Sad Christmas

Boris Godunov · December 22, 2003, 21:16

Ok, so Dan, my roommate, decided that his Xmas present to Caroline, his girlfriend (and my other roommate) would be an engagement ring.

After shopping around for a while, a friend of his at work put him in touch with a jeweler in North Carolina who has a specialty in platinum rings. He found the perfect ring and placed and order. It cost $4500.

It was due to be delivered via UPS on Saturday. Dan waited all day in the apartment for the package, but it never arrived. The tracking continued to say it was in NY and out for delivery. But it never showed up. UPS said that they were backlogged due to Xmas, so it would be there Monday.

Come this morning, Dan stayed home from work to get the package. By 10 AM it wasn't here, so he called UPS to find it.

Well...they don't know where it is. Despite the supposedly sophisticated UPS tracking system, they can't find his package. They sent a dispatch to all 53 trucks in the area, and none said they have it. They haven't a clue where it is, and can only wait until the trucks all come in tonight to try and find it.

Dan is only insured on it up to $2500. So if they don't find it, he's out $2000 and an Xmas gift for Caroline.

I came home with 2 bottles of wine for Dan. He'd already downed one, and we're almost out. Ohhhhh man oh man...

Verto · December 22, 2003, 21:18

Japher · December 22, 2003, 21:22

No use crying over spilt milk... at least not until you know it is spilt. I doubt they'll lose it, but it may be late.

If it is late he should try and set up a big dinner for new years and give that to her for Christmas in the form of a "coupon":

On x Date I will take you out for a night of Romance, blah blah blah; along with other small trinkets... Get the ring by then and explain it all to her after the surprise.

Once again I wouldn't worry about the money, the ring will show up, I would worry about what to get her for Christmas, and if I could tie it into the ring or the engagement somehow.

Or, get her a cheapo from Zales or somewhere... Then when the ring shows up tell her that you got her Cubic to serve as a "place holder" until the real one showed up... She'll understand.

Congrats to Dan for deciding to make this big step

Spec · December 22, 2003, 21:22

He should have taken the full insurance.

Sucks for him man, really.

Spec.

Japher · December 22, 2003, 21:24

Actually, get her a real ugly ring... Something that she would never wear, and propose to her with it

The real gift is the gift of his love, not the ring... and the ring IS on it's way.

Inverse Icarus · December 22, 2003, 21:24

and some wifey of a UPS guy is going to get a nice present.

Tripledoc · December 22, 2003, 21:24

Are these human interest stories true? I have only been a casual reader so far.

Christmas presents for me has always been a walkover. I can't understand all those people who have so much difficulty with that. And how on earth would anyone ever decide to put a $4500 through the mail? This is incredulous to a simple European.

Boris Godunov · December 22, 2003, 21:26

Quote:

Originally posted by Uber KruX
and some wifey of a UPS guy is going to get a nice present.

This is what my dark, cynical heart concluded as well!

Japher · December 22, 2003, 21:28

Quote:

This is what my dark, cynical heart concluded as well

blah!

plan for the best, prepare for the worst

your only ruining Christmas for yourself, don't ruin hers

Spec · December 22, 2003, 21:30

Japher's right dude.

Japher

Spec.

Japher · December 22, 2003, 21:33

It ain't like what I did for my wives Birthday last year.

I just didn't get her anything.

I had just plunked down 4k for a vacation and my truck was falling apart, so I had no money. She asked me what I got for her right before bed, I said something I probably shouldn't of (and rather disgusting, probably) and really pessed her off; no present and sassy husband...

I still haven't gotten her anything, and that was in March...

Q Classic · December 22, 2003, 21:36

i personally don't see what's wrong with just drinking lots and lots of good wine...

although to lose something like that... he's prolly never sending anything through ups anymore.

Japher · December 22, 2003, 21:41

Did the jeweler send it?

Why would he have insurance on it and not the dealer? I always have to pay for insurance when I send stuff, not the receiving end...

Boris Godunov · December 22, 2003, 21:45

Quote:

Originally posted by Q Cubed
i personally don't see what's wrong with just drinking lots and lots of good wine...

That's what we've been doing. WeeeeEEEEeeee!

Dan only insured it for $2500 because he was already going into serious debt for the ring. He's kicking himself, of course, for not doing the whole amount. He just didn't dream that this would happen.

It's sad because he's so upset. And Caroline, not knowing what it is, is getting irked that he's so upset, as she think he's being a baby about it and it's no big deal... oy!

Japher · December 22, 2003, 21:52

I'm talking about the insurance placed on it by the delivery service. The place he bought from, those who sent it to him, would of insured it for it's delivery. Not him, unless this is a weird jewlerer. Seems to me he shouldn't be out any cash because someone else didn't know how to send the package.

alva · December 22, 2003, 21:53

Quote:

Or, get her a cheapo from Zales or somewhere... Then when the ring shows up tell her that you got her Cubic to serve as a "place holder" until the real one showed up... She'll understand.

Indeed, if she is the one, she will.
(she'll probably even find this more romantic..., *sigh*...women...*sigh*

)

Q Classic · December 22, 2003, 21:55

Quote:

It's sad because he's so upset. And Caroline, not knowing what it is, is getting irked that he's so upset, as she think he's being a baby about it and it's no big deal... oy!

i was wondering whether caroline had noticed it or if she was out of town.

man, that sucks. he's got to bottle things up more.

if you're religious, now's a good time to pray to st. anthony...

Japher · December 22, 2003, 21:56

or st. christopher

Boris Godunov · December 22, 2003, 21:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Q Cubed
[if you're religious, now's a good time to pray to st. anthony...

Is this even remotely serious?

Asher · December 22, 2003, 21:58

Ohhh, that sucks for him.

Hope they find it and it just slipped between some boxes or something...

Japher · December 22, 2003, 22:00

If he put it on his credit card, and he never receives it he can contest it with his CC... just keep a written record (e-mails will do) of communications.

Q Classic · December 22, 2003, 22:04

Quote:

Is this even remotely serious?

st anthony of padua
well, yes.

can't hurt, can it? that said, i don't usually pray for the intercession of any saints either.

monolith94 · December 22, 2003, 22:07

What if it shows up tomorrow?

Japher · December 22, 2003, 22:08

You beat the crap out of the USP guy and then yell "That's what Brown can do for me!" then issue them a brown card for dramatic effect.

Q Classic · December 22, 2003, 22:09

it's obviously a miracle sent from heaven.

and there's absolutely nothing wrong with drinking that much good wine.

Zkribbler · December 22, 2003, 22:47

Why should your friend be on the hook for something UPS lost? Sounds to me like UPS owes him a ring.

orange · December 22, 2003, 22:50

Why wouldn't UPS be liable?

Pekka · December 22, 2003, 23:16

Yeah, UPS is the faulty one here. Sucks for him, that's a lot of money, not even talking about the other side to it, which would be giving the ring...

I think he should jsut get something small but with a deep meaning or something like that, and keep on fighting the UPS over this.

Boris Godunov · December 23, 2003, 00:19

It's terrible because this was when he was supposed to ask Caroline to marry him, and instead of focusing on that he has to be worried about the damn ring. I know she isn't going to care that it's not here, but to him that's a big deal. Surely the married folks here understand!

devilmunchkin · December 23, 2003, 00:57

isn't it the store's responsibility to replace lost merchandise?