Douglas Diaz3 said:The issue is that I’m the recipient, not the sender. I ordered a laptop from a company based in Washington, D.C.—paid upfront, too—but it never showed up. I called them, then called the postal service with the tracking number, and they finally realized it’s lost in transit. After that, the postal service contacted the company, and the folks at the firm told me they’ve started a claim process. My only fear is that this will drag on for a month before they officially declare it gone... Can I just demand they send a replacement laptop? They’re insured for this anyway, right? Either they get the laptop back or they get reimbursed.
Don't sweat the lost package yourself; let the company deal with the headache. Demand either a replacement or a full refund. You can't exactly hunt down the package since you aren't the one who shipped it. They once lost (or stole) a guitar of mine; the retailer just sent another one, and whatever drama they sorted out with the carrier afterwards was their business. If they try to give you the runaround, threaten to report them to Consumer Reports. Watch how fast they fold—that worked for me at least three times.🙂
Personally, whenever I buy something and pay in advance, I insist on FedEx delivery. They're way more reliable.
Douglas Diaz3 said:Can someone explain the process after filing a claim? I sent a package via HP Express valued at $1000. It was supposed to arrive in two days, but it's been four. The post office confirmed it's lost. What are the possible outcomes, and when can I expect my money or the package back?
Go to the post office and file the claim (you’ll need your shipping receipt). After that, wait a few days until you get official confirmation that it's lost. Then, you fill out another form to request compensation. Once they make a decision and send you written notice, a mail carrier brings the cash to your door. For me, the whole ordeal took about 15 days. Good luck! If you declared the actual value, don't sweat it; they'll reimburse you for what you stated plus the shipping costs.
If I were you, I’d email HP directly. They actually respond quickly, and you can be quite blunt in your message. I had an issue with them recently, and let me tell you, they moved fast once I made a scene. They pulled in every manager available and gave the necessary reprimands. A package that was lagging behind suddenly showed up at the destination at 7:30 PM just because I caused a stir yesterday. People, do not stay silent. Send the emails, make the calls, and demand your rights. It's the only way to keep them in line!
Here is my latest experience with FedEx, which I strongly recommend avoiding if you have any other choice!
On Friday, a package was sent via FedEx (weight 798g with next-day delivery by 3 PM, COD $667, separate). The sender told me shipping would be roughly $17. The label stated "sender pays" $19. The package finally arrived on Monday, and the shipping cost had ballooned to a whopping $43.
According to the receipt I barely managed to scrape from the post office: postal money order at 3.66% rate - $24 ... (the start of the word is cut off on the receipt) in PO for 0.2-1kg and Zone I - $11 separate FedEx shipment - $5.00 FedEx COD - $2.50
The actual delivery was handled completely unprofessionally. I didn't receive the package at my doorstep; instead, they just shoved a notice through my door—we have a mailbox right in the lobby. The driver didn't even attempt to call me, nor did he try to redeliver later. The promised delivery window was until 3 PM, yet he showed up at 10 AM, which apparently was "good enough" according to the clerk at the branch. I suppose I should just take a personal day to sit around waiting for the mailman. I work until 1 PM and was home before 2 PM. Why am I paying for such an expensive service advertised as door-to-door when the package was essentially dumped at the post office? Now I have to waste more time and gas driving into town to pick it up. I clearly didn't get what I paid for; they treated this like standard snail mail. Also, the percentage they skim off the COD amount is absolutely insulting!!!
Naturally, I emailed a complaint to FedEx, but they couldn't care less... just the usual corporate nonsense about "customer satisfaction."
NEVER AGAIN FEDEX!!!!
To top it off, the postal service has lost a package once before (lost, or rather, stolen), once they failed to collect the COD because the carrier didn't charge it, and once they claimed I hadn't paid when I actually had—so we just settled it via online banking. Thank God there are still honest people out there. Now my most recent package has gone missing too, so I have to start a search inquiry again today. It's just a massive pile of incompetents and thieves!
So, I uploaded my recordings to YouTube (apparently I'm the only one doing this!?). For Diamonds and Rust and Music Playlist, I just recorded the audio on a digital recorder on my knee, then slapped some photos over it to make a video... though if anyone actually wants the stills, I can upload those separately!
The audio quality isn't exactly top-tier, but hey, what can you do when you have to hide the mic after those people were ushered out during the next song? (They certainly made a scene...).
Mini Documentary featuring Joan Baez and Steve Earle discussing the upcoming release of Baez's new album entitled "Day After Tomorrow" on Proper Records
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oF-NJA7kH4
Man, I am seriously counting down the days until this album drops.😍
I’m still reeling from the experience, and I'm actually still in Washington, D.C.🙂 So, I won't dive into a full analysis just yet, but I can tell you this: it was hands down the most beautiful concert I have ever attended. It was so packed with emotion (at least for me) that I was actually tearing up while we all sang Amazing Grace together... simply breathtaking. I didn't want to leave the venue; I could have sat there listening for days. I've got some photos and videos, but I'll share those once I'm back home... cheers, everyone.
Carl Lee4 said:For a few months now, I’ve been hitting the sack around midnight and not actually getting up until about 9:30 AM. My internal clock—which is basically a broken Garmin 🙂 at this point—wakes me up around 7:00, but instead of getting up, I just roll over, hug my pillow, and go right back to sleep. And honestly... those two and a half hours leading up to 9:30 are absolute torture. I wake up every ten minutes, I can hear every single noise from the street outside, my neck is killing me from sleeping wrong... yet, I still don't get out of bed. I just lie there stretching. It's infuriating. Plus, I tend to have these terrible dreams during those last few minutes of sleep.
So, how do I actually train myself to get up earlier... say, by 7:30?
Anyone else dealing with this exact same mess?😕
I'm in the exact same boat. Nothing seems to work. Every single morning I have to drag myself to work and I struggle like an idiot—cursing under my breath and barely managing to stand up. It's like I'm missing that spark of willpower entirely. Then, on my days off, I just lounge in bed until noon. It's pathetic.
Look, obviously. There are consequences—plain and simple. Overeating, being a total couch potato... it all catches up to you. The key is moderation. Nothing is good in excess, right?
A hallucinogenic effect? That sounds off to me—alcohol doesn't hit like that. Are you absolutely certain someone didn't spike your drink? A reaction like that seems way too extreme. Which is exactly why I’m adding another rule: never leave the restroom until you've finished your drink, and for heaven's sake, don't just leave your glass or bottle sitting around for anyone to mess with.
Brian Reed74 said:Hey everyone! I'm finally joining the conversation🙂 I've read through plenty of great ideas, but the issue is that most of what I actually need seems to be located in New York City. What can I find locally in Indianapolis—and if you have prices, even better—like balloons, bows, candles, wrapping paper, mason jars, perhaps a local potter or candle maker who does custom work, invitations, thank-you notes, a band, cake decorations, etc., etc., basically everything needed for a wedding that isn't popping into my head right now. How far in advance should I rent a wedding dress? What are the costs? Any experiences to share regarding custom sewing versus renting? Basically, any recommendations or advice are more than welcome.😉
Regarding Indianapolis—the one thing I'll tell you straight up is don't hire a wedding planner; they are absolutely terrible. As for the dress, definitely rent it—and do it early enough so you aren't paying extra just to secure your choice. I'm not sure if you've picked a venue or where you're hosting the party yet, but go to the Hilton and ask them for recommendations—it seems like a solid spot for a wedding.
When you start drinking, you need to be honest about your current state—if you're exhausted or taking medication, just don't. It isn't worth it. Rule number two: stop mixing drinks unless you have a death wish. Mixing hard liquor with soda sends the sugar straight to your bloodstream, hitting you way faster—so please, just sip it slowly. Rule number three: before you even think about hitting the pillow, chug some water. You need to prevent dehydration if you want to avoid waking up with a headache the size of Jupiter. Rule four: figure out what actually works for you. For me, tequila is a total disaster.
The order doesn't strictly matter. P.S. Some people simply shouldn't drink; their bodies just won't handle it. I have a friend who was diagnosed with mild schizophrenia, and his doctor made it very clear that alcohol could trigger serious issues for him.
I guess I’ll weigh in too—spices aren't the enemy, provided you steer clear of those artificial flavor enhancers and processed seasoning mixes. You see them used everywhere in hotels just to give bland, cheap food some semblance of actual taste. Plants themselves aren't harmful; you just can't go overboard with the salt. It's brutal on the kidneys.
Let's be real—these campaigns are clearly aimed at people who've never even touched the stuff. For anyone already using, no damn poster in the world is going to make an impact.
It would be great if things actually worked that way.
Are you actually suggesting that people fighting drug abuse and addiction have to hit rock bottom before they earn the right to speak up or take action?
rustytiger19 said:as i said - you're better off ignoring me because now you've started throwing prejudices my way. EOD
Look, I have plenty of prejudices—just like you probably do, and everyone else for that matter—because what sits well with me might not sit well with you, and vice versa. That's just how it works. Nothing unusual there. As for my rambling and those "learned phrases" you're picking on? Honestly, I'm damn proud of them. I'd much rather be a rambler than someone speaking from the perspective of a former or current addict. I'd prefer if everyone just talked nonsense and never actually touched drugs.
rustytiger19 said:Girl, you're just full of prejudice! That's all I can say for you!!!!
And I was one too, honey—an addict. Eight years on heroin, so I’m speaking from experience here—maybe I should just shut you up myself! But listen closely: I never once committed a crime to get my fix, aside from the obvious fact that buying drugs is illegal. Addicts who resort to stealing are people who already have those tendencies in them; they would have stolen even if they weren't addicted. So, quit generalizing about the very people you claim to be "helping"!
And yeah, feel free to ignore me!
Glad to see you're doing better, dear. You had the money to fund your habit, whereas some people just don't. You're being incredibly rude, but I guess that's just who you are.