USPS Possibly Confiscated My Paph...

[Nepenthesis]

I bought a Paph Julius on eBay and I've bought from the guy before and he's an awesome seller. It was shipped Monday via USPS 3 day priority from Hawaii to California.

The last tracking entry was on the 14th saying it departed Hawaii. Expected delivery date still says 16th of January. On the 16th, the USPS sorting facility in a city 30 minutes from me called saying that the package was x-rayed and red flagged.

The person calling asked for permission to open the package to inspect the plant and was told it was okay and what was inside. They said they'd call back if it had to be destroyed.

Today the plant still hasn't come and no call has been made. Another strange thing is that when I called the main USPS help service, they said it was unusual because packages are usually scanned coming into sorting facilities. Plus, they never call for permission to open packages -- they just do it.

It is quite warm here. It's been in the 70s during the day and 40s at night. I'm just curious how long the plant could survive in a box inside of a warehouse... I've ordered from this seller before and they pack very well. The last package I got from the seller was well insulated. The plants I got that time were shipped potted and wrapped completely in newspaper/confetti.

I've been freaking out over this for the past 24 hours and I'm about ready to give up... I feel like I'll get a dried out plant two months down the road.

The worst part is that it has two spikes forming currently...

---------- Post added at 06:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:56 PM ----------

The sender of the package also got a call from USPS on the same day... He had sent out 12 packages that day and mine was the only one that got stopped for "inspection"...

[blackvine]

Exrayed and red-flagged??? Oh, for heaven's sakes!! How many bugs travel with Hawaii tourists back to the states every day! And it's in spike? I would be sick. Just sick. So sorry for you, Nepenthesis!

[Nepenthesis]

Originally Posted by blackvine

Exrayed and red-flagged??? Oh, for heaven's sakes!! How many bugs travel with Hawaii tourists back to the states every day! And it's in spike? I would be sick. Just sick. So sorry for you, Nepenthesis!

Yeah, it was really bugging my yesterday. It was like the hot sauce in the diarrhea that was my week.

I just kinda gave up on worrying. If it shows up, that'd be cool. If it doesn't, that would suck. I'd get my money back, but I'd rather have the plant.

I'm just worried that if it does show up, it would be dead. That's why I'm wondering how long it can survive for.

[Polarizeme]

I had a Masdevallia in a box for close to 10 days. It survived as did the spikes. Don't give up hope yet. It may still show up. I think it's a little strange that USPS called on it though. How did they get your number anyway?

Is it in your town now? I'd go to the post office where they have it and inquire.

[Nepenthesis]

Originally Posted by Polarizeme

I had a Masdevallia in a box for close to 10 days. It survived as did the spikes. Don't give up hope yet. It may still show up. I think it's a little strange that USPS called on it though. How did they get your number anyway?

Is it in your town now? I'd go to the post office where they have it and inquire.

That's good to know. Hopefully it does show up. I've heard so many stories of boxes getting lost though.

The phone number is something strange. I didn't order it myself because I don't have my own eBay account, so a family member's phone number was on the box. Somehow they called my house phone.

When I called USPS earlier today, they asked if they could use my phone number to look up my address. I assume they can do the reverse of that as well. It's the government, specifically the people who deal with addresses, after all.

It is not in my town now -- it's in a city 30 minutes away. I was told by the USPS office that it would be scanned before it left the sorting facility. Everywhere I've called only has the tracking information I have, sadly.

[Lilac]

Ooooh. I feel for ya! I hope it's fine. Keep calling them, and maybe you need to get a little hot under the collar,ya know! Sort a let them know it's a special plant and you don't want anything bad to happen to it! Good luck!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Shoot, so sorry to hear, I hope you will get your package and plant still alive! Keep us posted, this stinks somehow!

[Nepenthesis]

The thing is, there's no phone number for sorting facilities. Even if I call the main USPS phone number and speak to an operator, they can't give me phone numbers for sorting facilities -- only town/city post offices.

I feel SO helpless because there's literally nothing I can do. It's going to be sitting in the warehouse until Tuesday. I would be happy if it was shipped out and got here on Tuesday... I'm afraid it just won't come though.

I feel like the warehouses would be room temperature... What is the absolute longest amount of time it would take for a Paph to die in darkness?

[Laserbeak]

Another reason not to use the government mail.

[katrina]

I would use only Fedex or UPS when sending/receiving plants anywhere outside the contiguous USA. That's been my experience and personally I'd rather pay a bit more and make sure my orders get to me. I usually request Fedex is the sender doesn't automatically use it. I like Fedex best for plants...just a personal preference.

I know USPS is trying to improve their tracking...but, honestly, it's a joke right now. The package may eventually get to you and even 2 days later you might find that it hasn't been updated. A joke.

You might want to check into any shipping regulations for CA and see if there's anything you need to be aware of the next time you order. ??