Eastman plate tank (8x10”) stolen at GSP center in Erlanger Kentucky

Dear APUG community,

An item that i purchased was stolen at the GSP center in Erlanger Kentucky.

Since it's not a very common item and while in a very good state, it probably (hopefully) will resurface. i do not know many people that could have a use for it and the thief probably made an misjudgment.

Could the users of this forum that are from the kentuky area send me contact information of shops where the item could be offerd for sale? i would like to come in contact with a potential buyer.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/371674074677

Your from the Netherlands, and are making this inquiry from there at this time.. correct?
You purchased from e-bay this item, ... correct?
So if the above is correct how do you know that it was stolen,, if you do a Google search on GSP center in Erlanger Kentucky https://www.google.com/search?q=GSP+center+in+Erlanger+Kentucky&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8 you will note they have shipping problems at that facility and it may well still be there.

Just a thought.. don't know if it will be of any help.

Correct, i am from the netherlands. and i purchased via e-bay.
i received an empty box. On the Commercial Invoice the total gross Weight of the package is 1,16 kilo that is to little. The total should at least weigh 4250 kilo. the tank is 3 klio, but the box left Erlanger weighing aprox 1 kilo. ( i have the papers to proof it )

It’s a sad story, the person who took it has no use of if, i am sure, and was only thinking of making a quick buck. it is a hard item to sell ( i will be on the lookout! ) because it is a photographic item of before the 1920’s. it was in a pristine condition.
it is a strange thing to steal. Why? their must have been a 1000 things more interesting for a thief than this item??? are their a lot of second hand camera shops situated in the surrounding area? i would like to play a little bit sherlock holmes. if the thief was smart ( which he obvious is not ) he’d already cashed in on it, and was probably disappointed about the value the shop owner was willing to pay. anyhow i get carried away

Are you sure the seller did not ship the empty box in the first place?

in erlangen parcels are being opened and repacked to reduce shipping cost for the GSP

This is the party line from Pitney Bowes. Make of it what you will:
http://blogs.pb.com/ecommerce/2013/07/17/global-shipping-program-faqs/

Will every parcel be opened at the processing center?

No, parcels are only opened if Regulatory Law requires due to:

• Commodity lacks Country of Origin – commodity will be inspected for COO identification
• Commodity lacks Country of Origin – commodity will be inspected for COO identification
• Order is for multi quantity of a single commodity – quantity of contents of parcel will be verified
• Order is for multi commodities – quantity of contents of parcel will be verified
• US Customs and/or TSA may open parcels for Inspection after shipping from Processing Center

Will the Processing Center repackage, or add void fill to my commodity?

The Processing Facility will add professional void fill and/or repackage a commodity, for no additional fee to the seller, if:

• The original parcel is too large for the commodity – and then a replacement carton will be used of smaller dimensions
• The quality of the original parcel is worn or tattered the processing center will re-tape and reseal the parcel
• The original parcel is overweight and the commodity can be repackaged into (2 or more) parcels, allowing parcels to ship forward to buyer

as to the question: did the seller not ship the empty box in the first place? i don't think so you can look him up in the link: http://www.ebay.com/usr/rkv

I'm another that would be suspicious of the seller. I't been done before and
I'm remembering(HAH!) unpleasant results for the buyer.

GSP is a second rate shipping service at Global Priority Prices.
I hate it with a passion and a vengeance. And I will not buy from Ebayers offering it if the price goes over 22 Euro or unless it's a big & heavy item.

Anyway, sorry to hear your item got stolen Charly. Make sure to keep an eye on Ebay as Pitney Bowes tends to sell stuff they've confiscated through a third-party seller on Ebay again.

Mr_Flibble said:

GSP is a second rate shipping service at Global Priority Prices.
I hate it with a passion and a vengeance. And I will not buy from Ebayers offering it if the price goes over 22 Euro or unless it's a big & heavy item.

Anyway, sorry to hear your item got stolen Charly. Make sure to keep an eye on Ebay as Pitney Bowes tends to sell stuff they've confiscated through a third-party seller on Ebay again.

Click to expand...

you made me smile, when i googled gsp empty box my hopes quickly flew out the window! but being this exceptional scarce infrequent item that is rarely seen it will probably resurface in only exceptional places! if someone on this forum can help me in providing me with info of places in Kentucky that sell secondhand photo equipment i will be very grateful

Thanks Greg, i will dive in to that

Won't eBay help you get a refund if you report that you received an empty box?

Hi Bob,
I should for obvious reasons had stated the entire story, but sins i'm not a writer i condensed my question to only that part that is for me the most important one: where is my precious? all other acpects like money seems irelavent to me because i can't develop/rinse 8x10" glasplates in money, using a metal tank in pristine condition from the 1920's was the path that i chose. and there is now but one question on my mind WHERE IS IT! i have searched craigslist but to no avail, until now.

here are some messages from the seller:
„I am trying to understand what happened also. This shipment was sent via eBay global shipping Program, I ship the package to them in Kentucky USA and they handle rest, I sent them a fully insured package with tank. I will contact eBay and find out what to do ,very upsetting what happened, I am sorry for all this inconvenience.

II talked with eBay, they are asking you to open a Case.item not as described case, looks like Tank lost during transit From My location to Kentucky. Holiday time, thefts happen some times again I am very sorry about it. Yes it was in pristine condition. Original box crumbled Up from its age, I bought it from a old time photographer Who saved every thing.i will look for more pictures on my SD card. I had it saved for more than twenty years and to loose it like this. You will receive full refund, I will need your help. To file insurance claim. Thank you”

Needless to say that i got a refund.