The Shin Megami Tensei mailing curse
I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but back in April I won a copy of the hard-to-find-at-a-reasonable-price Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 on eBay. The seller shipped my package off on the same day that I won it, and I waited and waited for it to arrive from Texas. A month rolled by and the package never came. When I e-mailed the seller he was puzzled to learn that I hadn't received the game, and scanned in the receipt from the post office proving he'd sent it off. I chalked the game up to being lost or stolen in the mail (which sucks considering how expensive the game can get). Eventually I ended up finding a disc-only copy in good condition at a GameStop in one of the bad neighborhoods in Philadelphia for $25, which assuaged my annoyance greatly.
Unfortunately, it seems I could be possibly fated to lose yet another Shin Megami Tensei game in the mail. This time it's a new copy of Nocturne that was purchased on Amazon on Sunday. Yesterday I checked the status of my package to find that it had been delivered to my zip code, but not to my house. I took that to mean the post office, so when today rolled around not only was the package NOT in the mail but Amazon had sent me an interesting e-mail:
Hello from Amazon.com.
We're writing about the order you placed on July 05 2009 (Order# *order number removed).
USPS was unable to leave the package at your delivery address as per their delivery policies. The package will be available for pick up at your local post office. Please visit http://www.usps.com and click "Locate a Post Office" to find contact information for your local post office or call 1 800 ASK USPS. The items listed below are included in this shipment:
"Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00024W1U6
Eh?! Since when does the post office *not* deliver packages from Amazon.com to my house? Or any packages for that matter? Just a few days ago I got a needed wig for a costume via eBay, and my Mobile Suit Gundam 00 special edition box set arrived from Rightstuf.com without any problems. When I checked the post office web site I found this message:
"Label/Receipt Number: *tracking number removed*
Class: Package Services
Service(s): Delivery Confirmation
Status: Delivered
Your item was delivered at 2:27 PM on July 7, 2009 in PHILADELPHIA, PA 19111. *Not worried about leaving the zip code in. This section of the city is HUGE.
Detailed Results:
Delivered, July 07, 2009, 2:27 pm, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19111
Electronic Shipping Info Received, July 06, 2009"
Oddly enough neither Amazon.com or USPS.com supplied any information on where my package was sent, so I ended up calling the post office in my zip code (which certainly isn't the closest one to my house). After being put on hold, and having to give my address to them several times, as well as my confirmation number, I was told my package wasn't there. In fact, the man on the phone informed me that he'd have to ask the neighborhood carrier where the package went (would the carrier really know???) and would return my call. After taking my home and cell phone numbers he promised to call me back within the hour. Amazon.com says I should have my package no later than tomorrow, July 9th. However, I'm starting to fear that the package was sent to the wrong house or stolen, but at least the post office has a record of it. On the upside, since this was an order directly from Amazon if it never comes I could possibly get a refund or a replacement, as supposed to an eBay seller who's not responsible for lost packages.
In the nearly eight years I've been in this house, I've never had a problem with package delivery. (Although this neighborhood has been pretty crappy as of lately.) I guess my local carriers have taken up to stealing or losing packages now, or geofflb's terrible luck with the post office has transferred to me. And speaking of Geoff... If anyone could translate this comment left on this entry into English for him, he (and I) would appreciate it. "como se puede sacar a akuma o cuales osn los movirmirntos para sacarlo se los agradeceria mucho." Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.
And if Nocturne ever arrives I'll be sure to post about it. If it doesn't well, I guess I'll post about that too. At the very least the lesson learned here is ALWAYS pre-order and/or buy a SMT game at the local game retailers before it becomes rare and expensive.
Unfortunately, it seems I could be possibly fated to lose yet another Shin Megami Tensei game in the mail. This time it's a new copy of Nocturne that was purchased on Amazon on Sunday. Yesterday I checked the status of my package to find that it had been delivered to my zip code, but not to my house. I took that to mean the post office, so when today rolled around not only was the package NOT in the mail but Amazon had sent me an interesting e-mail:
Hello from Amazon.com.
We're writing about the order you placed on July 05 2009 (Order# *order number removed).
USPS was unable to leave the package at your delivery address as per their delivery policies. The package will be available for pick up at your local post office. Please visit http://www.usps.com and click "Locate a Post Office" to find contact information for your local post office or call 1 800 ASK USPS. The items listed below are included in this shipment:
"Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00024W1U6
Eh?! Since when does the post office *not* deliver packages from Amazon.com to my house? Or any packages for that matter? Just a few days ago I got a needed wig for a costume via eBay, and my Mobile Suit Gundam 00 special edition box set arrived from Rightstuf.com without any problems. When I checked the post office web site I found this message:
"Label/Receipt Number: *tracking number removed*
Class: Package Services
Service(s): Delivery Confirmation
Status: Delivered
Your item was delivered at 2:27 PM on July 7, 2009 in PHILADELPHIA, PA 19111. *Not worried about leaving the zip code in. This section of the city is HUGE.
Detailed Results:
Delivered, July 07, 2009, 2:27 pm, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19111
Electronic Shipping Info Received, July 06, 2009"
Oddly enough neither Amazon.com or USPS.com supplied any information on where my package was sent, so I ended up calling the post office in my zip code (which certainly isn't the closest one to my house). After being put on hold, and having to give my address to them several times, as well as my confirmation number, I was told my package wasn't there. In fact, the man on the phone informed me that he'd have to ask the neighborhood carrier where the package went (would the carrier really know???) and would return my call. After taking my home and cell phone numbers he promised to call me back within the hour. Amazon.com says I should have my package no later than tomorrow, July 9th. However, I'm starting to fear that the package was sent to the wrong house or stolen, but at least the post office has a record of it. On the upside, since this was an order directly from Amazon if it never comes I could possibly get a refund or a replacement, as supposed to an eBay seller who's not responsible for lost packages.
In the nearly eight years I've been in this house, I've never had a problem with package delivery. (Although this neighborhood has been pretty crappy as of lately.) I guess my local carriers have taken up to stealing or losing packages now, or geofflb's terrible luck with the post office has transferred to me. And speaking of Geoff... If anyone could translate this comment left on this entry into English for him, he (and I) would appreciate it. "como se puede sacar a akuma o cuales osn los movirmirntos para sacarlo se los agradeceria mucho." Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.
And if Nocturne ever arrives I'll be sure to post about it. If it doesn't well, I guess I'll post about that too. At the very least the lesson learned here is ALWAYS pre-order and/or buy a SMT game at the local game retailers before it becomes rare and expensive.