$10K Package Of Super Nintendo Games Finally Found By Post Office (eurogamer.net)

A project to preserve (and validate) every Super Nintendo game ROM had been derailed when the post office lost a package containing 100 games from the PAL region. But now Byuu, the creator of the Higan SNES emulator, reports that the package has been found. An anonymous reader writes: Thursday Byuu finally posted photos of the unboxing for the package that was shipped to him January 5th. "I'd like to offer my sincerest apologies to the USPS for assuming the worst in that these games were stolen. I should not have been so hasty to assume malicious intent." At the same time, Byuu writes that "My package was sitting in Atlanta, GA for well over a month with my address clearly visible right on the box. Had this case not been escalated to the media, it likely would have gone up for auction in a bin with other electronics sometime in March."

Byuu is now refunding donations he'd received to replace the missing games, and says he can now also resume work on the SNES Preservation Project. And going forward, according to Eurogamer, "Byuu has said he will be more cautious with shipping games in the future -- only using smaller shipments, or buying individual games to scan and archive then selling them on to get some money back."

Comments

USPS Escalation Works

[sibsybcys]

I have had several high-value packages, which I paid extra shipping for in order to get better tracking and recoup some of the most money if lost.

USPS does have a fairly good track record of finding packages when you continue to escalate. I've always done it in steps, up to and including contacting the highest levels available.

One package that was sent Priority Overnight to me did not arrive for 10 weeks. After several calls and filling out their online tracking / trace / lost package form, I finally made a phone call.

48 hours later I received a call that my package, as in this case, had just been sitting in a distribution center, unharmed with both the return address and my address on the box. Apology included.

It really can be worth it to continue to escalate until they either find the package or if you have insurance, recoup your losses.

Just my 2 cents. I've had this happen a few times and every time I followed the escalation process... eventually the item was found and delivered promptly. promptly.

I'm glad he received his games. Also, package your items carefully. I print out the return address and destination address. I jam it full of bubble-wrap. Then I use tape to completely water-proof that paper.

It seems all worked out in this case. It was kind of him to apologize.

I don't think the USPS is "out to get" anyone. They're also, to my knowledge, the only delivery service that requires a warrant to inspect a package sent within the US. My understanding is that other carrier, such as FedEx and UPS have standing agreements to allow LEO's to inspect without warrant.

73,
-sibsybcys