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I thought it might be interesting to share some details of my most
interesting offshore trade adventure so far. This has different
wrinkles compared to the epic "order before Thanksgiving, receive in
early February" episode with the several week sojourn in US Customs
that I've shared in the past.<br>
<br>
On the 7th I ordered stuff from dx.com and it was split three ways.
One SKU had a bizarre "LP" tracking number that finally appeared
via USPS with a proper tracking number from Kentucky but with half
the ordered quantity in the box. I beat the Internet bushes hard
trying to get a clue to decode the "LP" tracking code. The dx.com
site had a decoder ring but it lacked the LP flavor and there was no
way to send a message asking for explanation. Several polls of their
"chat line" during their biz hours (12 hours in our future) always
yielded a "not available, try again later" page. I submitted a
ticket about the missing item and will call them on the phone if
they don't respond by tomorrow late night. <br>
<br>
Two other packages went to Amsterdam 10 and seven days ago
respectively according to the USPS tracking they were linked to. As
far as USPS is concerned they are still in Amsterdam. However I just
found a cute little popup on the dx.com site informing me that one
package left Amsterdam on the 22nd. I'm not sure if I just haven't
noticed that popup or if there was a long lag before it was added to
their system. But the package that, according to USPS, was still in
Amsterdam starting on the 18th (*before* the one that's sailed) has
not been updated.<br>
<br>
The impossible to decode "LP" tracking number dx.com gave me is what
I'm blaming for my current anxious state. That, and the fact that,
in perfect accord with Murhpy's Law, the missing item is one of the
two night vision security cameras that were half of the original
motivation for the whole order. The other half of why I went with
the overseas order was to get some very interesting Arduino
Uno-compatible boards to use for a teaching gig. Which box has those
boards in it? The one that got to Amsterdam first but appears to be
leaving last, of course. <br>
<br>
But, as exhibit C, I submit a screen shot I just took from their
site showing what they are publishing as their current date and
time. They obviously don't want to be pipped to the post by other
April Fools jokers.<br>
<br>
<img src="cid:part1.081FC5D5.A277E92A@soper.us" alt=""><br>
<br>
Pete<br>
<br>
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