My furniture made it here last week with some damage and an entire box missing. The box had some valuable collectables in it, and two cushions I put in there as padding that go to my dining chairs. Now I only have 2 matching cushions. Most of the damage can be repaired at a cost, but my antique floor lamp is toast.
As far as my missing box...I contacted the shipper with less than satisfaction. It is really too bad because up until now I felt confident using him, but the proof is in the pudding isn't it? When I first called Charles Zeller at Ship To Costa Rica he had his movers and I recheck to make sure box #58 was missing. No box #58 any where. After we searched as requested Mr. Zeller said he would call Customs and see if they still had it. I had to call him back then sent an email. He wrote me back giving all the reasons it could be missing with the top 3 being my fault. I did not hear from him for two more days when I emailed him again with all the steps I had taken asking for his help. As I sit here typing this 5 days later he still has not responded. So, the moral of the story is, first of all to not use Charles Zeller, and secondly understand that things can happen in Customs that you have no control over no matter how careful you are.
As a back story, the shipper, Charles Zeller, had me list every thing moved with a number and list each one on an inventory list. As they were moved out of my home I had an additional inventory page with numbers I was to cross out as the boxes and all items were loaded into the truck. Box #58 was there and loaded. A copy of all these inventories were then sent to Zeller for him to check when he received my belongings. He did have note of the damages done to my furniture, but no note of my missing box.
The damages are the fault of me and the mover I hired to load the crate. He did stack things beautifully and tied some things down. It was not nearly enough. You need to tie rope, use moving bars and anything else that works to keep your things from shifting inside the crate. The crate is driven to the closest port near you. Mine being 7 hours away. The crate is then moved by a crane onto the ship. It can be tossed around on the seas then is unloaded by a crane onto another truck and driven to customs. That is a lot of moving, and in my case, a lot of shifting went on despite our efforts. Truly get someone who specializes in loading for over seas shipping.
Now that I am calmed down from all of that I did find a furniture man who picked up my bookcase and antique dresser mirror to be repaired. The smaller items can wait. I have unpacked everything except my paintings and pictures. Why you ask? More of my Pura Vida character building. I have a man that was supposed to paint my walls before my things came. He was busy and did not get to me. Then he got food poisoning, and here I sit with nothing on my unpainted walls and large boxes leaning everywhere. I swear I am trying to stay calm! This is a lesson...if you are considering moving to Costa Rica you better understand NO ONE is in a hurry or even worried about timeliness here. It works for them, and I'm sure it will one day work for me. Fortunately or unfortunately for me, depending on how you look at it, I have never been late for anything, and it has always driven me crazy to put off until tomorrow.
Breath........Okay! Everything else is moving along wonderfully. My immigrations papers have been turned into the government, so I can get my residency! I was so excited to get the copy of my papers. Now all I have left to do is get finger printed which I hope to do this coming week.
I am still LOVING nature here! Every day I see Toucans, parrots, amazing butterflies, hummingbirds and views that go forever, and all this is off my own balcony!
Pura Vida!
