Skip to main content

What would you do if your DP turn up unexpectedly?

MSC archived stories - May 22, 2016

Good day!

I'm new to this MSC, so thought making a start by sharing a (long) story - short from my recent experience of a DP to Estephanie – it's a big art kit with sketching books.

The order was placed through a merchant based in Oklahoma, and USPS tracking showed that it has arrived in Guatemala City in 7 days, but in few days later back in USA (Chicago) 

We all concluded that it was heading back to the merchant, so I contacted them, and USPS launched an inquiry.

The merchant kindly refunded my money in full, even though shipping cost is usually not, but they made one-time courtesy for me 

Then 2 months later, CI confirmed that the parcel had been received (apparently in 5 days from Chicago), but USPS still don't know why it was returned from Guatemala.

Now, I offered to reimburse for the loss incurred by the merchant, but advised them to file a claim for the merchandises from USPS, so I can cover the shipping cost (138% of items cost). However, they decided not to take any further action, so what would you do in this situation?

Comments

  1. chelaka16 March 2025 at 12:47

    I had a similar thing happen to me however I sent the package myself. It arrived in Guatemala in a week and then it appeared as if it came right back. I had listed the DP as a donation and for it to be abandoned if it couldn't be deliverable. About 5 months later I got the CI response and with photos of child and his goodies. I have since learned not to put a lot of faith in what the tracking says.

    May 22, 2016

    ReplyDelete
  2. chelaka16 March 2025 at 12:48

    That merchant sounds great! I would send them a thank you note along with - if it's allowed? - a copy of the photo of Estaphanie with the gift. :)

    May 22, 2016

    ReplyDelete
  3. chelaka16 March 2025 at 12:48

    musigal
    i would not send packages any more. Just use the money to send a SNG instead. Over $100, you can specify all or part of what it is used for.

    May 22, 2016

    ReplyDelete
  4. chelaka16 March 2025 at 12:49

    I agree with musigal because I tried to send a DP once, but it was a pain in the neck. Just send an SNG instead and you can write down what you want the family to get. I usually just put down necessities and a toy(s) for the sponsored kid(s) and for some other family members to get a/an item(s) too. This is so nobody gets left out.

    May 23, 2016

    ReplyDelete
  5. chelaka16 March 2025 at 12:50

    Hi Everyone!Hope you're all fine, and thanks very much for sharing your thoughts on my first post here.Rerun1982 - I agree not to put a lot of faith in USPS tracking system - there was something awry about it. I did contact Guatemala Customs, but they couldn't trace the parcel.Pippa1 - Yes, they were very supportive throughout the whole process incl. their management! I intend to get CI to issue a certificate of recognition for the team behind organising this DP.musigal, got2luvthisworld - I too prefer SNG, but Estephanie is very special child, so sometimes what I want to send her has to come from outside. So far, I haven’t experienced any issues at Guatemala Customs.. it's just USPS making things rather difficult and confused!I just added a photo of Estephanie with the gifts.. hope you like it.

    May 23, 2016

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DP to Zambia

MSC archived stories -  January 18, 2025 Usually the turnaround time for DP is 4 weeks. It's been a month to next Sunday (Jan 26th) since UPS collected and successfully delivered my DPs to Dulce and the twins. Two years later, last night Simon appeared in my profile as a grown up man. As we aren't getting follow up photos from Zambia anymore, for the first time thought trying DPs to Faith and Simon there, so they will have to come to CC to collect it, where the staff will have a camera to take photos. I remember Zambia used to have the whole family gatherings for EG photoshoot out. So, are there anything special they would be more excited receiving? For example, a football or cricket bat & ball set for Simon, and for Faith.. (no idea!.. may be something to make her elegant hairstyle she has in the latest photo..?). Help me make the list, of course, I don't want to make staff jealous 
Post a Comment
Read more

Pause for Thought! – The value of sponsorship

MSC archived stories - March 2, 2019 As we know the sponsorship does not demand us to write, send special needs or extra gifts to our children, but being a "silent" sponsor does your monthly contribution bring real value (for money) – especially if you live outside the USA, you or CI don't even get tax benefits of your charitable donation? Is this because most sponsors can't afford anymore than the monthly fee to sponsor a child or trust CI so much that they do not feel needing to play an active role in their sponsored child(ren)'s lives to have an impact?   The sponsorship rewards both sponsor and the child through exchange of letters. Then we have social media platforms, like MSC to share our experiences with fellow sponsors – all can be done for free and bring closer understanding of each other and building friendships for life!   But above all sponsorship motivates your child to attend their community center more often not only for letter reading/writing but a...
8 comments
Read more

A step in a higher level journey

Estephanie is my former sponsored child through Children International, whom I cared for four and a half years since she was just 6yrs old. She is a gifted and bright child brought up in a loving family of four in Guatemala. Her abrupt departure from the sponsorship program in June 2019 was totally unexpected, even though I was acutely aware of their situation in the family a s well as the city leading up to this moment. Estephanie is not just any sponsored child, but someone who changed my life forever devoting to children in need. For that reason, I call her ‘my miracle little princess’ and she calls me ‘padrino’ (her godfather). In August 2020, fourteen months after her leaving CI, we met again and reunited with the family. It was our momentous encounter of this lifetime. The family has moved on leaving everything behind to start a new life abroad. More importantly , I was fortunate enough to see Estephanie growing up fast in a new world since I last saw her back home. At age...
Post a Comment
Read more