The Saga Of The Torsos

[Erdbeereis]

Greetings!

I am here today to bring you an exciting tale of drama, mystery and happiness. One that crossed continents multiple times and brought disappointment aplenty only to end with joy and much humor.

Let us begin on the 1st of October when I made a post stating that I was in need of some Imperial Soldier torsos and red plumes for my PtV entries...

Hello!

I am in need of This torso or a whole blue coat fig.

And This Torso Or a whole red coat fig.

I also could use some red plumes.

I would prefer buying them, but am willing to look into a trade. Preferably in the U.S. but that is not a necessity.

Let me know!

Thanks, Erdbeereis1

One day later, Zorro3999 sent me a P.M. stating that he was willing to send me one of each torso and plume from Belgium. We made the arrangements, and I was very pleased.

A week or two went by, and I opened my mailbox to find an envelope from Belgium. Excited, I picked it up and found, to my horror, the it was completely ripped open and the contents missing. I was shocked, and sent Zorro a message explaining the predicament.

He then used a Bricklink connection of his in the U.S to send me 2 red plumes and 1 of each torso, once again, I felt happy and expected the shipment to arrive within a week.

1 week went by, then 2. Finally Zorro sent me a message, the contents of which made this story all the more crazy....

NOW DONT laugh please...

I immediatly shipped it out (again) to you...on their costs since this time its their fault!

Sorry...

FROM BRICKLINK:

Zorro3999:

Hi, I just received an order from you guys at my own home adress in BELGIUM,

BUT I specificly asked to send this to an alternate US adress since I am

nothing with it and shipping these small inexpensive items from Belgium to

the US was more expensive then buying it in a US BL shop and letting them

(you) send it to my friend.

This was stated into the order (comments section)

I did this entirely according to your Splash page

(http://www.toybrickbrigade.com/BL/BLsplash.htm) there I read this:

Do have a special request?

Most requests regarding shipping, alternate addresses, part condition, etc.

can be put into the comments section of your order.

Since my request was put onto the invoice I received as well, this should

have been read by you guys...

Also the problem is that my friend needs those quite urgently to compete

into an Eurobricks contest.

Can these parts be shipped to him (at the correct adress this time) ASAP, if

required I will pay for this again.

Seller response:

I'm sorry for the error, I must have missed the comments. I can refund the

shipping amount to you, and you can ship it to your friend if you'd like.

For such a small package, shipping to the US would have cost the same as

shipping to Belgium. We don't have any more of these pieces right now.

====================================================

So, Zorro sent the contents of the package that came from the U.S., was supposed to stay in the U.S., ended up in Belgium, and was now en route back to the U.S.

So, once again, I was happy and felt that this crazy story was about to come to an end and I would have plenty of time to finish up my PtV entries when they arrived.

A week went by, they still hadn't come, but I thought that was relatively normal seeing as they had to go across continents.

I was due to go on vacation for a week at that point, and figured the mail would be there when I got back, so I sent this message to Zorro.

Hello!

I just wanted to say that since tomorrow I'm leaving for a week, I won't be able to check my mail for the things you sent, but I would asume that they will be there when I return, I'll let you know when I get back.

Thanks, Erdbeereis1

So, I had a nice relaxing week on the beach with no worries about mail or anything. Then I arrived back home and proceeded down to the mailbox, eagerly anticipating the mail that I had waited so long for. Alas, nothing was to be found other than holiday catalogs and bills.

I was heartbroken, and figured I would never see the torsos that Zorro had been so generous to send me.

However, I still needed Imperial Soldiers for my entries, and I heard that many people had been finding the new 09 Pirate sets at Toys R Us.

Normally, I wouldn't bother going to a crappy TRU that's over 20 minutes away, but boy was I desperate. I got to TRU hoping very much that the new sets would be there, and I could finally get a soldier of my own. At first, there was no sign of any new Pirate sets, but then I spotted the impulse sets on the edge of the aisle. I proceeded to buy 4 Soldier's Arsenal sets and 2 Pirate Survivals, and I was pleased, even though I never got the old ones.

So, I used the new ones in my entry, and all was well, however I still wondered what ever happened to the ones from Belgium.

Then, long after I had entered my MOCs for the contest and 2 days after the contest ended, I found a big surprise waiting for me at the end of the street...

It was December 1st, exactly 2 months after my original post saying that I needed them, when I got a mustard yellow envelope in my mailbox with the things I had long desired.

Guess what showed up in my mailbox today!

I'll give you 3 guesses and the first 2 don't count.

That's right, 1 blue soldier torso, 1 red soldier torso and 2 red plumes all the way from Belgium!

And only 2 days too late as well. At least I was able to get some of the new ones in time, mail service these days sucks, there's no reason it should have taken so long . Ah well, like they say, all's well that ends well!

I can't thank you enough for all of your hard work and trouble, let me know if there's ever anything I can help you with!

Thanks again!

Erdbeereis1

So, that was that, the most interesting, frustrating and exciting mail story I have ever come across. Now, let's get that PtV contest finished!

And whoever bothered to read this whole story gets a package shipped to them from Zorro!

Thanks!

[The Rancor]

And whoever bothered to read this whole story gets a package shipped to them from Zorro!

One package for me then please

[Erdbeereis]

One package for me then please

Are you sure you want to bother?

[The Rancor]

No, not really!

(I hope I spot Impulse sets on the corner of my TRU isle soon, because I'm running out of time to buy anything!)

[Buttons]

Are you sure you want to bother?

I get it.

You better win the PTV contest after all that effort on the part of Zorro and yourself.

[Zorro]

to add into that story: NOT MY FAULT!! Postal services SUCK down here in belgium!

One package for me then please

ps: it was an anniversary gift to Strawberry, so wait untill its your birthday and if i have a good day i'll just might send you some to o! As long as you don't live in the US...

BTW at least I was true to my word! i kept trying untill it got there! Even with all gods turned against me and having to make use of the Belgian postal services.

poor strawberry, he nearly missed the PTV deadline because of this...

Edited December 6, 2008 by zorro3999

[The Rancor]

NOT MY FAULT!!

I never once thought that. Postal always seems to suck from time to time everywhere.

And, yes, I hope you do win the Ptv contest...

...Not because of the thread though

[Zorro]

And, yes, I hope you do win the PtV contest...

Yes, Erdbeereis does have some very strong entries hasnt he...and his creative critic was very good too!

It was my first contest and I had much fun, can't wait till the next one! And such great prizes, I really wonder who is going to win that BSB .

Oh yeah, and you can maybe use the torsos for that next contest, Erdbeereis1

Edited December 6, 2008 by zorro3999

[Erdbeereis]

poor strawberry, he nearly missed the PTV deadline because of this...

Don't worry about me, I got some new Pirates sets out of it!

Thanks again for all of your effort Zorro!

[Legoking]

Wow, that must of been annoying.

[Zepher]

I'd have to say that is annoying, though I commend you greatly Zorro for all the incredible work you put forth to get it to happen!