French Banknote Theft

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

 

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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!

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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!!

 

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 !

 

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

 

Fed-ex hasn't been the best in my experience. After my car was totaled, the reimbursement check from the insurance company was sent via Fed-ex. It was left outside, in the wind and rain when I wasn't there to claim it on delivery. It actually blew away, and I was in the middle of chewing some ass on the phone when my good neighbor came over with my envelope, saying he found it in his yard. UPS has been best for me.

 

Any that is least bit important use registered mail if you can!!

 

I cant beleive we havent had an update since December??

 

Only just because there's nothing new to tell. Certainly CGB, I and others are keeping an eye out for these banknotes, with the knowledge that ultimately they are very likely to come on the market. When or where that will happen, nobody knows...

Dave

 

Ok, I will of course keep both eyes open:hail:

 

i will keep an eye out also!

 

Not that it resolves this theft or anything, but this week I did pick up a nice replacement for one of the notes that was stolen. It got here safely





Dave