When a trade goes wrong...

I've seen a million threads about this, but I've been trading heavily for 4 years and have never had an issue until now. Here's the backstory:

I received a trade request for my Tiana PTN pin. I really didn't care for the pin they were offering, but honestly, the Tiana pin was an extra for me and the trader was incredibly kind and you could tell she really wanted the Tiana pin. It was a very fair trade and since I haven't had any luck in trading my Tiana for anything I really need, I figured what the heck. It was an international trade and like always, I shipped the next day after the trade was agreed upon. She received the Tiana pin within a week and now I am 6 weeks out and no pin. I emailed her a couple of weeks ago to let her know the pin hadn't arrived and to make sure it hadn't been returned. She said it hadn't and to keep her posted. I emailed again today to confirm date of shipment and to let her know it still isn't here.

I guess I just want to know what is the next step? Am I just out the pin (which literally makes me sick!)? Should I ask for proof of shipment? Normally, I would just blame it on overseas shipping, but I've been receiving return trades in under a week (two at most)

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I'm so sorry to hear about this. I'm crossing my fingers that mail overseas is just extremely backed up. Over Christmas break, it took almost a month a half to receive a pin from Earthbound but it was just because overseas shipping was seriously backed up from the weather and the holidays. I wasn't worried at all though, since I had dealt with him plenty of times in the past and his communication is always amazing. Either way, I do hope you receive your pin and that things work out. Keep us updated!

I always worry about that happening when I mail them over seas. Actually that did happen to me once, I told the trader that I hadn't received the pin and they said they would send me the same one from their personal collection which was very sweet and kind of them.

International or not, the sender is responsible for making sure the pin gets to you.
I have written a thread about this domestically and if you choose not to insure, too bad. If you (They) had insurance, they could claim the money and either send it to you or buy a new pin or use it to replace the same pin.

Bottom line is I want my pin regardless of the circumstance and if it were the other way they would still want a pin too I am sure.
They need to send another pin and if in good faith (and you have given it plenty of time) if the pin did show up, you can always return it.

iamdisneydan said:

International or not, the sender is responsible for making sure the pin gets to you.
I have written a thread about this domestically and if you choose not to insure, too bad. If you (They) had insurance, they could claim the money and either send it to you or buy a new pin or use it to replace the same pin.

Bottom line is I want my pin regardless of the circumstance and if it were the other way they would still want a pin too I am sure.
They need to send another pin and if in good faith (and you have given it plenty of time) if the pin did show up, you can always return it.

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+1

I'd just add that as long as she is still communicating with you that I'd give it just a couple more weeks. I recently traded for PTN pins with someone in France who I 100% trust and her pins are taking longer to get here than usuall. Mail has been really screwy lately. Just tell the person that you will give it two more weeks and if it doesn't show up by then that you may have to discuss an alternative or reverse the trade.

Good luck! The fact that she is keeping in touch with you is a good sign!

I agree with Dan as well, but I just received a pin from the UK today after they mailed it 6 weeks ago.

Don't lose hope! You'll get it

My fingers are crossed for you... And as an FYI, I mailed your pin today. At least we know you'll have that pin next week!

Annette-I just love you. Yes, yours left yesterday so you'll have one as well

I just realized that the trader is a forum member, so I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, I promise it was not my intent....I've just never not received a pin and I guess I just need to be more patient. Every time I get a pin in the mail, I immediately pray it's that one

Hey, Breagirl,

I once had a domestic mailed pin take a month to find me. Its an excellent sign that the trader is keeping in touch with you. Its when they don't return your emails, that you should start getting worried.

Hey Breagirl,

I hope it turns up for you soon, international mail does seem to be very slow lately, esp from other countries to the usa, as apposed to the other way around.

I agree that if the pin does not show up the other trader should either set up a different trade or return the pin or something.

all the best x

I received two pins yesterday from the UK: one was mailed in mid January and one was mailed last week. Both had the same amount of postage. Why did one take so long? Only the Royal Mail, US Customs, and the USPS can answer. My advice is be patient with overseas pin trades!

UK pins are nice =]

First, I just realized I put "what to do when a trade goes wong" as the title. Ha ha, I hate when things go wong!

Second, as luck would have it, the pin arrived today! So sorry I even started this thread, and yes, I learned my lesson, packages from the UK can take 6 weeks to arrive

Consider this a public service announcement for others who trade internationally. I traded to the Netherlands once; my pins arrived in about a week or two, theirs arrived in about three months. I was told by others that the US used airmail which is much quicker and some European countries transport mail via truck (explaining the time difference).

I'm so glad it all worked out for you!

jjgasman said:

I agree with Dan as well, but I just received a pin from the UK today after they mailed it 6 weeks ago.

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+1 on this; mail seems to be really odd with the time it takes, and every case is different. I've received packages from korea that only took 3 days to arrive (via UPS, not USPS) -- but ive sent mail to the UK, Europe or Hong Kong that only takes 4 days to arrive, and other times it's taken weeks to arrive.

breagirl said:

First, I just realized I put "what to do when a trade goes wong" as the title. Ha ha, I hate when things go wong!

Second, as luck would have it, the pin arrived today! So sorry I even started this thread, and yes, I learned my lesson, packages from the UK can take 6 weeks to arrive

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Please don't feel bad. You opened a discussion that informed the rest of us about international mail. It reminded us to be patient with overseas pin trading. That's a good thing and helps our international pin-pals.

Hoping your pin arrives quickly. I'm having my first pin issue with a domestic trade. ARGH!

Speaking from 'across the pond' in the UK, I can only say that the postal service is very much a lottery over here, you never truly know how long an item will take.

I've had pins arrive from the States in as little as 5 days, my last delivery taking 9 days from New Jersey.

You can only really take the usual precautions when mailing pins and hope that the mail delivery services ( wherever they are) do exactly that