Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

 dreamspirit wrote:
hi all, Milos here from the Dreamspirit Wargaming Studio. I already spoke with my client regarding this issue, we're in business for almost 4 years now and this was a first timer, so we really had no reason to insure the packages. No matter whether he gets his way with USPS, we offered either to fix this tower or to build completely new model free of charge. This was a great model and thelordcal will get it as it was meant to be.

We're aware that foam is not the toughest material out there, but it's not very fragile either. In the past we built and sent away far more complex pieces than this tower, and we had no problem except occasional chipping but nothing of this sort.
From speaking with my client I understood that the packaging material didn't arrive with the model and signs of damage indicate that this was done on purpose which really is such shame.

Replacing the items is GREAT service on your end! Kudos for that.

As for the opened box... Typically, the exporting country doesn't open the boxes unless they have reason to believe something inappropriate might be in there. The IMPORTING country opens for multiple reasons. In the 12 or so years I've been trading online, I've only ever had ONE box opened.

For the record, it WAS horribly resealed, as well.


Eric

TheAuldGrump wrote:That... looks like the kind of crap that Customs has gotten into trouble with in the past - they suspected something was up - smashed the item looking for something that wasn't there, then sent it on, pretending that they never did nuthin', so sir, no how.

Good luck on this.

The Auld Grump

filbert wrote:Either that or Kan has wildly different expectation as to what constitutes reasonable service by a postal authority.

I mean, I'm sure the UK customs office scan, x-ray, sniffer dog all sorts of packages but I very much doubt they cut and break things just on the off-chance it may have drugs in it....

UK Customs (and I'm sure US Customs will be the same if not worse) have 100% rights to break open and examine any package they deem suspicious, even if this means ultimately destroying the item. All they have to prove is reasonable suspicion, they do not have to repair, or replace said item. It's the same reason that US Airports can forcibly open ANY luggage in an airport, even without the owner’s consent, just to search it (they will leave a note in the luggage to say they have done this). Regardless how much damage this causes, they are allowed to do this. Don't know about the rest of the world, but here in the UK the owner MUST be present if a bag is searched at an airport.

It's like in the UK, if the Police suspect and are given a search warrant for your home, they can force entry, bust the door down. If you are innocent, the Police do not have to repair or pay for damages they have caused, simply because they were granted a search warrant.

My own experiences of this are why I know. I was travelling back through a US airport from Lima in Peru back to the UK. Bags were checked all the way through, I wasn't stopping in the US other than to transfer flights. When I arrived at Heathrow, my £180 90ltr Rucksack came through the belt on a cardboard tray, with some of its contents in a card box. This was because US airport had searched the bag; to do so they cut off the locking clips (rendering the bag useless as a bag) and left me a kind not to say they'd found nothing I shouldn't have. No compensation, from the US authorities, not even an appology, non from Insurance as the US authorities had acted properly under US law. £180 rucksack in the bin. From the UK I ordered some resin terrain from China. Block buildings. Everyone had been broken in half by something with a note from UK Customs to tell me they had done so as they were 'suspiciously hollow in the middle'. No compensation whatsoever!

It's good that you're getting a replacement though.

 dreamspirit wrote:
hi all, Milos here from the Dreamspirit Wargaming Studio. I already spoke with my client regarding this issue, we're in business for almost 4 years now and this was a first timer, so we really had no reason to insure the packages. No matter whether he gets his way with USPS, we offered either to fix this tower or to build completely new model free of charge. This was a great model and thelordcal will get it as it was meant to be.

We're aware that foam is not the toughest material out there, but it's not very fragile either. In the past we built and sent away far more complex pieces than this tower, and we had no problem except occasional chipping but nothing of this sort.
From speaking with my client I understood that the packaging material didn't arrive with the model and signs of damage indicate that this was done on purpose which really is such shame.

Class act--although I do not have the need for terrain--if I did, you would certainly be on the list considering the customer service a post like this displays from a company.

Wow such a nice tower gone to waste like that really sucks :(
Its great that Dreamspirit is replacing it free of charge that is great of them!

I actually can see customs cutting it open and looking but I don't think you can say "Serbia is known for drug trafficking lets cut this open" every country smuggles drugs. Canada, USA, France, Italy, Japan, wherever you are there ARE drugs kids so BEWARE! Don't talk to strangers either!

Anyways lol glad Dreamspirit is doing such a good thing and replacing it for you!

I'm gutted for you. To a passionate hobbyist like me, destroying such a beautiful work of art is akin to drawing a moustache on the Mona Lisa with a sharpie. Commiserations.

Regards the postal service, I blame the customs fethers. That a piece was missing is proof that it wasn't merely banged around, it was opened up and fethed with, and thats customs MO.

I sent the missus a parcel from GB once, when it arrived it was tore up, a box of Thorntons candy was missing even though nothing about it contravened customs laws, the bubble wrap was missing and it was all badly half closed and taped back together like a rats nest.

Most bizarrely of all.. they ADDED a small plastic detergent ball from a washing powder manufacturer, and a pack of q tips. My missus called me and said "why the feth did you send me a detergent ball you weirdo?"

Anyway.. as a result I point the finger at the thieving unprofessional cretins that work customs rather than the postal service.