French Banknote Theft - Page 2

rjbeck · 09-12-2009, 04:53 AM

Real sorry to hear about the theft. I found out about the theft in my local paper in North Carolina so some how you are getting the exposure you want about these notes.I thought that this happened several months ago but it doesn't matter as long as you are getting some exposure.Randy

Dave M · 09-12-2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daggarjon

I wish you the best of luck, and if i can help with anything, just let me know!!!!

Thanks much for the note, DJ. As regards who it may be, I think the set of folks includes everyone from the packaging & shipping folks at CGB through my postal delivery person. Neighbors wouldn't have had any access to the package. In a curious twist, the package is labeled right on the front with the contents and value, one one of those tear-off sheets. I don't know if that sheet was covered during most of the trip through the mail, but as it stands right now, when I received it, it's yelling loud and clear "expensive stuff in here". I assume this package was shipped like any other shipment from CGB (they don't ask the customer how he wants shipping) so it would seem to be really strange if that label were actually exposed through the mail stream. I have this vision of the Monday morning after every auction, they bring a couple thousand similar packages to their local post office and drop them off.... if anyone's going to see a pattern, it would be their local office.

Right now I'm just hoping to get money back out of the insurance claim. There have been many emails, phone calls, photographs exchanged, and helpful suggestions, but nothing has resulted in anything yet.

As you recognize, this has put a huge damper on my collecting. Not just from the financial aspect, but I'm finding it very hard to enjoy rifling through a catalog, doing the research I enjoy, and even thinking about the whole situation. I hope that will all be cleared up at some point soon.

Dave

Dave M · 09-12-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjbeck

Real sorry to hear about the theft. I found out about the theft in my local paper in North Carolina so some how you are getting the exposure you want about these notes.I thought that this happened several months ago but it doesn't matter as long as you are getting some exposure.Randy

Wow! I have no idea how that would have come to be! The package went from Paris to San Francisco, so I can say that I don't suspect the theft occurred in North Carolina

Thanks,
Dave

fairitt · 09-17-2009, 08:01 PM

Good evening everyone,,I have a question on paper money..does anyone what to help me?

fairitt · 09-17-2009, 08:07 PM

this is my first time on here and I am not sure how this works,,but my question is,,in the paper money red book when looking at the price something is worth,,to the far left there is a colum No. and under it there is a F-(1-4 numbers) and then a letter,,does anyone know what this means

Dave M · 09-17-2009, 08:10 PM

Welcome to the forum, Fairitt. You are responding to a thread called "French Banknote Theft" here.

Instead, you want to go to the top of the paper money forum (http://www.cointalk.com/f31/) and click "New Thread" to start a new topic regarding your questions.

Dave

**Daggarjon** · 09-17-2009, 09:32 PM

fairitt - not very polite to 'hijack' another thread for your purpose. You are free to start any thread you desire, as you have allready started 2 with the same question. You must understand, it usually takes a bit of time for a thread to be answered. Very seldom are thread questions answred imediately. Be patiant, your questions will be answered!

Dave M · 10-13-2009, 11:53 AM

An update to this incident:

For some reason, the French insurance carrier can apparently take up to six months to address and resolve a claim. Perhaps this is "the French way", but I was not thrilled to learn this. I requested to CGB that they close out the issue by refunding me my payment, and that they carry on with the insurance company in the coming months. They agreed to do that, which of course takes a huge weight off my shoulders. Actually I'm just having them apply the amount as a credit with them for future purchases as it seemed the gentlemanly thing to do.

Obviously we both still are hoping that some day the notes will turn up in an auction, eBay, etc, and would be recovered. I have put a summary of "key learnings" related to this issue out at http://www.frenchbanknotes.com/theft.php, hopefully to provide some suggestions to other folks making large purchases through the mail. I encourage everyone to read it, and if you have other comments about making purchases safely I would be happy to put them out there.

This thread can be un-stickied whenever it makes sense, I certainly appreciate the visibility its had to get the word out.

Dave

scottishmoney · 10-13-2009, 01:04 PM

Next time you wanna buy from Michel, best to arrange to meet him late in the afternoon at his office there on Rue Vivienne, that way you can get notes in hand, chit chat for awhile and know that the PO is not going to lose/steal them. The shop is up in La Bourse district, and there are several other coin dealers around there - interesting because stuff like gold and silver coins sell for a lot closer to melt value there.

I have found that ordering from them through email and phone is a complete PITA. It is easier and so French to just have to jet to Paris, take your wife and let her shop in the Galleries, and get to personally handle what you are interested in buying.

**Digenes** · 10-15-2009, 09:41 PM

I am really sorry to hear about the theft. Seems like more and more you hear about the USPS and the theft of goods no matter what they may be. Because of this, I have been very seriously thinking about opening an account with FEDEX and doing any coin business through them. Most companies that I have had dealing with will ship via FEDEX as long as you have the account and they can charge the shipping to it, or if you enclude/send them the shipping lable.

Dave

Dave M · 10-15-2009, 10:34 PM

Thanks Dave. I am pretty tired of the USPS antics during this incident. But switching to FEDEX brings up a predicament for me. CGB did not give me the choices of shipping or insurance. I paid for it, and they handled shipping and insurance. Had I insisted on a different shipper, I wonder if they would have been as likely to feel responsible for the loss...

SM, I'd love to be able to hop over to Paris to pick up banknotes. It sounds like a great trip, but it doesn't exactly seem cost-effective for me!

Dave

mpcusa · 10-23-2009, 02:41 AM

Hi Dave,

Sorry about the loss of your notes!

Sometimes internationally shipped items can be tricky, They can
Be in transit for several weeks and some of these countries have
Very lax security!!

connor1 · 10-24-2009, 05:37 PM

Dave, I have also had items stolen in USPS due to lax security all through the system,CBS /"60 minutes" did a TV piece about it & showed USPS ripping envelops open in plain view of cameras They Knew were being filmed in the facilities & also @ airports.
When ever I can choose a carrier or the person sending gives me my choice I use UPS or FedEx they bang or knock on my NYC apartment door & if I'm not home leave a note & try to deliver 3 0r 4 times & don't leave packages in lobby or with door men.My most recent stolen items were 2 books signed by the Author the (The S.S. Republic Shipwreck) sent by UPS with signature confirmation required .Seems someone scribbled a signature obviously not mine on confirmation pink card & stole the books.
Feeling for you Dave,sorry about your loss !

Lather · 11-11-2009, 08:01 AM

Very Nice notes and so sorry to hear of the loss.. Will keep Watch...

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