HELP ASAP!!! Please

[GWARGHOUL]

Re: HELP ASAP!!! Please

And I just got my boots fixed...

Damn...I need to get in the mob/lynching industry.

Hit man for hire. No job to big or too small. Affordable rates.

[Zerberus]

Re: HELP ASAP!!! Please

Toru is in the states, isn´t he??? (PLEASE correct me if I´m wrong)

Customs (Import / Export, so called "Bonded Warehouses") are the ONLY ones allowed to open packages w/o prior permission...and even then only if there is no invoice clearly placed on the outside or they expect something "fishy" because of the customs declaration....

"Normal" UPS/FedEx/DHL, et al. workers have NO BUSINESS with their hands inside a package, unless they´re doing something shady that they shouldn´t heve done in the first place....

This is illegal search, pure and simple...and it´s possible to cover up something larger....

Call the police, complain to UPS´s regional HQ (if it isn´t them, if it is then escalate a step to corporate HQ), and don´t let up....call your lawyer and prepare for a bit of fun suing their asses for (if nothing else because all esse goes well) Invasion of privacy, breaking the "Postgeheimnis" (Postal Secrecy?), and reparations for every scratch that that guitar has, regardless of when the scratch was made....

You´re set to come out of this w/ a free guitar if you play your cards right [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Brad]

Re: HELP ASAP!!! Please

[ QUOTE ]
Toru is in the states, isn´t he??? (PLEASE correct me if I´m wrong)

[/ QUOTE ]

Toru is in Baja, Mexico..... Cabo San Lucas is one of the greatest vacation spots in the World, IMO. We may be coming down this summer, Toru. [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

[YetAnotherOne]

Re: HELP ASAP!!! Please

Damn tree huggers, this is all their fault.

UPS is a private company, they can do whatever the hell they want. That said I'd imagine that their standard shipping contract gives them the right to open/inspect packages for any reason. Even our government postal service reserves the right to open/inspect everything except regular letter-sized first class letters (and those probably aren't exempt if the drug dogs take offense).

[GWARGHOUL]

Re: HELP ASAP!!! Please

Ah, but see USPS workers are government (isn't that sad?).

UPS is bullshitting when they just decided to inspect it because it was foreighn and a guitar, once it passed the warehouse of customs inspection. Thats where the key lies.

You don't sign a contract agreeing to inspection, opening and seizing packages.

Those ups papers ya sign are all about liabilities and claims. Therefore, ethics fall into place.

Ethics are always on your side when a package has been passed by a government agencey, is made is USA, and was searched and seized without a supervisor, as well as the key detail of it being 2000 miles from that very point in which it was passed by customs. Searched, and seized.

[GWARGHOUL]

Re: HELP ASAP!!! Please

Word has it ...drug dogs can no longer search without probable cause. Anything seized...invalid evidence...

I've uh...mailed some things in my day...

Funny and relevant story..

Had some killer tomato seeds mailed to me about a year ago... post office sent me notice of postage due...was scared as hell to claim...claimed it, and paid the 12 cents (he only put one stamp on it), and no troubles.I was all "its a setup... its a setup...maybe my bud is in on it too!"

I waited till 2 days before it was due to be returned:P

[ejpii]

Re: HELP ASAP!!! Please

[img]/images/graemlins/what.gif[/img] Makes me wonder, When I received the Big Red Proto my box was opened. I wonder if the same thing happened? But I had KE put $5K insurance on it so it arrived without a hitch. I also received a letter from UPS recently (I use them at my company)about shipping animals it had a acceptable and unacceptable list I wonder if that has anything to do with this or is it just [img]/images/graemlins/bs.gif[/img] ?

[Newc]

Re: HELP ASAP!!! Please

When my NASL came from Japan - with its MOP and Abalone inlays - n one asked me squat about the materials it was made from, and it was handled by USPS. If anyone's going to poke, it'll be the Guvmint.

The Mexico part is probably the key - they were looking (hoping) to find drugs, then used the inlay as an excuse. They also probably looked it up online and found a price for it and might be trying to get some ransom for it, or just to steal it.

Either way I'd have a physical legal presence on the scene with a full description and photos in-hand of the guitar to monitor their handling of the guitar. I'd also demand a copy of UPS's report of their inspection, signed by all involved. If they refused, I'd launch the suit against them. Find the sleaziest lawyer you can find - one that can drum up any obscure and intangible charge and make it stick - from defamation of character to emotional pain and suffering - and put them all out of a job. I'd also charge them with whatever's closest to "conspiracy to commit personal property damage valued at over $1000" for their comment about destroying the guitar.

[83REDCHARVEL]

Re: HELP ASAP!!! Please

I feel your pain I deal with the UPS a$$holes every day. [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] They never take the blame for any "mistakes" [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]because they claim they don't make them. You are getting a raw deal and sounds like some one is getting a new guitar. [img]/images/graemlins/nono.gif[/img]

[Genebaby]

Re: HELP ASAP!!! Please

Customs have inspected the last few guitars I got from the US, they were quarantined and looked over because they were made of wood. Then I got charged a bit extra for the privelege. Good luck Joel, going after the MOP inlays sounds crazy. They should have more sense than that.

[Spider Riff]

Re: HELP ASAP!!! Please

I'm confused....What was the point of origin and what was the final destination? There is a lot of incorrect advice in the above replies. Could the original poster summarize?

[YetAnotherOne]

Re: HELP ASAP!!! Please

Point of origin was Baja, MX & the destination was IL and yes, there's a *lot* of bad advice in this thread.

[Zerberus]

Re: HELP ASAP!!! Please

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Toru is in the states, isn´t he??? (PLEASE correct me if I´m wrong)

[/ QUOTE ]

Toru is in Baja, Mexico..... Cabo San Lucas is one of the greatest vacation spots in the World, IMO. We may be coming down this summer, Toru. [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]
AAh...Well, while MX may be NAFTA, customs regulations do apply AFAIK....please disregard about 90% of my post [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Ozz666]

Re: HELP ASAP!!! Please

Hey guys...thanks all for the support...I appreciate it!
Anyways...no news as of yet...I'm waiting to hear back today from the bastards in KY and if I don't hear back soon I'll be making some calls to find the status. The fish and wildlife fucks only work M-F, so I had to try to keep my mind off the BS all day yesterday. I already told them on Sat. I need written, signed documentation that the guitar was perfect when they inspected it and there is no damage on it when they repacked it and shipped it from KY to IL. Just the thought of these fucks opening my package and handling MY guitar sickens me! I will have good news in a little bit...or else I'll be on my way down to KY via the first flight out tonight from Midway Airport!
Thanks!
- Joel

[Emthrax]

Re: HELP ASAP!!! Please

Man... Joel... this is the craziest thing I have EVER heard!! [img]/images/graemlins/what.gif[/img] Unbelievable.
I would be going absolutely atomic on everyone's asses!
Anyway, I hope this gets worked out FAST and that your guitar is in pearly mint condition. Sending some mojo your way if that helps...

Best of Luck,
Em