Missing Mails from USA!

[Garima]

Over the past couple of months, I've been pretty upset and puzzled about not receiving some of the exchange envelopes, and so I headed down to my local post office. I spent some time understanding how the mail comes in, got increasingly frustrated when they couldn't help and then downright angry with my own helplessness.

It was only sometime later that I realised that the mails that I didn't get were the ones coming from only the USA Two of the flight of the feathers exchange and two of the NSEW exchange!

Has anyone else faced this too and is there any way to check it out?  Or am I just plain unlucky not to receive them!

[AnasaziWrites]

Over the past couple of months, I've been pretty upset and puzzled about not receiving some of the exchange envelopes, and so I headed down to my local post office. I spent some time understanding how the mail comes in, got increasingly frustrated when they couldn't help and then downright angry with my own helplessness.

It was only sometime later that I realised that the mails that I didn't get were the ones coming from only the USA Two of the flight of the feathers exchange and two of the NSEW exchange!

Has anyone else faced this too and is there any way to check it out?  Or am I just plain unlucky not to receive them!

@Garima
Did you receive a Flight of the Feathers submission from me?

To find out why you are missing some letters, I would pm the missing letter people and ask if they scanned or photoed the envelope before they sent it, and if so, to send you a copy of the scan. Then you can see if the postage was correct and the address was correct.--maybe a mistake in one of those.

[Starlee]

I received all of my expected FoF exchanges, but I didn't receive 2 of my 3 NSEW exchange either.

[ash0kgiri]

My hands on experience on how the postal service works here, especially Gurgaon (India). I had posted 6 envelopes for the IAMPETH exchange. Went to the post office and asked for relevant amount of stamps for USA. Looking at the envelopes he calculated and gave me. I asked him twice to confirm if the amount is correct and I don't mind putting more stamps to be on a safer side. Post his assurance I walked off.

Next day I find 3 out of 6 envelopes back on my office desk. Wondering what went wrong I visited the post office once again and asked why these 3 came back. I was shocked with the answer he gave me. Quoting - "The envelope sorting guy must have not turned the envelope to see the other address and hence he thought that the delivery address would be Gurgaon (India)". Further adding to this he said you forgot to write 'TO' and 'FROM' above the respective address. I was speechless. Luckily I received all my envelopes from USA and they received mine. But it was a nightmare dealing with these guys.

- Ashok

[Terasleen]

@Garima....have you by any chance been able to contact any of the members you did not receive from as AnasaziWrites suggested?

I sent a letter from Texas to Illinois and it took about 10 days. I also received a letter from Australia and it also took 10 days....who knows why!

I'm new to this but....When there is any Exchange happening and Erica has to mention "If you sign up for an exchange and don't send anything, you won't be able to participate in the next one" to me, that means it happens enough to where she has to say something.

[flummoxed]

@Garima In exchanges on other forums (sketching, etc.), I had similar problems of letters only from the USA not being delivered. We figured out that there were three reasons,
- the pin/zip code format being used,
- funnily enough the fact that there were not enough stamps on the letter (sometimes, because of embossing, embellishments, etc. the package was thicker than an average letter and they would treat it as a parcel/package), and
- due to the decorative covers/styles, they were either not delivered/sent back or delivered to the wrong address!

We resolved this by ensuring that the postal address (including the pin code) was written in block letters and legible to a layman (postal workers deal with large volumes and short deadlines, they often don't have time to stop and re-read what some of us would consider beautiful), making sure the envelopes were free of any other form of embellishment/decoration.

[Garima]

I apologise for not responding earlier! As some of you already know, my dad's health doesn't give me much time for anything else. I'm trying my best to get back to calligraphy one of these days.

@AnasaziWrites Yours was the first one i received apart from the other two that i got! I didn't receive the ones from @schin, @Bianca M and @lynetteburlison. Sachin and Bianca already told me they've sent it though i would love them and everyone else to send me pictures as you suggested.

@ash0kgiri  Haha! Better start writing "TO" and "FROM" till you leave Haryana!!  Luckily, for me, nothing of the sort ever happened since i started participating in these exchanges except for this time!  I missed three envelopes from Flight of the Feathers exchange and two from NSEW exchange @KartiniM and @Erica McPhee's. I'm afraid to participate in another exchange if this doesn't get resolved soon!

@Terasleen Yes it does happen a lot and it is quite frustrating! I hope everyone on my lists received mine - I managed to check with a few who did get them.

@flummoxed Thank you! Will definitely make sure I point it all out in the next exchange.

[Bianca M]

This really does stink.  Unfortunately, I didn't take photos of them, so can't send any- but I will from now on!  BUT, I find it especially troubling that not one, but TWO pieces of mail that I sent to you have gone missing.  One was the FOF exchange, and the other just a personal piece, and I recall you saying that neither made it.  I'm certain that I did the second one in a much simpler style, and I can't imagine that there'd be a legibility issue with it.  Very bothersome.   

[Erica McPhee]

Garima,
My NSEW exchange is still being worked on.    I finally finished my Count Me In and Dear Diary exchanges and those were mailed. But I'm diligently working on the NSEW exchange. I'm hoping it will be "better late than never" experience. 

Have you asked your postal worker or reported the other missing ones to your post office?

[ash0kgiri]

Hi @Garima

This time for the Halloween exchange I been extra careful. So I have the calligraphy envelope inside a printed envelope from 'TO' & 'FROM' typed in BOLD.
It also acts like a teaser to the members who are waiting for those envelopes . Hope they all get it this time.

- Ashok

[KartiniM]

Garima,

I'm so sorry that my letter did not arrive. I had send it before the dead line. I do have a photo of the ones I did. Yours' is to the far right.

I would be really sad and discouraged too if I didn't receive letters. I want you to know your NSEW is so lovely and intricate!  Thank you for it.

Thank you so much for letting me know, and hopefully this doesn't keep you from being part of another exchange.

Kartini

(I'm not quiet sure how to attach the picture so I think this is a hyperlink Let me know if it doesn't work and I'll try again)

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipMDUmtirIQ0tj_hgBs107Kk6KGVRIeDNecXzmnn

[AnasaziWrites]

Kartini

(I'm not quiet sure how to attach the picture so I think this is a hyperlink Let me know if it doesn't work and I'll try again)

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipMDUmtirIQ0tj_hgBs107Kk6KGVRIeDNecXzmnn

@KartiniM
Your link leads to a google sign in page.
To attach a photo that is on your computer, right click the "Attachments and other options" line at the bottom of your post before you post it, and it will open a box where you can browse your computer for the photo, open the photo and click post at the bottom right.

[KartiniM]

[/quote]
Your link leads to a google sign in page.
[/quote]

@AnasaziWrites
Thank you so much for letting me know and for helping me figure out how to attach things!! 
Here's hoping I did it right.

@Garima
Hope you can see it this time.

[AnasaziWrites]

Your link leads to a google sign in page.

AnasaziWrites
Thank you so much for letting me know and for helping me figure out how to attach things!! 
Here's hoping I did it right
Garima
Hope you can see it this time.

You've got the hang of it now.
Two small points:

if you post a larger photo (that is to say, higher resolution, up to a max of 1500kb), you photo can be expanded by clicking on it for a closer look. Something about 1200 x 800 is a good size without taking up too much space.

When you are quoting someone, leave off the / bar in the bracketed word quote, and that will keep your quoted passage separate from your answer.

[ash0kgiri]

Hi @KartiniM.
Thanks for posting those amazing exchange. @Garima they are just wonderful & thought through

-Ashok