DHL lost my So Black Birkin 30 - Need advice

[mbai]

It's been 10 days since DHL told me they couldn't locate the package and suggested me to file a claim. A trusted reseller in Europe sourced this bag I've been after for years and just like that, it disappeared on route. Like all other tragic stories happened with delivery company, the bag was not properly insured. My reseller is also devastated because she knows this might ruin the relationship I have developed with her for years, and we had a good one. She offered some goods for consolation but it's like 1/10 of the value of the bag. I'm not sure how to get over this lost because I know the reseller is not able to cover the lost financially like some big retailer (neither I can make her pay) and we know DHL is not going to compensate the loss, so that leaves me to swallow this? I worked hard for this but I feel like in this situation, it's impossible to get my justice back. But not doing anything makes me feel like I don't respect my own hard work.

I know sharing this in public will probably bring some confrontations like I should never buy from individual without properly insurance. I totally agree with you and obviously I learned my lesson the hardest way. I want to share in here because I hope people in this forum can relate the sentiment. Can anyone who had similar experience (I'm so sorry for you) give me some advices on how did you get over a loss like this? I've been telling myself "it's not meant to be" "what's lost is lost" " you gotta move on" but it hasn't been super helpful and I'm having some major mood swings. Thanks so much in advance!

 

[alxz]

omg. first off i'm sorry this happened and i'm also sorry i don't really have much advice. But this is definitely one of my biggest anxieties (i also check package tracking pages for things way more often than necessary lol), which is weird because I don't think I've ever had a package lost without reimbursement. But when a packages takes longer than usual, even if it's something super cheap, I instinctively feel anxiety for some reason. I can't imagine how I would be feeling if I lost a Birkin from this.

I think sometimes there's a chance they wind up finding the package even after losing it a few days. I think that happened when I bought something from herman miller and the tracking said it was at one of their locations for like two weeks. When I called they said they didn't know where it was and that it was possible it was lost, but then like a month after it was supposed to show up, it actually arrived.

 

[mbai]

omg. first off i'm sorry this happened and i'm also sorry i don't really have much advice. But this is definitely one of my biggest anxieties (i also check package tracking pages for things way more often than necessary lol), which is weird because I don't think I've ever had a package lost without reimbursement. But when a packages takes longer than usual, even if it's something super cheap, I instinctively feel anxiety for some reason. I can't imagine how I would be feeling if I lost a Birkin from this.

I think sometimes there's a chance they wind up finding the package even after losing it a few days. I think that happened when I bought something from herman miller and the tracking said it was at one of their locations for like two weeks. When I called they said they didn't know where it was and that it was possible it was lost, but then like a month after it was supposed to show up, it actually arrived.

Thanks so much for your consolation. Believe it not I already feel better to tell my story here but I couldn't share in my real life with friends and family. Thanks for your support.

The tracking is stuck at 12/16 departed from Cincinnati hub, they told me it's on route to New York and never got updated again. I dare not to be hopeful just to be disappointed further. I'm preparing for the worst and trying to made peace with myself at this point ;(

 

[Norm.Core]

Try to remain calm. I know it is nerve-racking but I also went through something like this (albeit it was NOT a Birkin). I posted multiple designer bags for consignment from Aus to US, with the works: tracking, signature confirmation and insured (for half the value) for Intl Express that was meant to be for 5-7 days. It took 33 days and was MISSING for 3 weeks. Tracking stayed stagnant and I checked everyday. I was ready to accept the fact that it was lost. But tracking finally woke up and still took another week to get to it's destination...

I am crossing my fingers for you that your dream Birkin finds its way to you. Hang in there.

 

[mbai]

Try to remain calm. I know it is nerve-racking but I also went through something like this (albeit it was NOT a Birkin). I posted multiple designer bags for consignment from Aus to US, with the works: tracking, signature confirmation and insured (for half the value) for Intl Express that was meant to be for 5-7 days. It took 33 days and was MISSING for 3 weeks. Tracking stayed stagnant and I checked everyday. I was ready to accept the fact that it was lost. But tracking finally woke up and still took another week to get to it's destination...

I am crossing my fingers for you that your dream Birkin finds its way to you. Hang in there.

Oh my god! What a roller coaster ride you had there! I can't imagine what were you going through during that time. I'm so happy for you that you got your package eventually.

 

[Norm.Core]

Oh my god! What a roller coaster ride you had there! I can't imagine what were you going through during that time. I'm so happy for you that you got your package eventually.

I was actually sending my bags for consignment... So if they had gotten lost, I would've lost the value of them. And if I had to claim with the post office (eventhough I insured the package), I wasn't sure if I had to show old receipts which I don't have. One of them, I've had since since 2005! Anyway, all was well and they turned up. But it was 3 weeks of nerves but I had to keep it all in... my friends wouldn't get it.

Will you have recourse like claiming with your cc company that your Birkin truly is lost?

 

[TravelBug]

I am sorry this is happening to you. Could it be stuck in Customs? With the latest surge of Covid cases all over the world, delays are to be expected. Would your CC or even home owner insurance cover the loss if it indeed is lost?

 

[Hermes Zen]

I was going to ask the same questions as @Norm.Core and @TravelBug regarding your cc and customs. I feel your pain and anxiety although mine was dealing with us customs for weeks and having my H purchases sent back to Paris. I felt like I was never going to get the items and I was out the $'s. But things ended okay after months of effort.

I have another thought, all delivery services are running late late late. Some are due to weather and probably staff shortages due to covid. I have several packages I'm waiting to be delivered. One was to be received in Dec from H. I too watch the tracking number multiple times a day for weeks now. Some times it says 'delayed' sometime 'no infomation available' sometimes it's been in transit between cities for endless days' when I know it doesn't take that long. Maybe your package is still in route but no updated data available to you? When you spoke to DHL (BTW this is one carrier that I had problems with before) did you call another time to speak to a different person to see if they said the same thing, 'it couldn't be found'?

Trying to give you some hope. I pray it is going to arrive eventually. Sending positive thoughts your way.

 

[WhiteBus]

assuming the bag never turns up, then you have lost several thousand €$£

it would be interesting to know legally who is responsible for the safe delivery of your purchase

if it is the seller, then I think you being too sympathetic

even if you don't hold her responsible for the full amount
she should, at least refund you the profit she made on the deal
your payment would have covered her costs in sourcing the bag for resale
and as a gesture of good will, she should refund some of that too
offering you goods (that she already has and probably can't shift) to 1/10th what you paid, costs her nothing and is a pittance

You reckon you worked hard for the funds to buy the bag, so why should your loss be any less than that of the reseller? This may seem hard, but for all you know, in reality her business might be able to bear the loss better than you can.

 

[poopsie]

Normally the seller/merchant is responsible for making sure the buyer receives the package. I spent years trying to explain to people in EBay forums that insurance is meant to protect the seller. And that items should ALWAYS be insured for the entire amount of the item. The one cut and dried slam dunk case for a buyer to win is INR---- item not received. There is either online viewable proof that a package was delivered or there isn't.
What should happen in these cases is that the seller is expected to refund the buyer and since they purchased the insurance the seller would then go after the carrier for reimbursement of the lost item.
I did a cursory search and DHL insures $25,000 BUT this has to be specially requested.
It is the responsibility of the seller to purchase adequate insurance. It is part and parcel of doing business.
You should not be out one red cent.
Hopefully you funded this purchase with a major credit card. After the carrier has exhausted their search within their time frame and nothing is found I wouldn't hesitate to file a charge back.

 

[WhiteBus]

Normally the seller/merchant is responsible for making sure the buyer receives the package. I spent years trying to explain to people in EBay forums that insurance is meant to protect the seller. And that items should ALWAYS be insured for the entire amount of the item. The one cut and dried slam dunk case for a buyer to win is INR---- item not received. There is either online viewable proof that a package was delivered or there isn't.
What should happen in these cases is that the seller is expected to refund the buyer and since they purchased the insurance the seller would then go after the carrier for reimbursement of the lost item.
I did a cursory search and DHL insures $25,000 BUT this has to be specially requested.
It is the responsibility of the seller to purchase adequate insurance. It is part and parcel of doing business.
You should not be out one red cent.
Hopefully you funded this purchase with a major credit card. After the carrier has exhausted their search within their time frame and nothing is found I wouldn't hesitate to file a charge back.

Good to see some proactive advice

 

[poopsie]

Good to see some proactive advice

I'm sure Been Burned will be along in a few hours with advice.

 

[poopsie]

It's been 10 days since DHL told me they couldn't locate the package and suggested me to file a claim. A trusted reseller in Europe sourced this bag I've been after for years and just like that, it disappeared on route. Like all other tragic stories happened with delivery company, the bag was not properly insured. My reseller is also devastated because she knows this might ruin the relationship I have developed with her for years, and we had a good one. She offered some goods for consolation but it's like 1/10 of the value of the bag. I'm not sure how to get over this lost because I know the reseller is not able to cover the lost financially like some big retailer (neither I can make her pay) and we know DHL is not going to compensate the loss, so that leaves me to swallow this? I worked hard for this but I feel like in this situation, it's impossible to get my justice back. But not doing anything makes me feel like I don't respect my own hard work.

I know sharing this in public will probably bring some confrontations like I should never buy from individual without properly insurance. I totally agree with you and obviously I learned my lesson the hardest way. I want to share in here because I hope people in this forum can relate the sentiment. Can anyone who had similar experience (I'm so sorry for you) give me some advices on how did you get over a loss like this? I've been telling myself "it's not meant to be" "what's lost is lost" " you gotta move on" but it hasn't been super helpful and I'm having some major mood swings. Thanks so much in advance!

proper insurance is the responsibility of the seller.
She may be devastated but that's not your fault.
Worrying about your relationship with her should not even be a factor at this point
It's also not your fault that she can't afford to reimburse you the FULL amount. That's what INSURANCE is for. She's running a business ftlog and SHOULD know better
Why can't you make her pay? Did you pay cash/wire transfer instead of credit card?
Why would you just roll over and eat this substantial loss? Am I missing something?
I don't understand

 

[WhiteBus]

proper insurance is the responsibility of the seller.
She may be devastated but that's not your fault.
Worrying about your relationship with her should not even be a factor at this point
It's also not your fault that she can't afford to reimburse you the FULL amount. That's what INSURANCE is for. She's running a business ftlog and SHOULD know better
Why can't you make her pay? Did you pay cash/wire transfer instead of credit card?

yes, yes, yes
we'll stand together at the barricades

 

[Chaliya]

proper insurance is the responsibility of the seller.
She may be devastated but that's not your fault.
Worrying about your relationship with her should not even be a factor at this point
It's also not your fault that she can't afford to reimburse you the FULL amount. That's what INSURANCE is for. She's running a business ftlog and SHOULD know better
Why can't you make her pay? Did you pay cash/wire transfer instead of credit card?
Why would you just roll over and eat this substantial loss? Am I missing something?
I don't understand

that might be the case for eBay - but to this point, we do not know if @mbai had to choose between not insuranced shipping and insuranced (for a premium price) - and chose the basic shipping, do we?

I live in Germany and just speaking about other preloved platforms I use, most of the time the buyer is able to choose between 2 or 3 shipping methods.

In this case, the seller would be safe and mbai would have lost the bag and the money and would not be able to do anything about it

I use these platforms to sell things myself (obviously not Birgits or anything near as expensive as H bags) - and I experience this all the time, that buyers do not want to pay some extra euros for safety

so @mbai: would you mind to tell us, if you chose the non-insurance shipping? anyways: I am very sorry, that this happened to you and hope everything will turn out fine in the end.