Question for UK Brits

[spedbug]

If you mailed a book the slowest possible way (book rate, sea mail, whatever) to Germany, what is the longest delivery time you'd expect?

Comments

[antof9.livejournal.com]

I don't know what the Brits would say about that, but I believe the technical term for the method of delivery (at least it's what I ask for at my P.O.) is: "Slow boat to China".

[kitsunecharmed.livejournal.com]

How funny - that's exactly what I was thinking!

[antof9.livejournal.com]

well, since I just sent something to SKingList using that method yesterday, it was fresh in my head :)

*checks receipt*

Yup, that's what it's called :)

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

My Random Act of Kindness journal was supposed to have been mailed out on February 7th from England to Germany (IrasCignavojo). I was just trying to determine how long it would take to get there. According to some *cough* more informative replies *cough*, it could have gone back and forth three or four times, by now. So, I suspect my intuition was correct and that my chain was being yanked.

[antof9.livejournal.com]

ut-oh. Want I should go pummel somebody for ya? (although frankly, that kitty can probably take care of it)

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

Want I should go pummel somebody for ya?

Don't tempt me to form a Brute Squad... My fantasies, alone, about pummeling this woman are draining my "Jesus Points"; I don't need to actually perpetrate the act.

I've thrown together a quick "journal update" that I was going to post in hopes of lighting a fire under this person's arse but didn't want to post it too hastily. For all I knew, mail could take six weeks between England and Germany if mailed "Slow Boat To China". Now that I have some confirmation that my chain was indeed being yanked, I'll post that update (which you and all the others that have contributed to the journal will be able to read). I'm hoping against hope that a "public" reminder of all I've PMed her - the concerns, the sadness at it being stalled - will compell her to do what she promised. Cross your fingers for me?

[antof9.livejournal.com]

*crosses everything* (which makes it hard to type, by the way)

(You know what's so surprising -- I checked out her shelf this morning, and she is running lots of rings herself. You'd think she'd get it)

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

I won't begin to pretend I understand what goes on in the mind of those who stall a ring, especially one that is personalized and irreplaceable.
Maybe her BX thrill is being part of rings but has, in the process of pursuing this thrill, overextended herself. Maybe she lost or damaged it and is afraid to admit it. Maybe (and I'm reaching into the darkest recesses of my imagination for this), she resented being "tweaked" about getting the ring moving and is now holding onto it out of sheer spite. Your guess is as good as mine. I doubt I'm even thinking rationally about this, anymore, it's become such a sore point for me, now.

[antof9.livejournal.com]

as someone who has gotten in over her head on rings and rays, I can definitely understand that (and now I don't sign up for them), but this is a bit different.. . .

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

If I'd PMed a query about the journal and received a reply such as, "Oh, no! I'm so over my head with rings, can I hold on to it another month?" I'd have shrugged and said, "Sure." Okay, I don't think it should take long to do but that's just my opinion. I'd guess it's an hour's worth of reading, if that, and an hour's worth of writing (and I think I'm being generous, there.) once someone's sat down to write what they've done. The longest part would be doing an act of kindness and, frankly, I didn't mean for people to "sweat" the act that much. Telling someone they look nice that day is kindness enough. I meant for it to be small stuff that can be done at any moment - not grand, sweeping gestures. But, I probably wasn't clear on that and I can understand people's desire to make it something "memorable".

So, it really isn't the length of time the person's had it. It's the feeling of being avoided and/or dismissed that pisses me off. It's having my very polite PMs ignored. It's the fact she contacted IrasCignavojo back in December (when I first PMed, by the way)for his address yet still has the journal. It's the fact that I have visions of her procrastinating with it and procrastinating with it until it's lost or damaged.

Ah, crap. If I had known this was what would come of my RAoK, I wouldn't have dreamed of starting it. I feel like a lunatic when I talk about it....but I had such an expectation about it and it's become this fiasco. I wish I could let go and forget but I just can't. *sigh*

[antof9.livejournal.com]

Totally understandable, my friend. This is deep and personal and it's affecting the whole point of the journal. Taking all the fun out of it, as it were.

{{{Bug}}}

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

Taking all the fun out of it, as it were.

Exactly.

{{{Bug}}}

Thanks, I needed that. When I get going on the subject, sometimes I feel like I need to put my head between my legs, take some deep breaths and go have a glass of wine or a Valium!

[elhamisabel.livejournal.com]

As someone in Germany who's recieved mail from the UK maybe I could tell you how long it took "printed papers" to arrive. I always check and so far not more than 6 days have passed before I got something that was called printed papers. This is the equivalent to surface mail for books I think.

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

The only surface mail I've ever used was from here to Australia which can take up to 8 weeks, depending on chance. A book ring of mine is in England and was supposedly mailed to irascignavojo on February 7th. I was just checking to see if it would have arrived by now if it had been mailed when promised. As I remarked to antof9, I was skeptical it was mailed on the date promised to begin with; now I'd guess it was never mailed at all.

[elhamisabel.livejournal.com]

Maybe it hasn't ( my guess) or maybe it's lost on its way. I remember of a bookring that was send within the UK from A to B (70 miles) and it took three or four months to arrive.

I hoe you'll get your ring on its way again!

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

If the person were more forthcoming - more willing to reply to my PMed concerns - I'd give them the benefit of the doubt. As it stands, I initally asked if there was some trouble with the ring as well as offered help with postage in case they were having financial difficulty. The one reply they finally sent in return ignored all my questions and concerns. Two short sentences was all I received and they were to tell me they were "sorry" and they'd send the journal "tomorrow". Since then, I've sent another PM explaining how much the journal means to me (it's a personalized journal, not a book, and can't be replaced) and, again, offered any help they might need. I expressed, in no uncertain terms, how much the journal means to me and practically begged for an explanation for it being held up with her. I've heard nothing in return.

Under the circumstances, I can only assume this person's actions are borne of laziness, irresponsibility and a disregard for the feelings/property of others.

Some days I'm furious, other days I'm despondent.

[elhamisabel.livejournal.com]

I see what you mean. I really hope you'll get it back in the end.

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Thing good thoughts and send ~~~~~unstalled ring~~~~~ vibes into the atmosphere, will you? ;)

[elhamisabel.livejournal.com]

Sure, I will. :-)

This sounds frighteningly like a

[judio.livejournal.com]

trick math question! Yikes!

I'm not a UK Brit, but I couldn't help responding. It was the cat User Pic that did it! :o It's so endearing!

Re: This sounds frighteningly like a

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

Bite your tongue; math gives me hives!

[miketroll.livejournal.com]

Elham says max 6 days, for printed paper. That's right - I wouldn't expect anything to take longer. Mostly it's 4 days. I always ask for the cheapest rate, which for books is usually "Small packet". There is a silly international rule that Small Packets must not contain letters. They always ask if there's a letter in there and you always say no.

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

As I suspected, the ring that someone promised me would be mailed out on February 7th would have reached Germany by now three times over had they been telling the truth. The fact that they've had the journal since November, have only answered one PM I've sent and, then, never journalled its release after they "promised" to "send it out tomorrow" spoke volumes.

I vacillate between being thoroughly disheartened and completely infuriated :(