Royal Mail have lost my dads watch
Discussion
My dad died when I was young (10) and I inherited his wristwatch. It was a gold Smiths, engraved on the back and presented to him in 1955 after 25 years service.
It stopped working years ago, but recently I decided to get it repaired so I put it in to a local watchmaker.
When I got home today a letter was waiting for me - to paraphrase the contents, my watch was sent away for repair, repaired, and sent back to the watchmaker by Royal Mail Special Delivery. But didn't turn up - Royal Mail have apparently lost it.
Apologies, etc, not our fault and Royal Mail are investigating.
To put it mildly, I'm livid. I've no idea of the monetary value and don't really care, but it is of enormous sentimental value. It's all I have left of Dad.
Now, I can understand that Royal Mail are investigating, but can I do anything myself. I doubt if I can go to the police, as at the moment there is no proof that a crime has been committed, but want to do something!
Any ideas?
It stopped working years ago, but recently I decided to get it repaired so I put it in to a local watchmaker.
When I got home today a letter was waiting for me - to paraphrase the contents, my watch was sent away for repair, repaired, and sent back to the watchmaker by Royal Mail Special Delivery. But didn't turn up - Royal Mail have apparently lost it.
Apologies, etc, not our fault and Royal Mail are investigating.
To put it mildly, I'm livid. I've no idea of the monetary value and don't really care, but it is of enormous sentimental value. It's all I have left of Dad.
Now, I can understand that Royal Mail are investigating, but can I do anything myself. I doubt if I can go to the police, as at the moment there is no proof that a crime has been committed, but want to do something!
Any ideas?
I would expect that the answer is no, just one of those things unfortunately.
I think as standard you're covered for up to £500 for loss or damage via Special Delivery but even then you'd have to prove the item's worth which, given the age of the watch in question, would probably be quite difficult.
Sorry to hear this OP - what a bummer.
I think as standard you're covered for up to £500 for loss or damage via Special Delivery but even then you'd have to prove the item's worth which, given the age of the watch in question, would probably be quite difficult.
Sorry to hear this OP - what a bummer.
longshot said:
Did you know the watchmaker was going to post it to someone else to repair?
Also, and I know it is known to happen but HTH do the Royal Mail manage to lose a parcel?
No - I put it in to them as they are a long established watchmaker. I did not expect them to send it away. If I had, I would have put it in to the jewellers that my wife uses for getting her Swiss watch serviced. It has managed to travel to Rotary twice without getting lost - and in monetary terms it's worth a hell of a lot more than my dads!Also, and I know it is known to happen but HTH do the Royal Mail manage to lose a parcel?
As for losing a parcel - Special Delivery is supposed to be tracked. I'm going to get the tracking number and see what happens...
matchmaker said:
longshot said:
Did you know the watchmaker was going to post it to someone else to repair?
Also, and I know it is known to happen but HTH do the Royal Mail manage to lose a parcel?
No - I put it in to them as they are a long established watchmaker. I did not expect them to send it away. If I had, I would have put it in to the jewellers that my wife uses for getting her Swiss watch serviced. It has managed to travel to Rotary twice without getting lost - and in monetary terms it's worth a hell of a lot more than my dads!Also, and I know it is known to happen but HTH do the Royal Mail manage to lose a parcel?
As for losing a parcel - Special Delivery is supposed to be tracked. I'm going to get the tracking number and see what happens...
Not only has one never been lost, I've never known a Special Delivery not be delivered the day it was due (once it was delivered at 1.10pm so ten mins late).
I think it is more likely that they've misplaced it, and are blaming RM. The next issue is that if they've spun you some yarn, the tracking number they give you, you won't know if the parcel they sent actually had your Dad's watch in it.
JustinP1 said:
Through my business over the last 15 years we've sent out literally thousands of parcels. A good proportion by Special Delivery.
Not only has one never been lost, I've never known a Special Delivery not be delivered the day it was due (once it was delivered at 1.10pm so ten mins late).
I think it is more likely that they've misplaced it, and are blaming RM. The next issue is that if they've spun you some yarn, the tracking number they give you, you won't know if the parcel they sent actually had your Dad's watch in it.
But if they actually provide a number, then the PO will either prove that it was delivered or they'll not be able to. If the former, it will be quite clear what was was delivered and whereNot only has one never been lost, I've never known a Special Delivery not be delivered the day it was due (once it was delivered at 1.10pm so ten mins late).
I think it is more likely that they've misplaced it, and are blaming RM. The next issue is that if they've spun you some yarn, the tracking number they give you, you won't know if the parcel they sent actually had your Dad's watch in it.
If you're sure it was Special Delivery then RM have got a lot of questions to answer as SD are virtually handed person to person and signed for at each stage. When speaking to RM you want to know where in the system it has been lost. I'd say the number of SD that get lost are very very few indeed. I'd suspect something else rather than SD initially. Tracked is just not very good and could be lost anywhere in te system after posting.
You want some answers from the jewellers -make sure they admit responsibility for it and not just try to fob you off on RM. they should not have sent it away without your permission.
You want some answers from the jewellers -make sure they admit responsibility for it and not just try to fob you off on RM. they should not have sent it away without your permission.
REALIST123 said:
JustinP1 said:
Through my business over the last 15 years we've sent out literally thousands of parcels. A good proportion by Special Delivery.
Not only has one never been lost, I've never known a Special Delivery not be delivered the day it was due (once it was delivered at 1.10pm so ten mins late).
I think it is more likely that they've misplaced it, and are blaming RM. The next issue is that if they've spun you some yarn, the tracking number they give you, you won't know if the parcel they sent actually had your Dad's watch in it.
But if they actually provide a number, then the PO will either prove that it was delivered or they'll not be able to. If the former, it will be quite clear what was was delivered and whereNot only has one never been lost, I've never known a Special Delivery not be delivered the day it was due (once it was delivered at 1.10pm so ten mins late).
I think it is more likely that they've misplaced it, and are blaming RM. The next issue is that if they've spun you some yarn, the tracking number they give you, you won't know if the parcel they sent actually had your Dad's watch in it.
Get the tracking info and check it out, find out who the watch was sent to and why ie new hairspring ,balance staff, escapement problem, replacing jewels etc and check up with them. There are few specialists left in the trade now and proper Watchmakers are thin on the ground. What alerts me is that no proper Watchmaker would ever send a complete watch. The bare movement only, cleaned and oiled is sent to a specialist. So at worst a movement could be obtained and fitted should a loss occur or the movement scrap. The customer would receive back his original case,dial hands and strap just with a new 'engine'.
Horology is a small world and we all know each other. I suspect a cover up, any so called Watchmaker who cannot repair an Astral in house needs avoided. Create a major fuss, most of my work is vintage & sentimental stuff so I know exactly how you feel about this. When having a valued Watch or Clock repaired always ask if you can visit the workshop,any bluff ,walk away.
Meanwhile don't panic, it may well turn up as Sd is totally reliable. A well known trade specialist has moved recently so the watch may be stuck between addresses. Any loss in the Sd system is checked out, the PO investigators make the KGB look like Teddy Bears.
Horology is a small world and we all know each other. I suspect a cover up, any so called Watchmaker who cannot repair an Astral in house needs avoided. Create a major fuss, most of my work is vintage & sentimental stuff so I know exactly how you feel about this. When having a valued Watch or Clock repaired always ask if you can visit the workshop,any bluff ,walk away.
Meanwhile don't panic, it may well turn up as Sd is totally reliable. A well known trade specialist has moved recently so the watch may be stuck between addresses. Any loss in the Sd system is checked out, the PO investigators make the KGB look like Teddy Bears.
slyelessar said:
Mojo sent dude.
I probably would have taken the thing somewhere myself to get fixed, but in this day and age, convenience always seems to be a viable option.
But he didn't know the repairer was going to sub contract. I probably would have taken the thing somewhere myself to get fixed, but in this day and age, convenience always seems to be a viable option.
As said, OP, your beef is with the repairer with whom you have the contract. The fact they employed 2 x sub contractors (the actual repairer & RM) is their responsibility.
As also said, the key for your supplier is to check the tracking with his supplier. It may yet not even be RM problem. (Wrong address on label etc)
Good luck!
Edited by 2 sMoKiN bArReLs on Saturday 20th June 07:36
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