Movement, maybe?

I called Vanguard again and asked for a customer service supervisor. This time I got someone with some sense.

She went over the invoice with me point by point, explained everything, and said the shipper in South Africa should have told the mine about these charges so they could tell me. So it sounds like that's who dropped the ball.

I have so say, I do like the mine staff. They have been very helpful throughout this process.

In any case, the shipment was released today. The container has been picked up and will be stripped (unpacked) tomorrow.

And the rocks should be on the way by Friday.

African time, imported

Now this is getting ridiculous. My African shipment arrived in New York on October 3.......and there it sits.

Vanguard tells me that since it's an LCL--Less than Container Load--and that there is something else in the container that Customs isn't happy with, there's no telling when it will be released. Of course, Customs can't release the stuff they aren't examining, so they let us all sit and wonder what's going on. Meanwhile, my first gem and mineral show is this weekend.

On top of that, Vanguard now is saying I have a bunch of fees due that they didn't quote me on the original invoice. Anyone who knows me personally already knows that that kind of thing irritates the you-know-what out of me.

I spent all day Friday questioning customer service at Vanguard and getting nowhere. The women there finally blamed it on my shipper, which is ridiculous. The shipper has been very clear that they told me about every single bit of information that Vangard provided them, and that the shipping straight into Tampa is already paid.

I'm on hard deadline with a story right now, but when I finish it I'm going back and get my teeth into someone farther up the food chain at Vanguard (or Brennan, the parent company).

At least I know about it now, and can deal with it before it causes any further delays in the shipment. Stand by for more details.......