Been gone a long time, but hard to come back after an orchid disaster...
 

I've been gone a long long time, so it's about time I get back on OB. February and March were incredibly hectic since I was finishing my main Msc thesis project, and hardly had any time to myself! After that, I promised to be back on OB, I missed it!

Then end of march I sent a box to a friend containing 14 of my favorite and rarest orchids, since I'm spending 5 months in the USA and can't bring my plants along and didn't want to leave everything with my mother.:( But the impossible happened, and the box got lost and the post office has no clue where it is. The box never left the netherlands and got returned to sender, except that it never ever arrived. :_(:_( The post office refuses to give me the insurance money (I had the package insured to 500€) because according to them they did deliver back to the address, but it's not their fault if they delivered it to the wrong floor or left it by my door and someone stole it. The package is supposed to be delivered only on signature, but they said it doesn't count if it returns to sender. I'm completely devastated to have lost all the orchids that meant the most to me. Some will be impossible to replace because they were imported from other countries, or just extremely rare in Europe. I lost nearly my entire Phal equestris collection that I've been working hard to expand. And without the insurance money I can't even replace the ones that I can still get a hold of in Europe, because I'm just a broke student.

I haven't had the heart to come to OB since then, since the sight of an orchid just makes me want to cry. I don't know if I'll have the heart to continue with orchids once I'm home in September. I don't even know if I'll ever come back to OB on a regular basis, I've pretty much lost interest in orchids for now.

(((CAMILLE)))
I'm so sorry! Thats awful! If you haven't already keep going up the chain of command at the post office - I realize you can't get your plants back - but it's awful they are jerking you around on the insurance *sigh*
I'm really sorry this happened :(

Sucks now. burns but in a year or 2 you will not be upset as you are now. You are young and you can collect more. Just think about people that start making bonsais at retirement age and are not be able to live long enough to see the turn out.

Maybe people can send you divisions, maybe the package will turn out and some plants will be ok.

Anyway you will not be forever a broke student. Get more...

Anyway always better not to keep all the eggs in one basket or mail all the precious items in one box.

divide in 2 / 3/ 4 package. One may get lost but the odds that multiple package may get lost is lower.

keep calling. call some higher up. call some ombudsman or some customers' org etc etc.

That might be a good idea Camille. Calling some omsbudsman or consumer rights organization. I don't know how that works in Europe. I have been helped by the Better Business Bureau here. They are truly amazing! List the orchids you lost, Camille. If I have any of them, I'll mail you a division. Please don't lose heart girl. :goodluck:Carol

OH Dear Camille,
I'm really sorry!!!! that is really awful!
I have a couple keikies of the 'normal' pink equestris -I'd be more than happy to send to you (in europe)My alba lost it's roots but thankfully is on the way to recovery , so I'll be able to send you a keiki in less than a year ?..I reckon...as well as a couple dends...as I'd love to have you back here on the OB!

That's just awful, can barely imagine how you feel. We have such great members, i can't help thinking that those closer to home will send you some divisions. By all means take time to grieve the loss, but I hope that in time you will be fussing over new orchids

Good luck

Stefano- I DID divide my orchids into several boxes! I send orchids to 3 people, and the other 2 arrived fine. It's just my luck that it was the box with the favorites that disappeared. I couldn't divide into more boxes because shipping costs to other EU countries is quite a lot. I know I won't be broke forever, but they had sentimental value.

I filed a complaint with TNT Post Netherlands, but they told me that the investigation will take about 3 months. If they do find the box (which I doubt) within that time they'll all be long dead. At least they're paying back postage, but that's little consolation for now.

Thanks for all the offers of divisions and such, that's very kind of you! It's nice to know I have moral support, and that's enough to want to stay on OB until I get over losing my orchids. :)

Camille, even though I've known about this since it happened I still feel great sadness as I read it, I know how terrible I would feel.

Once you get back to Europe we will find ways to get you back up and running with orchids. Currently I don't have any keikis or orchids big enough to divide, but as soon as I do you will be the first person I think of.

Don't give up Camille :blowkisses:

Camille,

Sorry for your loss and frustration. You have lots of support here. Plus you can still help others in your "spare" time. This site has helped me a lot being way from my plants these past 15 months.

I'm sorry for your loss Camille. But stick around please. Everyone around here would really miss you. Even though you can't replace sentimental value, you'll get some more and start over. I wish you were closer, I'd send you a few right now. Best wishes.

be strong for the loss and persist on the insurance money... grieve if you have to, then start over and forget... i have lost some of my collection last year to bacterial infection, decide to ignore for a while and come back again... hope you will be strong too!

I think that by the time I get home late august, I'll be itching to buy orchids. I'm doing a research project in the US until then, so I can't even buy orchids even if I wanted to, because I'd have to trash them before heading back to Europe! Even Noids are so darned expensive here compared to the Netherlands.

But I think I'm getting drawn back into orchids anyways. A PhD student here houses his entire 200-300 plant collection in one of the university's research greenhouses. A lot of his babies are neglected, and I'm guilty of spending my spare time on the roof in the greehouse, giving the poor orchids some much needed tlc. He's got some awesome Stanhopeas in bloom as well as several Encyclia tampensis, and a monster Brassavola nodosa that I hope will bloom before I leave. A shame I can't bring home some divisions.
Anyways, it's nice to have an orchid addict to talk to at work, I think we're quickly going to be friends!

you could bring some divisions with you. How many people from Europe bought a few iPads to take back. what are the chances? Some rules sometimes can be bent. If you are not hurting / taking advantage / abusing anyone.
A division of a Brassavola nodosa is pretty small.

That's just terrible, Camille. I can't believe the post office would do this to you. :(

I'm sorry to hear about your losses. I feel my heartstrings get pulled each time I lose a plant, or when a favorite plant is sick. All that hard work you put into them seems to just go down the drain.

I understand your not wanting anything to do with orchids, but I urge you not to give up. Something tells me that if you looked hard enough, you could get your collection back in no time. ;)

And keep fighting for your insurance money. I hope you get it back.

Oh Camille! I'm so sorry! Firstly though - you have so much experience and advice to offer here on orchid board, that I know I personally have benefitted from, that it would terrible if you didn't come back. And secondly if I ever have anything worth dividing you're first on my list to have it!

Camille,
Can you post a list of what you have lost? You never know who can help you. I have a few plants with Keiki's forming. Some of them are NOID phals, the rest I know the names. You are more than welcome to them and they should be ready to go by the time you come back to Europe.

Let me know. I am really sorry for your loss. But keep hounding them. You are at least entitled to the insurance and where is their proof they returned to sender. They could say that any time they lost a parcel.

Stay strong. You wont always be an impoverished student.

Good call nibbler.

Hi Camille,
I may be newish round here, not have a big collection or much experience but I would also, like others, be willing to help if I get the chance. I feel truly sorry for you and the experience.

I will hopefully be getting an equestris soon, and if it ever has babies I'll be sure to think of you.

Keep smiling, seems to me that there are a few of us around who are willing to help if we can.

Aw Camille! That really stinks! :( It's really too bad shipping orchids internationally is such a big deal with CITES and all. I'm sure with all the OB members willing to contribute Keikis and divisions you'd have your collection restored in no time. At any rate, we miss having you around. You're a valued contributor here. :blowkisses: