I Envy Some People
Apr 19, 2015 16:09:29 GMT
Post by pgandy on Apr 19, 2015 16:09:29 GMT
I received my new sword recently, which is not the subject of this post but to show those living in certain countries how lucky they are. Swords are legal here but like many other things there seems to be no standard system of doing things. It depends on whom I am in contact with as how they interpret the law. And then the law changes depending on which of the three parties is in office. Or perhaps someone may think that if they put enough obstacles in my way they may gain my sword.
After finding out Windlass’ German Bastard Sword had been discontinued and that KoA was cut off, they were the last one I could find still having that sword in stock, and with the success that I had two months before when ordering a rapier that came through in about a couple of weeks without a hitch, I decided to order the German Bastard Sword. I had been admiring it for some time and knew it was then or never. As it turned out KoA was out of stock by the time I received mine.
So here’s the story:
KoA sharpened the sword and had it in route the day following my order. That’s service! It arrived at my importer in Miami and forwarded in a timely manner. I was not notified of its arrival in country and became aware of it when tracking the shipping progress and found a note by chance that Aerocassilas, the importer, made on their status page saying only “paper work in route”.
After two days and nothing I wrote using Aerocassilas’ messaging system asking if this meant they had sent paper work to the government or me. If to me, that I had not received the papers. I was told that the papers went to my Aerocassilas’ branch. After a week with no notification I went to the local branch trying to track the papers down. They had pigeon holed the papers without forwarding or advising of their arrival. That was a week lost.
Back home when things quieted down I studied the pack of papers given me. I could only say “Oh boy, I need help on this one”. I called and explained the situation to my lawyer who said to email him copies. He contacted me the next day saying that the Ministerio de Gobernación y Armamento, where I was instructed to go, did not exist. And as Santa Semana was just starting there was nothing to be done until the following week but he would get back with me then. Another week gone.
He called Monday saying that he had located the correct department and it was in Coronada, a city some distance away. I met him the next day at the appointed hour, sick. During the week holiday I had come down with an urinary infection and everything in my country shuts down during Santa Semana, so no help with the infection then.
We went to the Coronada police station and they knew nothing about our requirements and instructed us to go to the capitol, San José. They even gave the department and address. I was feeling badly and the lawyer had no more time that day. So he drove me back and we parted. I was to call him when I was better.
My time for the rest of that week was taken up by: 2 trips to the clinic, 1 to the lab, 3 to the pharmacy, 1 to the emergency room, 1 to the hospital, and 1 to the dentist. Not all were related to the infection. I fell dislocating a finger. My dog also got into the act requiring 3 trips to the vet. I cannot take many weeks like that. Another week gone.
By Monday I was feeling more chipper and contacted the lawyer setting up a meeting early Tuesday morning. He was unwilling to drive to San José, where the department we needed was located, saying that we will be taking a bus.
During the bus trip to San José he admitted on my questioning that the train would have been better. Hindsight is great. After riding the bus to the end of the line it was taxi time. We were about 10 minutes into the taxi ride when the driver said that our destination was not correct and we needed to be in Sábana, a different city and he would drive.
He drove us to the police station there and asked for directions. They didn’t know and left us while checking out where we should be. After some long minutes the answer came with new directions. In short order we pulled up to a building marked Tramitaciones Armas y Explosivos. Wow!! Finally. The driver and I waited outside while the lawyer went in. Eventually he returned saying wrong place and that the building we were looking for was in Coronado, but not where we went originally. We took the cab back to San José deciding have another go the next day.
I paid the cabby a handsome sum. We then took the bus back. The day wasn’t over for me as I needed yet another bus for my town.
Another day and another start. This time in Coronado he located Control de Armamento, where we should have gone the first time. This turned out to be a maximum security area, the most secure I’ve seen. My GPS stopped working. I don’t know if the signal was naturally blocked or if done so by the compound as my lawyer said. Things went smoothly there after multiple security checks. I was again glad to have the lawyer due to the paper work that I would have had problems with that he breezed through including writing a letter on my behalf. That cleared me and I was then told where to take the new papers for my sword. It sounded easy enough but nothing here is as easy as it’s made out to be.
On the way to pick up the sword, which is yet in another town the lawyer suggested swinging by the Aerocassilas in Heredia, my branch, to verify the directions, instructions, and to make sure all was well. That sounded like an excellent idea as it was on the way. They verified the location, said everything was in order and that I owed nothing. I was clear.
We arrived at the given location in whatever town it was that supposedly had my sword. There I handed them the paper work given to me clearing me for the sword expecting to receive it. After the clerk fumbled her way through the papers I was given additional papers and told to go to customs. We did.
If you are getting tired of reading this sh*t try executing it.
They went through the mountain of papers with the usual governmental speed. After which I was handed a bill. So I owed nothing? We then went to the directed location to pay as no payment was accepted there. After arriving I was told they didn’t accept cash at that office, that was elsewhere even farther away. They gave me the account number and the bank in which I needed to make the deposit once I got there. It was obvious my lawyer was running out of patience and used his credit card. With the payment receipt in hand it was back to customs at which time everything was rechecked in slow motion then they stamped their OK.
OK, now for my sword. It was back to the office to pick up my sword, or so I thought. When I got there instead of receiving the sword I received another bill. This was a storage fee for being so slow in retrieving it. Not only did Aerocassilas delay advising me of the sword’s arrival, and then gave erroneous instructions directing us to a non-existent ministry at an unknown address for approval they piss me off, further, by saying that I was too slow and imposed a storage fee. I paid the unjust fee and was glad this group accepted cash.
OK, cheepers creepers now my sword. Not really. They didn’t have it but sent us to yet another location where I was assured it would be. It was.
Isn’t that a bunch of crap? And two months earlier I only needed to go to the pickup station. I’ve ordered several swords all of which arrived with varying degrees of red tape ranging from zero to the above. Once before things got a little sticky and I brought a lawyer in to assist, but this takes the cake. Such is life in my country. It would be great to order at KoA’s, or anyone’s site for that fact, pay the price plus $15-$20 extra to have UPS drive up to my door 2-3 days later and say “here it is”. I never know what to expect. In this case after all is said and done that $189.95 cost 470 USD.
After finding out Windlass’ German Bastard Sword had been discontinued and that KoA was cut off, they were the last one I could find still having that sword in stock, and with the success that I had two months before when ordering a rapier that came through in about a couple of weeks without a hitch, I decided to order the German Bastard Sword. I had been admiring it for some time and knew it was then or never. As it turned out KoA was out of stock by the time I received mine.
So here’s the story:
KoA sharpened the sword and had it in route the day following my order. That’s service! It arrived at my importer in Miami and forwarded in a timely manner. I was not notified of its arrival in country and became aware of it when tracking the shipping progress and found a note by chance that Aerocassilas, the importer, made on their status page saying only “paper work in route”.
After two days and nothing I wrote using Aerocassilas’ messaging system asking if this meant they had sent paper work to the government or me. If to me, that I had not received the papers. I was told that the papers went to my Aerocassilas’ branch. After a week with no notification I went to the local branch trying to track the papers down. They had pigeon holed the papers without forwarding or advising of their arrival. That was a week lost.
Back home when things quieted down I studied the pack of papers given me. I could only say “Oh boy, I need help on this one”. I called and explained the situation to my lawyer who said to email him copies. He contacted me the next day saying that the Ministerio de Gobernación y Armamento, where I was instructed to go, did not exist. And as Santa Semana was just starting there was nothing to be done until the following week but he would get back with me then. Another week gone.
He called Monday saying that he had located the correct department and it was in Coronada, a city some distance away. I met him the next day at the appointed hour, sick. During the week holiday I had come down with an urinary infection and everything in my country shuts down during Santa Semana, so no help with the infection then.
We went to the Coronada police station and they knew nothing about our requirements and instructed us to go to the capitol, San José. They even gave the department and address. I was feeling badly and the lawyer had no more time that day. So he drove me back and we parted. I was to call him when I was better.
My time for the rest of that week was taken up by: 2 trips to the clinic, 1 to the lab, 3 to the pharmacy, 1 to the emergency room, 1 to the hospital, and 1 to the dentist. Not all were related to the infection. I fell dislocating a finger. My dog also got into the act requiring 3 trips to the vet. I cannot take many weeks like that. Another week gone.
By Monday I was feeling more chipper and contacted the lawyer setting up a meeting early Tuesday morning. He was unwilling to drive to San José, where the department we needed was located, saying that we will be taking a bus.
During the bus trip to San José he admitted on my questioning that the train would have been better. Hindsight is great. After riding the bus to the end of the line it was taxi time. We were about 10 minutes into the taxi ride when the driver said that our destination was not correct and we needed to be in Sábana, a different city and he would drive.
He drove us to the police station there and asked for directions. They didn’t know and left us while checking out where we should be. After some long minutes the answer came with new directions. In short order we pulled up to a building marked Tramitaciones Armas y Explosivos. Wow!! Finally. The driver and I waited outside while the lawyer went in. Eventually he returned saying wrong place and that the building we were looking for was in Coronado, but not where we went originally. We took the cab back to San José deciding have another go the next day.
I paid the cabby a handsome sum. We then took the bus back. The day wasn’t over for me as I needed yet another bus for my town.
Another day and another start. This time in Coronado he located Control de Armamento, where we should have gone the first time. This turned out to be a maximum security area, the most secure I’ve seen. My GPS stopped working. I don’t know if the signal was naturally blocked or if done so by the compound as my lawyer said. Things went smoothly there after multiple security checks. I was again glad to have the lawyer due to the paper work that I would have had problems with that he breezed through including writing a letter on my behalf. That cleared me and I was then told where to take the new papers for my sword. It sounded easy enough but nothing here is as easy as it’s made out to be.
On the way to pick up the sword, which is yet in another town the lawyer suggested swinging by the Aerocassilas in Heredia, my branch, to verify the directions, instructions, and to make sure all was well. That sounded like an excellent idea as it was on the way. They verified the location, said everything was in order and that I owed nothing. I was clear.
We arrived at the given location in whatever town it was that supposedly had my sword. There I handed them the paper work given to me clearing me for the sword expecting to receive it. After the clerk fumbled her way through the papers I was given additional papers and told to go to customs. We did.
If you are getting tired of reading this sh*t try executing it.
They went through the mountain of papers with the usual governmental speed. After which I was handed a bill. So I owed nothing? We then went to the directed location to pay as no payment was accepted there. After arriving I was told they didn’t accept cash at that office, that was elsewhere even farther away. They gave me the account number and the bank in which I needed to make the deposit once I got there. It was obvious my lawyer was running out of patience and used his credit card. With the payment receipt in hand it was back to customs at which time everything was rechecked in slow motion then they stamped their OK.
OK, now for my sword. It was back to the office to pick up my sword, or so I thought. When I got there instead of receiving the sword I received another bill. This was a storage fee for being so slow in retrieving it. Not only did Aerocassilas delay advising me of the sword’s arrival, and then gave erroneous instructions directing us to a non-existent ministry at an unknown address for approval they piss me off, further, by saying that I was too slow and imposed a storage fee. I paid the unjust fee and was glad this group accepted cash.
OK, cheepers creepers now my sword. Not really. They didn’t have it but sent us to yet another location where I was assured it would be. It was.
Isn’t that a bunch of crap? And two months earlier I only needed to go to the pickup station. I’ve ordered several swords all of which arrived with varying degrees of red tape ranging from zero to the above. Once before things got a little sticky and I brought a lawyer in to assist, but this takes the cake. Such is life in my country. It would be great to order at KoA’s, or anyone’s site for that fact, pay the price plus $15-$20 extra to have UPS drive up to my door 2-3 days later and say “here it is”. I never know what to expect. In this case after all is said and done that $189.95 cost 470 USD.