh and since it’s way past the date on when I can leave feedback for the seller, Mitchell-mugno, I figured I’d say something here :) They have been completely amazing during this whole mess and they deserve praise. Friendly, professional, informative and patient, definitely one of the best sellers I’ve had the pleasure of working with.
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what a story and what a result! i am so glad she made it home in the end, naughty pony!
:faint:
love pkw xxx
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Oh wow what a story! Love hearing happy ending like this! And golly she is stunning! Congrads :)
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Hooray Glacia!!!!!!! Hahaha, I just did my victory dance after I read your story. Oh thank goodness she is home safe and sound! I bet the seller feels so relieved that she made it home to you too.
I watched this pony back in March because she was just so stunningly pretty:) I am so thrilled for you that she is *finally* able to join your herd. What a super happy ending to your ordeal.
This calls for a banana party!!
:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:
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Now that is an AWESOME ending to some crazy months!! Haha she is cute!! Congrats!!!!!! :hug: I am so overly happy for you!!!! :tackleglomp:
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Congrats! Wish ponies could talk since this gal seems to have had quite a journey!!
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What a super awesome story - I grinned from ear to ear when I reached your photos!
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Cherries, you not s'posed to sight see on the way home silly girl. You are lucky you didn't get a tan on your adventure. :)
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wow what a tale certainly one for the MLP arena lore book , that we should make right now.
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That is fantastic! What great news! Was your address really hard to read on the box?
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Sounds like Cherries has been on an adventure! :) Glad to see she came home safe n-n
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:wow: she made it?!!! :faint:
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee: :cheer: :squee:
..er.. incase you couldnt tell.. I'm reeeaaally happy for you!!! :hug: :lovey: :hug:
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Oh that is wonderful!! I neary cried too at the thought of the package being thrown in the trash!! Congrats I am so glad she made it safely to you! She is beautiful! I sold a Baby Buttons to someone in Argentina I believe. She never made it there and never was returned to me either. I often wondered what happened to her and cringe at the thought that she may have ended up in the trash!
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I just love happy endings! What an epic story. She is such a lovely pony, I'm so glad she finally made it to you! :D
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Awsome!! Do cool!
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Wonderful!
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finally one positive story when it comes to post services! :D congrats on your new pony! ^^
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I'm happy for you, Glacia!
And also happy that you won't be bidding on her the next time she's listed, ha ha!
So why was she undeliverable? Did the label get wet and smudged?
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Wow super-grats!!! :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: So glad she finally made it home :)
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:lovey: Thanks so much you guys! I'm still in disbelief that she's really here :lovey:
As for why she was 'undeliverable', now that I'm not blinded by the pure excitement of having her back, I took a closer look at her box. The label that the seller had put on it with my address isn't there at all, but there's still a different label that has the tracking number which is why I was able to eventually see the tracking information. I don't see any customs label on the box either, so I'm amazed that the Mail Recovery Center didn't toss her for 'low value'! :yikes: :drunk:
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Wow, what a crazy story! I'm glad it had a happy ending, though!
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awww, I cried a few happy tears, your story really made me happy! I'm glad Cherries made her way to you in the end!
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Oh my goodness, what a journey she has been on!! I'm sure she would tell some interesting stories if she could! Amazing that you were able to track her down after all that, and a great ending to the story! Congratulations! :cheer:
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Glacia, I was soooo stressed for this, and as I said to you in messages, I'm really happy you got finaly your Cherry Pony. She is so happy now after the long walk and get some rest.
Was a pleasure to meet you, a BIG thank to you for your patience I ask you apologizes for allllll those inconveniences and delays of this.
Soon I'll put pictures for other ponies I have for sale here.
Best regards!!
MVMM
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:hug: I'm pretty sure now that customs or some mail center it passed through on the way to the US somehow tore off the label you had put on the box, as I can't find it anywhere, even under the labels the Mail Recovery Center put on the box! This was definitely stressful for the both of us but I'm so happy everything worked out :good:
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That's really a story to tell!!
Huge congrats on you and amazing seller!! You both deserve praise for being that patient =D
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Ahhh I'm so glad she didn't get lost in the mail! She is beautiful Glacia and a purchase you will never regret for sure, my Cherry sends her a big pony hug x
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Wow!! I'm so happy for you that you got your pony!! :cheer: What a relief it must be!! And how lucky that the label with the tracking number at least still was on the package!! I had a similar experience once with an item I bought from the US - thought to be lost in the mail and then showed up after 4 months as nothing has happened! After something like that it makes your item even more special to you :lovey: Congrats again!! :cheer: And I'm sure Cherries Jubilee is very happy to finally be at her new home :)
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omg whatta story!!! roller coaster ride!!
so glad it ended well! im sure she will be even mORe loved because of it!!
big congrats!
so happy for you!
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Cherries came back from the Dead !! :enthralled: :whoa: Luving' it :inlove: That's an epic story. You should print all that out and keep that info with her.
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What a story. But she sure looks like she was worth all trouble.
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Oh gosh. I can't even begin to imagen the horror >.<
Why is it always those really rare and expensive ones that get lost? It's never a normal Peachy XD
Sounds like CJ had quite an adventure though. But I'm so happy for you that she made it to you in the end =) She's so lovely!
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I'm so glad for you that Cherries finally made it home!
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Oh wow, what a story. So glad Cherries finally arrived with you. I know I would have been heartbroken if anything like that happened to me, but so glad you have a happy ending and your beautiful pony *makes grabby hands* :)