Rob me once, shame on you...

[Kornman00]

Originally posted on HBO (http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=994888).



For those of you who don't know me, I'm a pretty big Halo fan. I've also just finished 4 years of service in the Army. 3.5 of those years were spent overseas, mostly in Germany. Over the last couple years I've been able to visit Bungie studios and collect many rare Halo items. For example, I owned 1 of the 20 made Ibanez Xiphos guitars (http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a124/boysofsheahem/blog%20graphics/1203102535_113.jpg) which were produced in promotion of Halo 3. I bought it off one of the bands who won spots on the Halo 3 OST.

But all that doesn't matter now. Why? Because 3.5 years of my life have been stolen from me. A German based moving company packaged my stuff up on April 23rd and since then it has "magically" disappeared. The container it was suppose to be in had everything on the manifest. Everything except my stuff that is. The movers in Germany also told the American based movers who were suppose to receive it from port that it's also not in their warehouse. The contents of my shipment leave no room for it to magically become "lost". Some jackass had to have robbed me of my goods. Inside job? You decide.

Let me go into detail of what Halo related things were included in my shipment. After that, if any of you care to know, I'll even list the non-Halo stuff.

German Moving Agent: Gosselin / Ludwigshafen

* Ibanez Xiphos XPT700 X-Series Halo 3 Guitar
----$875.00 + $35.00 S&H
----Seller: http://myworld.ebay.com/astiacles
----Serial: I070650900

* Signed Halo 3 Legendary Master Chief Helmet
----$300.00
----Seller: deepcreek$ (http://myworld.ebay.com/deepcreek$)
----Note: This was actually handled by a Bungie employee (http://halo.bungie.org/news.html?item=22143) (Chris Opdahl) who, IIRC gave it to the above seller for the actual selling part. There was a letter (printed on official Bungie letter head) included detailing its authenticity.

* Halo 3 Legendary Master Chief Helmet Autographed by "Master Chief", "Cortana" + "SGM Johnson"
----$120
----Seller: http://myworld.ebay.com/adrienne_shelly_foundation
----Note: I didn't originall win this helmet. The winning bidder failed to pay or backed out and I so I got a second chance. You could say I was lucky, getting a signed helmet (plus games) for LESS than what the going price for the helmets were back then, but since I don't have it anymore I'd have to say my luck has run out in that area

* Halo 3 Autographed by Bungie Studios Staff Members
----142.50 + 13.04 S&H
----Seller: http://myworld.ebay.com/mistresscortana
----Note: This was actually sold by the person whom I visited Bungie with. She needed money for college books when she sold this. Not only was it signed by your Friendly Neighboorhood Marty O'Donnell (plus a few others) but it actually had a place in my life's history.

* Halo 2 8ft Banner
----$35.00 + $10 S&H
----Seller: http://myworld.ebay.com/justifi3d_ang3l
----Note: This was a gamestop banner used for Halo 2 and on the back was a banner for GTA: San Andreas. Both really awesome Xbox games on an awesome 8ft leather banner.

* Prototype Halo 2 White Spartan Green Stripes UNRELEASED
----$172.50 + $8 S&H
----Seller: http://myworld.ebay.com/xboxskin
----Note: This was an 8" or so unreleased Spartan figure prototype.

I also had documents and schwag related to my trip to Bungie. No more Bungie Hacky Sack for me!

Some of you may remember the old Halo 2 Custom Edition team (http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?cid=2881) from back before Halo 2 came out. I had archives of old test maps we were working on and recordings of times spent in TeamSpeak servers during development.


Now for the non-Halo stuff, but stuff that's pretty high dollar:

* Microsoft XBOX 360 XDK Developers 360 W/ Accessories
----$1076 + $35 S&H
----Seller: http://myworld.ebay.com/gigharborguitar

* XDK Xbox 1 development kit
----$500
----Seller: http://myworld.ebay.com/roberts1003

* Raptor XBOX Dev Kit DVD Emulator
----$39.99
----Seller: http://myworld.ebay.com/weavh

* Xbox 360 Test kit + special stuff I don't want to mention
----$1500 (Bought this back in 2007, before you couldn't actually get them from anyone)

* Ibanez K7 (Original). Serial: F0125319
* Ibanez K5 (Original). Serial: C03034724
* Digitech Stompbox RP1000. Serial: 01003308
* Digitech TimeBender.
* Digitech GNX3.
* Rocktron Banshee 2.
* Apple 17" Macbook Pro. Serial: W86465C1W07
* UBX 22" LCD Monitor. Serial: 150705EED00399
* 2x 500GB LaCie external HDDs
* 1x 2TB MyBook external HDD
* Logitech 5.1 speaker set

* 88 Xbox 1/Xbox 360/PC games.
* 123 Movies.

* The Worldbook Encyclopedia (circa 2007) + 2008 Update (I don't really miss these, but I do miss the money I shelled out on it *ugh*)
* Countless military uniforms and equipment (both American and German)
* Dozens of civilian clothing
* Countless software and data stored on my external HDDs. The list of what all was included is too great, but just to give an example of what is included, I had pictures and video stored which were taken over the last 4 years including personal trips around Europe, military related events, etc. Now, records of this time I've spent are no longer mine to have.

I could name some more stuff but I think what I have listed about is enough.


If anyone ever comes across any of these items on ebay or whatever (especially the Ibanez K-series guitars! they're the original models :sadface:) please let me know! I had originally wanted to sell most of my Halo items (except the guitar, sorry) after I got out of the service so I'd have extra money for school on top of my lovely GI bill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GI_Bill) and savings.

If a fiery state of existence after death exists, I hope those at the German moving company and all other parties involved proceed to carry out their state of being there upon their life's demise.

The bright side of this is that I moved before Halo Reach comes out. At least I wasn't robbed of that game too. But I can kiss my original Halo 1/2/3 (for all platforms) games good buy. No amount of claim money can replace such items >:|
I've been officially Hitler Rolled. Thanks a lot you fucking Nazi moving company!

A few items I forgot to mention


* DIGITECH RP1000 (new)
----$354.95
----Seller: http://myworld.ebay.com/christineg8106

* DIGITECH Timebender Delay (new)
----$239.95
----Seller: http://myworld.ebay.com/christineg8106

[InnerGoat]

:hellface: :botman:

[Bodzilla]

Fucking hell km.....

[Dwood]

Dude. I don't know what to say....

[EX12693]

Don't you sign a contract or something making your stuff THEIR responsibility when they are moving it? Cause if you did.. you could at least get the money value back...

[Syuusuke]

Dude an original Ibanez

WHAT. Dude, Mr. Cooper, I really really hope you get all your things back, or at least a money's worth or another set of originals + your monetary value of the other things.

This is bullshit man.

[ejburke]

God damn, that's awful. At the end of the day, it's just "stuff", but that doesn't really help when you know there are some teutonic assholes out there who have stolen from you, fenced your personal items, and used the proceeds to purchase cigarettes and hardcore bondage pornography. Try not to think about it too much. And who knows? Maybe it'll turn up. I've had shipments that I thought were lost, only to show up out of the blue months later. The company should be motivated to work with you and if they aren't, you should find out what your legal recourses are.

But yeah, sneaky, evil Germans. I thought that was supposed to be a PAL territory. Some pals they turned out to be.

[Limited]

Wow, thats fucking unbelieable. Have the company actually said anything to you? Perhaps the American side of the shipping has a copy of the manifest, if they do, that will prove you gave the Germans the stuff and hopefully make them fully liable.

I just hope if someone has taken the stuff, they have a real think and feel really guilty and give the stuff back.

[Kornman00]

You can't even buy the original K5 (http://www.google.com/products?q=ibanez+k5&hl=en&aq=f) and K7 (http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&q=ibanez+k7&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=Lp47TNj3G4XGlQfouuD5BQ&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CDcQrQQwAA)s anymore :(. There are some original K5s on ebay though.

Doesn't help that Korn Live: The Encounter came out yesterday, reminding me how much I miss them

9cI2h6Kp2go

RIP my guitars:
http://www.gakki.com/catalog54/ibanez_k5.jpghttp://www.gakki.com/catalog54/ibanez_k7.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a124/boysofsheahem/blog%20graphics/1203102535_113.jpg

[cheezdue]

Dude sorry to hear that. :(

[Higuy]

That fucking sucks man.

Get your gun, rage into there office, and go find your stuff.

But in all seriousness... I'd try to at least get the money's worth back. Thats alot of electronics and thats alot of money.

[=sw=warlord]

Damn...:aaaaa:
I bet when you got there and found this all out you must have been like :cwazy: twitching profusely.
Is it possible it's been put on another manifest?

[Pyong Kawaguchi]

D:
I don't know what to say.
but damn...
I'm sorry for you :(

[FRain]

oh, dude....
thats fucked up,
take legal action

[Aerowyn]

take legal action

This. Consider the monetary value of the items you lost. Triple it. Sue for that much.

It's not enough that they merely "lost" your belongings. You could very well sue for damages since some of those things are one of a kind, and hold a great amount of sentimental value to you. What a bunch of bullshit that is. :\

Send those chumps up the river.

[SnaFuBAR]

nazis stole my halos

looks like hitler,
got a halo after all.

http://www.modacity.net/forums/styles/smilies/emot-caruso.gif

[=sw=warlord]

looks like hitler,
got a halo after all.

http://www.modacity.net/forums/styles/smilies/emot-caruso.gif
Halo 3: Amber room edition.

[DarkHalo003]

Those bastards! The worse part IMO is not only the guitar, but all of the Bungie swag and military uniforms. I don't condemn people (for many reasons), but I hope these guys get caught and thrown in jail for their crimes. Justice will be served hopefully in due time anyways. :cop:

[Syuusuke]

A lot of the things were one of a kind and KM is a musician (do you play bass too, I forget) kindof hurts to see an original model go.'

Korndude what are you going to do?

[TeeKup]

How extremely distasteful, follow what everyone is saying. Take whatever legal action you can. Surely you can get something back.

[Dwood]

Sue them. At minimum get the monetary value returned.

[rossmum]

Sue them into oblivion.

[paladin]

Ill go liam neeson on their asses with you...

[Phobias]

oh god those guitars.

I actually shed a tear at the thought of losing those guitars.

[Llama Juice]

Sorry to hear about your loss sir. If you do ever kill these people, don't brag about it on the internet.

[Timo]

Seriously sucks man, hope you had insurance (even that won't make up for the loss) :\

[CrAsHOvErRide]

This truely sucks...

Maybe it got lost in the customs check? Because this truely sounds unbelieveable...though I have heard of cases where a container went overboard on sea.

[Kornman00]

The container got to port here in Houston and when they opened it up to inventory the items everything was in said container except for my shipment. The CONNEX (you know, the things the size of a rail car) made it safe and sound to the desintation port. The things in said container made it safely there too. Well, all things included sans my stuff. This is before customs gets their dirty hands on whatever comes out (and I had them verify that it wasn't sitting at customs yesterday too).

My stuff had a Required Delivery Date of June 28th. My stuff has been missing since before then. The German company claims to have put it in the container, which is suppose to be sealed with lead, but no dice, my shit isn't in there. I fucking swear, if it was some pencil pricking, "das boot"!'n mother fucking German(s) who fucked me over, I'd like to help each and every one of them know the pain felt by millions of Jews that was inflicted by their ancestors.

OGoJ4UEJs9I

[Cortexian]

Seriously sucks man, take all the legal action you can. There are so many one-of-a-kind items there with really high monetary and sentimental value that I would do everything in my power to get it all back. Like I said in the Rec0 thread, depending on the military property and military related media, can't you get either the American or German military to help you investigate?

[ejburke]

Maybe it got put in the wrong container and it wound up in Guam? It might still be on its way to God-knows-where, in which case they would have no idea of its whereabouts until it arrives at the other end. It happens with airline luggage all the time. I think there's still hope.

[annihilation]

Damn, sorry to hear that.
I also had no clue you were that big of a Halo fan.....

[Kornman00]

Well, most of that stuff was me making an investment. I figured I'd be able to auction it off and get the same or a better deal later on (especially since the Halo Trilogy has ended and all three of the major casts of it signed that one helmet). However, I had plans to keep that guitar. The rest was suppose to fund my misc. expenses while going to school after I got out (I don't want to get a part time job at some BS food joint or w/e, would rather spend that time doing self development). While the new GI bill covers school and provides me with a book stipend and monthly housing allowance, I still have to pay for car insurance and gas. Not like I blew all my paychecks in the Army though, I did save.

[rossmum]

You mean you didn't blow your paychecks instantly on a fast car only to total it after a week and then get married just to live in a detached? Fuck, dude.

[Kornman00]

I know man, what was I thinking saving my money? fuck

[cheezdue]

I can sympathize with you on losing that guitar, I would be the same way if it were a Metal Gear Solid guitar(Though I'm not sure if one of those exist).

[Kornman00]

Was looking on my website for some pictures I took of some of the stuff I got Hitler Roll'd of. Found these

Halo 2 Banner

http://kornnersoftware.com/yelo/tour/H2Banner1.JPG
http://kornnersoftware.com/yelo/tour/H2Banner2.JPG
http://kornnersoftware.com/yelo/tour/H2Banner3.JPG


Halo 3 Ibanez Guitar

http://kornnersoftware.com/yelo/tour/IbanezH3_1.JPG
http://kornnersoftware.com/yelo/tour/IbanezH3_2.JPG
http://kornnersoftware.com/yelo/tour/IbanezH3_3.JPG



Also (http://kornnersoftware.com/images/secret.jpg).

[SiriusTexra]

That makes me really fucking angry, and it's not my shit.

I'd like to have hope for you, but some evil cunt who works at the place, has obviously seen the stuff, and gone HOLY FUCK LOOK AT THAT, and got his mates to help him lift it, or even more likely, the whole business who moved it/packed it, said to themselves "THIS SHIT LOOKS LIKE ITS WORTH A BUNCH LETS TAKE IT AND PLAY THE FOREIGNER CARD AND HOPE THEY DON'T TAKE ACTION".



Would have happened in Germany, and it would have happened at the place it was last, right before it got packaged. It obviously never made it into the crate to begin with otherwise, it'd be in the crate. It's very unlikely that amount of stuff would have gone missing mid transit, because it would be hard to:

a)know what was in it as it's on it's wayward journey to wherever it's going.

b)take it from the crate, even if they did.


Saying that, no one in their right mind, would tick off the manifest in Germany, at their end, for something they KNOW is not in there, as they send it off, so:


I'm calling company inside job. They know exactly where it is. Places like these do scams where they get it grouped with other shipments last minute for "special purposes" and have it make a detour through some random country. From the random country, it get's cycled back to them in a new crate because the stuff they received was never on their list, while the "official" crate has been sent empty, to you.

It ends up being a big game of chinese whispers.

My guess, it's sitting in a container somewhere waiting for the shit to "blow over" before it starts making it's way to the $$$ shredding factory.

Sue their pants off.

[Kornman00]

The MPs said that since it contains military equipment and high value items with total loss of over $5K that I need to contact CID (Criminal investigations division). So off to CID it is once I get a few more answers from the American moving company.

e: oh and the total shipping weight was 1076lbs...kinda hard to "misplace" that much weight.

[CrAsHOvErRide]

I am pretty sure it was not stolen unless you hired some polish company. The law system in Germany is more advanced than in America and you can be sure to get at least a full Schadensersatz. Though I am pretty sure your items will turn up someday. Even though this is H3 collectors stuff, the value is rather...small in comparison to the stuff they normally ship.

Edit: This was posted without seeing the above post :P

[Kornman00]

Considering that Halo fans would throw down $2330 for a ODST Helmet (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250645544549), I think I could at least pull in at maximum $4K in JUST my Halo stuff. The original price tags for the instruments (all of which are no longer manufactured as-is and one being 1/20 ever made) and the equipment I used was at LEAST $5K. Then there's the manner of the 360 dev kits and Xbox 1 dev kit. The list goes on. These are rare/one-of-a-king or in the case of the devkits, bootleg, items which their production value may not be immediately large but their resale is. Supply and Demand.

[CrAsHOvErRide]

Thing is most people will not see the value on first sight...they rather think it's just some nerd is trying to ship his stuff back. If they see old handmade furniture on the other hand....easily a price tag over 10k and it is easier to sell.

[Rob Oplawar]

Damn, dude, I'm really sorry to hear this. And here I was complaining about losing a single $500 bike. I really hope this works out for you somehow.

[ejburke]

Thing is most people will not see the value on first sight...they rather think it's just some nerd is trying to ship his stuff back. If they see old handmade furniture on the other hand....easily a price tag over 10k and it is easier to sell.That's what I've been thinking. Your average crook isn't going to know what that stuff is. Even a crook that knew what it was would probably pass, because the market for those items is fairly small. A moving company is in the business of handling valuables. If an inside thief were going to risk making a move, he'd go for art and furniture.

1000 pounds isn't much when these containers can hold 60,000 pounds. I'm sure much heavier things have been "lost". With all the automation and loaders and nondescript brown boxes, it really all just comes down to paperwork and a human's ability to accurately execute the paperwork. Not saying you shouldn't be pissed off or actively pursuing your options, but don't be surprised if it turns up in a few weeks.

[Cortexian]

The MPs said that since it contains military equipment and high value items with total loss of over $5K that I need to contact CID (Criminal investigations division). So off to CID it is once I get a few more answers from the American moving company.

e: oh and the total shipping weight was 1076lbs...kinda hard to "misplace" that much weight.
Good thing you got CID involved, hopefully when they find out where the military equipment is they also find your n3rdgasm stuff.

[Kornman00]

Added a few items I forgot to the OP.

So CID said they couldn't assist due to the "depreciated" value of all my goods (they only count the "high value" items in the tally and apparently the rare stuff doesn't count. ugh.) being less than $5K. They said that since it's only two weeks (June 28th, more like three!) past it's due date...could have magically got sent to some naval base or whatever, who knows. I just can't imagine how when the nazis germans say they put it on container X, but when container X gets to the port here in Texas, all the goods are in there except my shit. The container got to port before June 28th, so it's had well over a month now to find itself in fucking China or some shit by mistake. Fuck me if that mistake ends up staying permanent because some asshole doesn't want to report an extra container not on the manifest.

I'm having to get direct contact numbers to all these places/ports/etc because people really are fucking lax and light to pass the buck. I can't get fucking returned phone calls or straight answers. How can such communication traffic in this buisness be left up to email?

[/this rant]

[Dwood]

Dang man. That's really, really gay.

[ejburke]

Fucking sucks. You're in that limbo of not really knowing for sure what happened. Most likely, if it has arrived somewhere, it got set to the side and no one is in a hurry to deal with it. But clearly, the mistake or theft was made on the shipping end and they should be trying to fix it.

But you're probably going to have to learn to cuss in German before it's all said and done.

[Dwood]

But you're probably going to have to learn to cuss in German before it's all said and done.

Probably already has done that.

[CrAsHOvErRide]

'Ihr Bauer' or 'Schlimmer als die Ammis - that's all you need :P

[Kornman00]

OK, so it takes damn near 100 days (loooooooong past the required-due-date given by Uncle Sam) for complete utter fuck ups to move a rather small shipment of HHG. Read: I just got my stuff today. So far everything has been accounted for.

I've asked the handful of people who I've actually had to deal with in the moving process in various different ways about why-the-fuck-it-took-100-days-to-ship-my-crap. The "answers" I got ranged from "I have no idea :s" to "*pause*...uhhh, I'm not surrrrree". That last one and a couple other ones sound like they did know something, just didn't want to tell me. However, the good thing is that all appears to be here so I really don't feel the need to complain anymore. I'll let my K5/K7 do the rest of my weeping :guitarhero:

Oh, and I still hate German movers. However, it could possibly not be their fault. But, I'm just going to deduce that it is and on the off chance that it isn't, everyone can just blame the people at Houston's port for giving everyone else a bad name.

[neuro]

grats on at least getting your shit back korn. must be a real load off your shoulders :P.

[ejburke]

Shipping is a fucking miracle, but it isn't perfect. Glad everything worked out. I was pretty sure it would, but it wasn't my stuff that I was missing, so it was easy to say that.

[Siliconmaster]

Oh, wow. That's great news!

[CrAsHOvErRide]

Germans never make mistakes
:caruso:

except if an austrian guy gets in the way

[Rentafence]

grats on at least getting your shit back korn. must be a real load off your shoulders :P.

A real load off his port

[Dwood]

It shipped because those trying to steal it couldn't sell it off. :D

[INSANEdrive]

. . . and everyone learned a valuable lesson. :iamafag:

[paladin]

so when you coming