"Gaming Models Christmas Miracle" Topic

So.
I ordered some Top Secret models from Gaming Models for a game to be played Sunday 12/20.
Craig pushed my order to the head of the line and shipped 12/8, with a tracking number.
That tracking number has provided endless entertainment for me and Craig.
It took 5 days to get from Akron Ohio to Allentown Pa.
I got an update from USPS Tracking that it was out for delivery on Saturday the 13th. Nothing. Then, USPS kind of lost it. Maybe it wandered off.
Daily checks had it "in transit to next facility". I think that's code for "Stop bothering me, kid!"
Then, on Friday last, suddenly it was leaving Allentown for Scranton! 65 miles!
Saturday update said I would get it Saturday!
Sunday update put it at my local Hub! It's a half mile from my house! Just sitting there!
Today, Monday the 21st, it's delivered.
Note that the game was to be played on Sunday the 20th. "Fortunately" we got whacked with a big snow storm on Thursday, and I had to cancel due to the unavailability of parking. Game was moved back to Sunday the 27th.

I guess one could say that they arrived in time for the game.

Back to the models. Really nice, inexpensive models of the LVT-4 Buffalo. Crisp detail, come preprinted, one coat, my choice.
Craig was willing to ship me another order if they didn't come in today, but that wasn't necessary.

And don't get me started about the Hannah Glasse "Art of Cookery" book I sent my sister from Amazon. Last week she had an empty envelope dropped on her porch. Yes. Empty.
That story hasn't concluded yet.

Yeah. Holiday shipping is amusing at the best of times. Mix in the decreased number of flights due to the pandemic and you can see some real weird delays. I think it's BS that the UPS scans it as inflight when it's in a warehouse or container. At least tell me it's in the UPS storage area waiting for a flight.

My last Hungarian package made it before the one shipped from AZ. That is still waiting to arrive in Chicago (i.e. still in storage in AZ). Thankfully it's all gaming bits I can wait on.

That's the problem with Top Secret things: only so many delivery people have clearance, and they aren't allowed to deliver direct in case it gets traced back.
Just as well you asked for that weather control machine earlier (it's OK for me to tell about that, yes?).

A few weeks ago I mailed five Flat Rate Priority Mail boxes from IL to VA; that is Priority Mail supposedly delivered in 2-3 days (at least that is what you pay for). Four of the boxes arrived in 6 days and the fifth took 9 days.

I have three other Flat Rate PM boxes in the mail now; one is at four days, one is at five days and one is at 10 days. All say the shipment will arrive late and they are "in transit." To be fair, I had a Flat Rate PM package get from IL to WA in four days about a week ago.

I also have a small package that was shipped overseas to AUS about 10 days ago. No way to check on it once it leaves the US (unless I wanted to pay for International Express, ha, the postage was still 80% of the cost of the goods shipped as it was sent). I can't wait to see how long this package takes to arrive at the recipient's home.