Stolen RD Taylor rod

[Flyfishbill]

The seller on EBay has over 28,000 comments. I think you should call him. The times when I had to deal with an item that was stolen or broken, as the buyer, I had to deal with the post office.
Good luck.

[PYochim]

The rod is still up on eBay. Any updates?

[DireWolf53]

For now let's just say it is being pursued through the proper channels. I will post any news if/when I hear something definitive.

[salmonid1]

Dire Wolf, For some 28 years I could have been a poster boy for the USPS. Never had a problem until the Covid thing gave them excuses. Lost a 7', 4 piece rare Orvis bamboo pack rod going to Bozeman. Needless to say I wrote a check to the recipient. On another occasion I sent a rod to Millheim, PA via Express Mail to arrive the following day before 3 pm. 36 days later it was delivered!! I've since taken to using Fedex or UPS in spite of the extra cost. I now live in the Albany, NY area and apparently anything sent in the US mail priority goes to Springfield, MA, an urban center, first even if headed west. I think between lack of good hiring practices and affirmative action these issues are becoming more frequent. Apologies for the political twist but it is what it is. I have also heard that the Post Master General has instituted practices nationally that are slowing the mail. Apparently he's no friend of the current administration. I hope your issue gets resolved but have little hope that you'll recover the Taylor. Hopefully Mark insured your package. Best, Carmine Lisella, Jordan-Mills Rod Co.

[salmonid1]

Just realized your post was from 2020. Some of my info may not apply to your situation for timing but do hope your issue has been resolved. C

[Pwknauth]

Sorry for all your trouble.
Thank you for the "heads up"
We will all keep our eyes open.
Fingers crossed for the right outcome

[DireWolf53]

Dire Wolf, For some 28 years I could have been a poster boy for the USPS. Never had a problem until the Covid thing gave them excuses. Lost a 7', 4 piece rare Orvis bamboo pack rod going to Bozeman. Needless to say I wrote a check to the recipient. On another occasion I sent a rod to Millheim, PA via Express Mail to arrive the following day before 3 pm. 36 days later it was delivered!! I've since taken to using Fedex or UPS in spite of the extra cost. I now live in the Albany, NY area and apparently anything sent in the US mail priority goes to Springfield, MA, an urban center, first even if headed west. I think between lack of good hiring practices and affirmative action these issues are becoming more frequent. Apologies for the political twist but it is what it is. I have also heard that the Post Master General has instituted practices nationally that are slowing the mail. Apparently he's no friend of the current administration. I hope your issue gets resolved but have little hope that you'll recover the Taylor. Hopefully Mark insured your package. Best, Carmine Lisella, Jordan-Mills Rod Co.

Carmine,
Fortunately Marc was insured so financially we were both covered. However it still stings (us both) that this theft occurred in the first place.
Since then I have requested that anything of value and or sentimental value mailed to me is shipped registered mail. It takes longer but is well
worth t) to me) the peace of mind.

[billems]

I'm a former postman (though I couldn't stand it and quit). It used to be anything of that nature spurred the Postal Inspection Service into hunting down the culprit. And they always got their man. Best of luck.

[teter]

Dire Wolf, For some 28 years I could have been a poster boy for the USPS. Never had a problem until the Covid thing gave them excuses. Lost a 7', 4 piece rare Orvis bamboo pack rod going to Bozeman. Needless to say I wrote a check to the recipient. On another occasion I sent a rod to Millheim, PA via Express Mail to arrive the following day before 3 pm. 36 days later it was delivered!! I've since taken to using Fedex or UPS in spite of the extra cost. I now live in the Albany, NY area and apparently anything sent in the US mail priority goes to Springfield, MA, an urban center, first even if headed west. I think between lack of good hiring practices and affirmative action these issues are becoming more frequent. Apologies for the political twist but it is what it is. I have also heard that the Post Master General has instituted practices nationally that are slowing the mail. Apparently he's no friend of the current administration. I hope your issue gets resolved but have little hope that you'll recover the Taylor. Hopefully Mark insured your package. Best, Carmine Lisella, Jordan-Mills Rod Co.

"Affirmative action"? Seriously?

[nativebrownie]

Dire Wolf, For some 28 years I could have been a poster boy for the USPS. Never had a problem until the Covid thing gave them excuses. Lost a 7', 4 piece rare Orvis bamboo pack rod going to Bozeman. Needless to say I wrote a check to the recipient. On another occasion I sent a rod to Millheim, PA via Express Mail to arrive the following day before 3 pm. 36 days later it was delivered!! I've since taken to using Fedex or UPS in spite of the extra cost. I now live in the Albany, NY area and apparently anything sent in the US mail priority goes to Springfield, MA, an urban center, first even if headed west. I think between lack of good hiring practices and affirmative action these issues are becoming more frequent. Apologies for the political twist but it is what it is. I have also heard that the Post Master General has instituted practices nationally that are slowing the mail. Apparently he's no friend of the current administration. I hope your issue gets resolved but have little hope that you'll recover the Taylor. Hopefully Mark insured your package. Best, Carmine Lisella, Jordan-Mills Rod Co.

"Affirmative action"? Seriously?

+1 Seriously? Seriously? Again and again...

[jacknoir]

Just saw this thread. Any updates DireWolf? Did you recover the rod?

[DireWolf53]

I was just informed that the rod is once again up on the not to be mentioned auction site.
The rod serial number is 24-4-137
Please do not bid on this item it is stolen merchandise.
Although both the seller and I incurred no $$ loss it infuriates me to see this rod continue to be offered online.
Although I know it is futile I sent the seller a message saying I know that n this case he/she is selling an item that
was stolen from the US mail. As the buyer there is nothing more I can do.

[DireWolf53]

FWIW the auction seller just got back to me and said that they bought it from the USPS at auction as lost merchandise.
He also mentioned he was in contact with the original seller regarding this item.

Be that as it may (as I told him) the package had been clearly cut open. Whether the would be thief got cold feet or had no interest in a 'fishing pole'
i don't know but this should be a reminder that stuff happens. That why I am a fan of registered mail. It takes a while but for items that are not replaceable it affords me peace of mind.

[teter]

How could this have been sold in the USPS auction if the theft was reported to the postal inspector?

[ozarkwater]

How could this have been sold in the USPS auction if the theft was reported to the postal inspector?

Me wants to see the answer to this for sure! My thoughts exactly. I will ask my goto USPS person as well.

[creakycane]

Well, if the insurance claim was paid by USPS, it seems logical they would sell it off.

[flyslinger]

The real question here is, how did USPS auction it off if the rod was stolen and in the thief's possession? Did they recover the rod, and then put it up for auction, or did they have it all along, sitting on a back shelf in a post office and were too lazy to find the owner? I know both the seller and purchaser had reported it missing.

[creakycane]

The real question here is, how did USPS auction it off if the rod was stolen and in the thief's possession? Did they recover the rod, and then put it up for auction, or did they have it all along, sitting on a back shelf in a post office and were too lazy to find the owner? I know both the seller and purchaser had reported it missing.

Once they paid the claim, they are just looking to recoup costs. Maybe they recovered it from a thief, but more likely option 2. At that point, you can’t expect them to go looking for a seller/buyer they have settled with. There’s no point.

[DireWolf53]

[
The real question here is, how did USPS auction it off if the rod was stolen and in the thief's possession? Did they recover the rod, and then put it up for auction, or did they have it all along, sitting on a back shelf in a post office and were too lazy to find the owner? I know both the seller and purchaser had reported it missing. }

FWIW I'll proffer the following scenario as to what likely happened.

A postal employee cut the packaging open and upon seeing the contents had no interest in the rod.
Leaving within the processing center without any packaging it became a 'lost" item.
I'll assume the rod and tube at that point had nothing to point the USPS to the rightful owner.
This is not a question of anyone being lazy. One item among many with no identification is just that
a lost item.
At some point (if unclaimed) these things get rounded up and put up for auction.
I'm still very disappointed in what happened but finally have a better idea as to what most likely occurred.
File this unfortunate incident under crap happens.

Other than the original bad actor the rest of us involved were just dragged along for the ride.

[AlexP]

I will just speculate here, but the current seller has multiple items with prices in the thousands, pick up and wire transfer only. You must sign a "waver" upon taking possession.... My guess is that they know that the provenance of these items is questionable at best.

I hope that any honest bamboo buyer would stay away from the rod, even without reading this thread, the offering in the auction site has red flags all over...

It is a shame that a rod of this caliber and maker has ended there....

Tight lines