Correos Package Vandalized

Healthful · Oct 5, 2016

Hello.
I completed my Camino last summer, 2016. Fearing my expensive poles from the USA would not be allowed on a Ryan Air flight from Santiago to Madrid, based on what I'd read here, I elected to send them home via Correos, the Spanish Post Office.

Eventually in the USA I received my bubble envelope from Correos, completely slashed/open ended on one side, and my $200 trekking poles missing. Fortunately, the ziplock bag inside the envelope containing my hiking gloves, knee brace, and a few others things was still there, but the expensive Carbon trekking poles were not.

I still have my Correos receipt. I've read this forum with interest and was wondering if this guy, Ivar, might know whether or not I can file some kind of claim as I could in USA for the missing poles?

The Camino was 100% amazing and life changing minus this one exception.

If anyone can assist or offer insight here I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

Smallest_Sparrow · Oct 5, 2016

I'm sorry that happened...did you insure the package (I hope)?
Ivar or other may have more info but here is the contact info for contacting, filing a complaint, or a claim

http://www.correos.es/ss/Satellite/site/pagina-contacto/sidioma=en_GB

dougfitz · Oct 5, 2016

I would be discussing this with your local post office in the first instance, and asking them to track back to see whether the poles became separated from the rest of the package, and are waiting somewhere that will allow them to be delivered to you.

ivar · Oct 5, 2016

Healthful said:
Hello.

I completed my Camino last summer, 2016. Fearing my expensive poles from the USA would not be allowed on a Ryan Air flight from Santiago to Madrid, based on what I'd read here, I elected to send them home via Correos, the Spanish Post Office.

Eventually in the USA I received my bubble envelope from Correos, completely slashed/open ended on one side, and my $200 trekking poles missing. Fortunately, the ziplock bag inside the envelope containing my hiking gloves, knee brace, and a few others things was still there, but the expensive Carbon trekking poles were not.

I still have my Correos receipt. I've read this forum with interest and was wondering if this guy, Ivar, might know whether or not I can file some kind of claim as I could in USA for the missing poles?

The Camino was 100% amazing and life changing minus this one exception.

If anyone can assist or offer insight here I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

Hi there,

Sorry that this happened to you.

I would try to file a claim with the carrier that delivered this to you in the USA. I guess the US post office.

I know that all mail leaving Spain gets scanned before it gets put on a plane, if they find anything "suspicious" (liquids, things with batteries,...) it will not be sent, but returned to the post office in Spain from where it was sent. But they would never open a parcel.

My experience with the Spanish post office is that they are very professional. I can't remember the last time I had a problem with them, and I send and receive hundreds of parcels every year.

Try contacting the US post office and see what they say.

Greetings from santiago,
Ivar

Mike Trebert · Oct 5, 2016

Healthful said:
Hello.

I completed my Camino last summer, 2016. Fearing my expensive poles from the USA would not be allowed on a Ryan Air flight from Santiago to Madrid, based on what I'd read here, I elected to send them home via Correos, the Spanish Post Office.

Eventually in the USA I received my bubble envelope from Correos, completely slashed/open ended on one side, and my $200 trekking poles missing. Fortunately, the ziplock bag inside the envelope containing my hiking gloves, knee brace, and a few others things was still there, but the expensive Carbon trekking poles were not.

I still have my Correos receipt. I've read this forum with interest and was wondering if this guy, Ivar, might know whether or not I can file some kind of claim as I could in USA for the missing poles?

The Camino was 100% amazing and life changing minus this one exception.

If anyone can assist or offer insight here I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

Travel insurance. Next time, check it out. You might find that if you pay for your air fare with a credit card, you get a free travel insurance deal. I will do that next time when travelling from here in OZtraylia. Travel insurance can be pretty pricey if you pay real dollars for it.

marbuck · Oct 5, 2016

Mike Trebert said:
Travel insurance can be pretty pricey if you pay real dollars for it.

There is a reason why it is expensive, I always insure with an Australian travel insurance company connected to a major Australian insurance company, they pay up on claims. I have first hand experience.

Hiawatha · Oct 5, 2016

I would agree Marbuck . My family and I spent an extra ten days in Paris due to the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull . The cost was huge and all covered by a reputable company with very little claims fuss .

Anemone del Camino · Oct 5, 2016

Travel insurance covers shipped parcels by mail? I would not bank on it.

Mike Trebert · Oct 5, 2016

Anemone del Camino said:
Travel insurance covers shipped parcels by mail? I would not bank on it.

Good point. You're probably right but I'll check when I travel O/S next.

Smallest_Sparrow · Oct 5, 2016

I think one insures it when posting it. Rates are usually very reasonable.

Healthful · Oct 6, 2016

Smallest_Sparrow said:
I'm sorry that happened...did you insure the package (I hope)?
Ivar or other may have more info but here is the contact info for contacting, filing a complaint, or a claim

http://www.correos.es/ss/Satellite/site/pagina-contacto/sidioma=en_GB

I did not insure the package but thought maybe it had some basic amount of insurance built in, such as US Priority Mail does. I do remember they wanted an itemized list at the Correos office of the contents along with the value of said contents.

Healthful · Oct 6, 2016

ivar said:
Hi there,

Sorry that this happened to you.

I would try to file a claim with the carrier that delivered this to you in the USA. I guess the US post office.

I know that all mail leaving Spain gets scanned before it gets put on a plane, if they find anything "suspicious" (liquids, things with batteries,...) it will not be sent, but returned to the post office in Spain from where it was sent. But they would never open a parcel.

My experience with the Spanish post office is that they are very professional. I can't remember the last time I had a problem with them, and I send and receive hundreds of parcels every year.

Try contacting the US post office and see what they say.

Greetings from santiago,
Ivar

Thank you. I will check with the US Postal Service but I think they will want a tracking #. Since it originated with Correos, it's a Correos issued tracking number. Wouldn't it be strange to send a US Priority Mail parcel to Spain, and then contact Correos with the US Mail tracking # for reimbursement from Correos if it originated in the U.S. with Priority Mail via US Postal?

C clearly · Oct 6, 2016

Healthful said:
I do remember they wanted an itemized list at the Correos office of the contents along with the value of said contents.

They probably wanted this for customs, since you need to declare goods you are bringing (or sending) into a different country.

Healthful · Oct 6, 2016

ivar said:
I know that all mail leaving Spain gets scanned before it gets put on a plane, if they find anything "suspicious" (liquids, things with batteries,...) it will not be sent, but returned to the post office in Spain from where it was sent. But they would never open a parcel.

Ivar

Anniesantiago · Oct 6, 2016

It's also quite possible the package was vandalized after it reached the United States!

Healthful · Oct 6, 2016

P.s. It did not go by plane but by boat as they told me I could not send a knife on an airplane, (which was also in the parcel, and surprisingly, still inside the envelope). I found that quite odd at the time. I can understand not being able to board with a knife/corkscrew combo, but what is the potential harm in sending it on a non passenger plane loaded with parcels?

For that reason, I have a suspicion that maybe customs did open the parcel and just didn't seal it back up again. The parcel was cleanly slit open all across one end and I'm surprised there was anything inside it at all.

They said the boat delivery option would take longer, (although it was still around 20 Euro!)

Smallest_Sparrow · Oct 6, 2016

While it was four years ago, I mailed packages all over Spain every 10-14 days for three months with zero problems. I have however had lots of problems with the US postal service, and anything passing through customs. If you didn't insure it you may not be able to be compensated but you never know. Let's instead hope you find them.

I would start (if it were me) with the local post office...maybe your poles are there if the package was opened. And communication is face to face. And I assume your English is better than your Spanish. If they trace the package back through their system and don't find your poles then they may be able to deal with Correos for you. If not, you will be able to say you've already worked your way back to Spain when you contact them.

No help to you but for future travelers, maybe check poles rather than mail them. Us customs is not where I want my things going.
I hope you find your poles

Smallest_Sparrow · Oct 6, 2016

I may be wrong but these days they put bar codes all over everything. If you take the package with you they might be able to work with that.
Good luck and I'm sorry this is such a headache for you

dougfitz · Oct 6, 2016

Anniesantiago said:
It's also quite possible the package was vandalized after it reached the United States!

Do we really know it was vandalised? That implies deliberate human action, and while the OP might have suggested that, I doubt it could be proven on the basis of what was described.

MTtoCamino · Oct 6, 2016

Healthful

I wish you the best on your recovery or reimbursement of the poles. If you get none of it? You tried. Have a really nice day!
Keith

Healthful · Oct 7, 2016

dougfitz said:
Do we really know it was vandalised? That implies deliberate human action, and while the OP might have suggested that, I doubt it could be proven on the basis of what was described.

No we don't. I thought about that and tried to edit the thread heading but didn't know how. Feel free!

Healthful · Oct 7, 2016

I would rephrase "vandalized" but would maintain it was deliberate human action. It's not a tear but a clean precise open from end to envelope end, so precise I was thinking customs check as likely the possibility as vandalism.

Anyway, thanks for all the empathetic responses. I've just reordered the poles.

KinkyOne · Oct 7, 2016

Healthful said:
Hello.

I completed my Camino last summer, 2016. Fearing my expensive poles from the USA would not be allowed on a Ryan Air flight from Santiago to Madrid, based on what I'd read here, I elected to send them home via Correos, the Spanish Post Office.

Eventually in the USA I received my bubble envelope from Correos, completely slashed/open ended on one side, and my $200 trekking poles missing. Fortunately, the ziplock bag inside the envelope containing my hiking gloves, knee brace, and a few others things was still there, but the expensive Carbon trekking poles were not.

I still have my Correos receipt. I've read this forum with interest and was wondering if this guy, Ivar, might know whether or not I can file some kind of claim as I could in USA for the missing poles?

The Camino was 100% amazing and life changing minus this one exception.

If anyone can assist or offer insight here I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

Sorry to hear what happened to you!

But 200 USD hiking poles??? Gold were they?

It is early morning over here in EU and I am about to embark to my bed but still can't get that number out of my head. All of my Camino gear are worth roughly about that number. Swiss army knife for 25€ included!
Ouch...

Healthful · Oct 7, 2016

KinkyOne said:
Sorry to hear what happened to you!

But 200 USD hiking poles??? Gold were they?
It is early morning over here in EU and I am about to embark to my bed but still can't get that number out of my head. All of my Camino gear are worth roughly about that number. Swiss army knife for 25€ included!
Ouch...

They were featherweight carbon poles with additional tips and pouch--and well worth it as they saved my knees and got me to the end! I loved them! I already ordered new ones but something you take on a journey like this has lots of sentimental value, more than worth its "weight in gold"!

KinkyOne · Oct 7, 2016

Healthful said:
They were featherweight carbon poles with additional tips and pouch--and well worth it as they saved my knees and got me to the end! I loved them! I already ordered new ones but something you take on a journey like this has lots of sentimental value, more than worth its "weight in gold"!

I can understand the sentiment of course
But, you know that old fashioned wooden poles cut in a nearby wood would also saved your knees? In one other post I mentioned my 10€ walking poles woth 10 years duty in Alps and several 1000's kms on Caminos. And they are still with me. Better checked-in baggage from Santiago then tackle with this kind of mess. And for that amount of money. But yes, for each his own, I agree
I hope you'll deal successfully with customs/post offices.

Anyway, get back on the Camino and that's it, hehe. Ultreia!

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