December 2nd or so, 2012: Order an old-school typewriter from an Etsy seller, currently in Italy.
December 6th or so, 2012: Order fulfilled, seller states it might not get there until after Christmas. I'm fine with that.
December 15th or so, 2012: Ask seller if they have the tracking, just so I have it on hand. USPS website states it's in transit.
December 21st, 2012: Check USPS site again. Apparently said typewriter hits American shores and is currently going through customs.
January 2nd, 2013: Said typewriter still on American shores, currently going through customs.
January 10th, 2013: Said typewriter still on American shores, currently going through customs.
January 15th, 2013: Said typewriter still on American shores, currently going through customs. Call USPS asking what the hell is taking so long.
January 21st or so, 2013: USPS rep calls me back, completely baffled as to why said typewriter is still on American shores, currently going through customs at this point. They state some items do wait a few weeks sometimes, but never over a month. Promises to look into it.
January 27th or so, 2013: Looking on USPS site, still don't see any movement. Don't get around to bitching at USPS.
January 30th, 2013: Leaves customs. FINALLY.
February 4th, 2013: Get a buzz on my intercom, USPS states they have a "heavy package for me." Head downstairs and pick up package. Open to find the typewriter:
--with a crack in its cover and one of the latches broken, rendering it useless.
--with an unknown rattling somewhere in the body, most likely of a plastic piece or a tiny screw.
--with the roller slide misaligned and most likely broken, as the left margin is now somewhere in the middle of the paper.
--with a few bits of plastic and a small screw sitting in the bubblewrap.
Proceed to let the Etsy seller know that this is none of her fault, that the USPS has managed to completely fuck up a Christmas present to my wife by holding it for over a month and a half and then breaking it during transit.
Seller agrees and will offer refund, and I will offer pictures to show various damage that delivery caused.
December 6th or so, 2012: Order fulfilled, seller states it might not get there until after Christmas. I'm fine with that.
December 15th or so, 2012: Ask seller if they have the tracking, just so I have it on hand. USPS website states it's in transit.
December 21st, 2012: Check USPS site again. Apparently said typewriter hits American shores and is currently going through customs.
January 2nd, 2013: Said typewriter still on American shores, currently going through customs.
January 10th, 2013: Said typewriter still on American shores, currently going through customs.
January 15th, 2013: Said typewriter still on American shores, currently going through customs. Call USPS asking what the hell is taking so long.
January 21st or so, 2013: USPS rep calls me back, completely baffled as to why said typewriter is still on American shores, currently going through customs at this point. They state some items do wait a few weeks sometimes, but never over a month. Promises to look into it.
January 27th or so, 2013: Looking on USPS site, still don't see any movement. Don't get around to bitching at USPS.
January 30th, 2013: Leaves customs. FINALLY.
February 4th, 2013: Get a buzz on my intercom, USPS states they have a "heavy package for me." Head downstairs and pick up package. Open to find the typewriter:
--with a crack in its cover and one of the latches broken, rendering it useless.
--with an unknown rattling somewhere in the body, most likely of a plastic piece or a tiny screw.
--with the roller slide misaligned and most likely broken, as the left margin is now somewhere in the middle of the paper.
--with a few bits of plastic and a small screw sitting in the bubblewrap.
Proceed to let the Etsy seller know that this is none of her fault, that the USPS has managed to completely fuck up a Christmas present to my wife by holding it for over a month and a half and then breaking it during transit.
Seller agrees and will offer refund, and I will offer pictures to show various damage that delivery caused.