byuu's SNES preservation project in limbo after games lost

[X-pert74]

Mods, if you think this is more worth having in the Emulation board, feel free to move it there. I'm posting this here though, because it relates to game preservation, which is not a solely emulation-based topic.

SNES preservation project "dead" after $10k of games lost in the post (Eurogamer article)

byuu.org/emulation/preservation/lost-package/ - byuu's explanation of the situation, as well as info on his Super NES preservation project, for those who aren't familiar with it.



This is sad.

[Jungyin]

"Lost" yeah, right. Some scum bag in the mail service decided to make some money on eBay.

[moran]

You do not trust the postal system with a package like that. Ever.

[Deleted]

Might be time to start insisting Ebayers use insured & tracked mail only.
It says he only had tracking for the EU and not the USA. Is that some kind of cheaper shipping variant?

[surnshurn]

always, always, always, make sure that irreplacable items are especially handled. this is a real shame.

[starscream]

Feb 15, 2017 4:16:06 GMT -5 @gmbison said:

Might be time to start insisting Ebayers use insured & tracked mail only.
It says he only had tracking for the EU and not the USA. Is that some kind of cheaper shipping variant?

I think Eurogamer has just written it up confusingly and wrong. If the sender from Germany sent an insured international package with DHL, then it's tracked and insured the whole way. It's from the tracking that Byuu knows that his package made it to US, and got stuck in NJ.

[moran]

Feb 15, 2017 4:16:06 GMT -5 @gmbison said:

Might be time to start insisting Ebayers use insured & tracked mail only.
It says he only had tracking for the EU and not the USA. Is that some kind of cheaper shipping variant?

Yup. Local post services only track within their region. As soon as it goes overseas, good luck. It may cost more to use UPS/DHL/Fed Ex but its a much, much safer investment.

[moran]

Feb 15, 2017 12:24:32 GMT -5 starscream said:

Feb 15, 2017 4:16:06 GMT -5 @gmbison said:

Might be time to start insisting Ebayers use insured & tracked mail only.
It says he only had tracking for the EU and not the USA. Is that some kind of cheaper shipping variant?

I think Eurogamer has just written it up confusingly and wrong. If the sender from Germany sent an insured international package with DHL, then it's tracked and insured the whole way. It's from the tracking that Byuu knows that his package made it to US, and got stuck in NJ.

I just read the post from the his blog and its much more informative. But even though DHL was used it may have been at a cheaper rate that uses USPS to deliver the last mile or so. When that happens tracking goes away. You can track up until that point and thats it.

[magic89]

Sad to hear, ive got chance read from others in diffrent fourms about lost packages from US to EU and vice versa.

[starscream]

I guess it would be different with DHL Express - standard /premium DHL should always be delivered via USPS as partner noted on the DHL page. Express costs a small fortune (e.g. almost 200 € for up to 10 KG, which 100 SNES games presumably exceed...). On the other hand, the insurance costs only 18 € for value up to 25.000 € then. With standard service, it maxes out at 5.000 € apparently, but costs 70 €.

[Deleted]

Ah, in that case he may have been screwed either way from what I am reading - if they went missing at all there was still a $5k loss! :\

[paperchema]

Well, turns out the games were stolen. https://www.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/5uckkd/100_snes_pal_game_shipment_update_package_was/

[jorpho]

Well, just because the label ended up being torn off the box does not mean that the whole thing didn't get smashed by a forklift, or something.

[mathuser]

One of the reasons the package was under insured was cause the guy is on welfare. If they found out he had stuff worth that much they could take it away.

[Deleted]

Feb 17, 2017 12:41:15 GMT -5 mathuser said:

One of the reasons the package was under insured was cause the guy is on welfare. If they found out he had stuff worth that much they could take it away.

Can't say I'm an expert on law, but surely the government can't steal your personal property when you're on public assistance? Yes, it would be very shitty if he was somehow buying a ton of valuable video games while on welfare, but that's not illegal per se.