To-and-From Russia.....Beware

[hockeygrampy]

A couple of us HI traders have run into substantial delays of late and I need to warn my fellow members of this issue.

I recently (2/5/09) agreed to a deal with a trader from Moscow. It was my second such trade with him and I should have learned from the first deal.

The first trade in 2008 took over 6 weeks to complete. When it arrived here in the US, it was wrapped in brown paper and tied with a string and bow (no knot at all making it east to just untie the bow and open it). Can you imagine the shock of this if it was a Gretzky RC (for example)!

This trade is having a similar outcome. I made the deal in early Feb (5th) and it has yet to arrive. I have been told be a fellow trader in Canada that there has been a rash of thief's by some workers from the Russian postal system of late. In fact, it was noted that one used to send a pair of shoes to a relative and so many of the pairs were stolen (or missing) that he now sends one shoe at a time to prevent them from being stolen.

So, my advise is to first find out where the trade is going. Not that you should NOT made a deal with anybody from countires such as Russia. But if it involves sending something through the mail, perhaps you should ask (or suggest) for Paypal instead, at least until the postal system cleans up their act.

By the way, he said that my end arrived in Russia last week with no problems (except a long shipping time). I will update this post once I receive MY end (he said with fingers crossed)!

Paul

 

[Boom Boom]

I dont do any deals with any eastern european country.....including Russia. Too many past problems with situations just like this one.

 

[quincy]

That's a bit heavy handed. There's one fellow from Moscow with whom I will cheerfully deal anytime - Nikolai Rodionov. He's easy to deal with, polite, friendly, rational, and realistic about the postal service.

The Czech Republic and Slovakia remain a bit concerning, but there seems to be a much lower incidence of silliness from those countries in recent years. That's just personal experience. I've also had occasion to deal with the Baltic states (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania) and a single customer each in Belarus and the Ukraine - no problems with any of 'em.

I may just have been lucky, but I don't think there's any need to blackball an entire country these days.

 

[Gerber29]

I dont do any deals with any eastern european country.....including Russia. Too many past problems with situations just like this one.

I would do the same. Really.

I haven't heard of any good traders from Russia. There's one on a german site who is at least a bit realiable, but that's it.

I had good trades with some guys in the Czech Republic.

 

[hockeygrampy]

trading

That's a bit heavy handed. There's one fellow from Moscow with whom I will cheerfully deal anytime - Nikolai Rodionov. He's easy to deal with, polite, friendly, rational, and realistic about the postal service.

The Czech Republic and Slovakia remain a bit concerning, but there seems to be a much lower incidence of silliness from those countries in recent years. That's just personal experience. I've also had occasion to deal with the Baltic states (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania) and a single customer each in Belarus and the Ukraine - no problems with any of 'em.

I may just have been lucky, but I don't think there's any need to blackball an entire country these days.

Hey Quincy..... no "blacklist" intended or noted. In fact, I wrote:

So, my advise is to first find out where the trade is going. Not that you should NOT made a deal with anybody from countires such as Russia. But if it involves sending something through the mail, perhaps you should ask (or suggest) for Paypal instead, at least until the postal system cleans up their act.

I am just sharing a personal experience "replay" at a time that has some people concerned about the postal experience in Moscow, Russia.

I encourage those with solid experiences to eastern European countries to continue doing so. It is not personal nor is it intended to be so. But as a fellow trader here on Hobby Insider, isn't it our duty to advise others of the possibilities of heavy delays when sending to this European country? I believe that it is.

Paul

 

[sabres11]

I have sent out at least 100 packages to the Czech Republic during the last 5years and never had a problem...

Russia, have sent only 3 or 4 but same result, no problems ever.

I have had a few packages in my collecting years take up to 8 weeks from N.A. to reach me however and quite a lot of them take 4-6 weeks, does this mean I should stop trading/dealing with everyone in the US and Canada?

Ilhan

 

[hockeygrampy]

Trades

I have sent out at least 100 packages to the Czech Republic during the last 5years and never had a problem...

Russia, have sent only 3 or 4 but same result, no problems ever.

I have had a few packages in my collecting years take up to 8 weeks from N.A. to reach me however and quite a lot of them take 4-6 weeks, does this mean I should stop trading/dealing with everyone in the US and Canada?

Ilhan

Hi Ilhan,

I think some are missing the point here. Like yourself, you expect a delay from 4 to 8 weeks when dealing with some traders from some countries! There is no problem because a delay is anticipated.

But in my case (and a couple of others I've talked with), I was told in both instances that they are sending "registered airmail" and the package should be there quickly. But when it goes beyond 6 weeks and no sign of the package yet, one begins to wonder what is going on! Then when it finally arrives in unsecure brown paper with string holding it together, it leaves a sour taste in your mouth.

People, I am NOT telling you what to do or what NOT to do. I am a fellow trader like yourself who is experiencing lengthy and unexpected delays from this country which I was recently told is having some concerns about stolen mail! I am not blackballing any country or trader (who is still unnamed) or painting a false scenario with a broad brush. As a friend, I am merely sharing an unexpected trading problem with you all.

Had I been told there were problems or that there will be lengthy delays, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Just be up-front with your trading partner if you know it takes months (instead of weeks) for your shipments to arrive. For me, I will not trade with this person again.

 

[Harris Sports Cards]

Hi Ilhan,

I think some are missing the point here. Like yourself, you expect a delay from 4 to 8 weeks when dealing with some traders from some countries! There is no problem because a delay is anticipated.

But in my case (and a couple of others I've talked with), I was told in both instances that they are sending "registered airmail" and the package should be there quickly. But when it goes beyond 6 weeks and no sign of the package yet, one begins to wonder what is going on! Then when it finally arrives in unsecure brown paper with string holding it together, it leaves a sour taste in your mouth.

People, I am NOT telling you what to do or what NOT to do. I am a fellow trader like yourself who is experiencing lengthy and unexpected delays from this country which I was recently told is having some concerns about stolen mail! I am not blackballing any country or trader (who is still unnamed) or painting a false scenario with a broad brush. As a friend, I am merely sharing an unexpected trading problem with you all.

Had I been told there were problems or that there will be lengthy delays, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Just be up-front with your trading partner if you know it takes months (instead of weeks) for your shipments to arrive. For me, I will not trade with this person again.

Just a quick note, registered shipping is far from quick. No matter where I send registered packages, they always take weeks to arrive. The packages are kept under lock and key and each person that handles them has to sign for them. I assume that's why it takes so long. Just an FYI.
Josh

 

[bto3105]

The only deal I had with a guy from Russia worked out well be very long to complete.It was a couple of months I do believe.Guess you have to expect some type of delay

 

[gobuffalo2331]

ouch..nothing makes me happier than making good deals here in the states! In my mailbox within 3-4 days! Or if its within New York, cya tommorow..

 

[99goals]

I wouldn't jump to any conclusions just yet. I deal with a collector from the CZech republic and it took 4 months one time for a package to arrive to him. Also since I deal with mail between India and Africa all the time, we are used to the postal delays. So really don't think twice about it. I just make sure both parties are aware of the delays.

 

[Zetterchuk]

I am one of the other members that Paul mentions whom also has a pending deal with this member. I too have been awaiting the arrival of my cards since February 5th.

There are enough consistencies between Paul and I's dealings with this person to suggest that these issues may very well be isolated to this particular member. However, the information regarding the recent US/Russia (parcel-type, NOT letter-type) mail issues (ie the story about the shoes) came directly from my local USPS Postmaster, and I passed the info along to Paul. And although my Postmaster did not physically show me the actual administrative memo which talked about these issues, I tend to take what she says, especially when it pertains to international shipping issues/delays, into consideration...whether there's any truth in it or not.

I don't believe that it was Paul's intention (or mine) to suggest that everyone drape a blanket boycott over any and all Eastern European traders, but rather caution other other members that there may or may not be issues (again, per USPS) when sending parcel-type mail to Russia.

Joshua

 

[hockeygrampy]

Just a quick note, registered shipping is far from quick. No matter where I send registered packages, they always take weeks to arrive. The packages are kept under lock and key and each person that handles them has to sign for them. I assume that's why it takes so long. Just an FYI.
Josh

Yes, that is true. But isn't it strange that this trader cannot come up with a registered mail reciept? me thinks that he says that to complete the trade and save the money on shipping, only to apoligize for the inconvenience once it doesn't arrive in the proposed timeframe.

 

[hockeygrampy]

I am one of the other members that Paul mentions whom also has a pending deal with this member. I too have been awaiting the arrival of my cards since February 5th.

There are enough consistencies between Paul and I's dealings with this person to suggest that these issues may very well be isolated to this particular member. However, the information regarding the recent US/Russia (parcel-type, NOT letter-type) mail issues (ie the story about the shoes) came directly from my local USPS Postmaster, and I passed the info along to Paul. And although my Postmaster did not physically show me the actual administrative memo which talked about these issues, I tend to take what she says, especially when it pertains to international shipping issues/delays, into consideration...whether there's any truth in it or not.

I don't believe that it was Paul's intention (or mine) to suggest that everyone drape a blanket boycott over any and all Eastern European traders, but rather caution other other members that there may or may not be issues (again, per USPS) when sending parcel-type mail to Russia.

Joshua

Thank you Joshua for your input! This provides ample proof that this is not an isolated incident for this particuar trader and perhaps need to be repromanded accordingly. I am not one for throwing "someone under the bus". But if this an ongoing problem, we should address this accordingly. And if the concern is an overall issue with this part of the globe, we should also know this!

 

[TanguayFan]

I think most of us know who this trader is. If it is the same person I expect it is, he has a history of taking forever to complete trades and then conveniently blaming it on the postal system. I personally think it's a bunch of hooey, bordering on shady, and straight out refuse to even entertain the thought of dealing with him.

 

[foley2k]

In Russia.... Cards collect you

Im sorry.




I experienced a long shipping time from over from that area as well, but it was to be expected. BUT, it was still mailed in a bubble mailer.

 

[G $MONEY$]

Овечкин Россия Утритусь нуеучи, пишите по Русски )



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