AQIS hold bear to ransom
Jul 17th 2004, 8:27 am
#1
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AQIS hold bear to ransom
We took delivery of nearly all our air-freight shipment yesterday. Luckily we had a warning that my 54 year old teddy bear was being held hostage. We've paid the $100 ransom to get him fumigated and released but i'm worried about the stress he's going through. A 53 year old panda in the same shipment escaped detention but had a 10cm hole in his back where his stuffing was checked. He had been very neatly unstitched and had some sort of straw stuffing (unknown to me) but apparently didn't pose a threat to the Australian environment.
Apart from that, anything marked 'packed by owner' had been opened, as had most of the rest (computers and files). One box untouched was the one with the printer in it. We had actually declared this because it was less than a year old, but they neither looked nor charged us!
The panda is now convalescing after being restitched.
Lesley
Apart from that, anything marked 'packed by owner' had been opened, as had most of the rest (computers and files). One box untouched was the one with the printer in it. We had actually declared this because it was less than a year old, but they neither looked nor charged us!
The panda is now convalescing after being restitched.
Lesley
Jul 17th 2004, 8:30 am
#2
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Re: AQIS hold bear to ransom
Originally posted by lesleys
We took delivery of nearly all our air-freight shipment yesterday. Luckily we had a warning that my 54 year old teddy bear was being held hostage. We've paid the $100 ransom to get him fumigated and released but i'm worried about the stress he's going through. A 53 year old panda in the same shipment escaped detention but had a 10cm hole in his back where his stuffing was checked. He had been very neatly unstitched and had some sort of straw stuffing (unknown to me) but apparently didn't pose a threat to the Australian environment.
Apart from that, anything marked 'packed by owner' had been opened, as had most of the rest (computers and files). One box untouched was the one with the printer in it. We had actually declared this because it was less than a year old, but they neither looked nor charged us!
The panda is now convalescing after being restitched.
Lesley
We took delivery of nearly all our air-freight shipment yesterday. Luckily we had a warning that my 54 year old teddy bear was being held hostage. We've paid the $100 ransom to get him fumigated and released but i'm worried about the stress he's going through. A 53 year old panda in the same shipment escaped detention but had a 10cm hole in his back where his stuffing was checked. He had been very neatly unstitched and had some sort of straw stuffing (unknown to me) but apparently didn't pose a threat to the Australian environment.
Apart from that, anything marked 'packed by owner' had been opened, as had most of the rest (computers and files). One box untouched was the one with the printer in it. We had actually declared this because it was less than a year old, but they neither looked nor charged us!
The panda is now convalescing after being restitched.
Lesley
I'd check that the panda still has both kidneys too
Jul 17th 2004, 8:31 am
#3
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Re: AQIS hold bear to ransom
Originally posted by HiddenPaw
plenty of bear hugs and he'll be right
I'd check that the panda still has both kidneys too
plenty of bear hugs and he'll be right
I'd check that the panda still has both kidneys too
Hope that the pandasoon recovers
Did you get a car yet by the way?
Debs
Jul 17th 2004, 8:50 am
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Re: AQIS hold bear to ransom
Originally posted by debsy
Lesley
Hope that the pandasoon recovers
Did you get a car yet by the way?
Debs
Lesley
Hope that the pandasoon recovers
Did you get a car yet by the way?
Debs
The panda is sitting on the settee watching The Simpsons so I think he's OK now.
Yes we did get the car in Southport. We went for the Mazda 3 and managed to get about $1000 off the list price. We tried the discountnewcars.com.au website but they just put us in touch with the same garage!
One niggle - after we'd established there were no extras we wanted on the car and we'd signed and agreed the price, they passed us onto another persson who immediately produced a completley different list of optional 'care options' for the car. Such things as tinted windows/sound insulation/paintwork sealing etc etc. Why they couldn't mention this lot up-front is anybody's guess
At over $400 per 'option' it made a mockery of the original budgeting and bargaining. We went for the tinted windows but didn't feel like spending any more even if we wanted to.
The RACQ deserve nothing but praise. They recognised our UK membership but Australian membership was less than half price for the same thing. Insurance (with no-claims evidence in hand) took about 5 minutes and set us back $500. Somewhat less than it would have been in theUK.
Hope you're getting settled in now. Have you got a hotel or whatever to manage? Bet it's different from Turkey.
Lesley
Jul 17th 2004, 8:54 am
#5
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Re: AQIS hold bear to ransom
Originally posted by lesleys
Hi Debs,
The panda is sitting on the settee watching The Simpsons so I think he's OK now.
Yes we did get the car in Southport. We went for the Mazda 3 and managed to get about $1000 off the list price. We tried the discountnewcars.com.au website but they just put us in touch with the same garage!
One niggle - after we'd established there were no extras we wanted on the car and we'd signed and agreed the price, they passed us onto another persson who immediately produced a completley different list of optional 'care options' for the car. Such things as tinted windows/sound insulation/paintwork sealing etc etc. Why they couldn't mention this lot up-front is anybody's guess
At over $400 per 'option' it made a mockery of the original budgeting and bargaining. We went for the tinted windows but didn't feel like spending any more even if we wanted to.
The RACQ deserve nothing but praise. They recognised our UK membership but Australian membership was less than half price for the same thing. Insurance (with no-claims evidence in hand) took about 5 minutes and set us back $500. Somewhat less than it would have been in theUK.
Hope you're getting settled in now. Have you got a hotel or whatever to manage? Bet it's different from Turkey.
Lesley
Hi Debs,
The panda is sitting on the settee watching The Simpsons so I think he's OK now.
Yes we did get the car in Southport. We went for the Mazda 3 and managed to get about $1000 off the list price. We tried the discountnewcars.com.au website but they just put us in touch with the same garage!
One niggle - after we'd established there were no extras we wanted on the car and we'd signed and agreed the price, they passed us onto another persson who immediately produced a completley different list of optional 'care options' for the car. Such things as tinted windows/sound insulation/paintwork sealing etc etc. Why they couldn't mention this lot up-front is anybody's guess
At over $400 per 'option' it made a mockery of the original budgeting and bargaining. We went for the tinted windows but didn't feel like spending any more even if we wanted to.
The RACQ deserve nothing but praise. They recognised our UK membership but Australian membership was less than half price for the same thing. Insurance (with no-claims evidence in hand) took about 5 minutes and set us back $500. Somewhat less than it would have been in theUK.
Hope you're getting settled in now. Have you got a hotel or whatever to manage? Bet it's different from Turkey.
Lesley
We are still here - we arrive on the gold coast on 5 October so we have a few weeks left until we go. I am going back to the UK in August to visit my family to say my goodbyes.
See you in October.
Jul 17th 2004, 8:55 am
#6
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Oooh poor Panda, I've told all my teddies about his ordeal and they all send hugs!
My largest one was savaged by AQIS as well. they cut open all the stitching down his back, which is odd as he's not an old bar at all. My ancient Panda was brought over as hand-luggage by my best mate, so he had a really easy ride.
How is the one being held for fumigation? Should we send cards and grapes?
My largest one was savaged by AQIS as well. they cut open all the stitching down his back, which is odd as he's not an old bar at all. My ancient Panda was brought over as hand-luggage by my best mate, so he had a really easy ride.
How is the one being held for fumigation? Should we send cards and grapes?
Jul 17th 2004, 9:17 am
#7
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Joined: Oct 2003
Location: New Plymouth, NZ
Posts: 1,647
FREE THE POMMIE BEAR ONE!!
Has AQIS no shame, seperating an elderly bear from his family? I am surprised the media haven't picked up on this.
Tell him that messages of support are flooding in and Terry Waite is on his way to negotiate!
Has AQIS no shame, seperating an elderly bear from his family? I am surprised the media haven't picked up on this.
Tell him that messages of support are flooding in and Terry Waite is on his way to negotiate!
Jul 17th 2004, 9:27 am
#8
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Yeah, its disgraceful the way these poor bears get picked on!
We should march on AQIS and release all hostages!!!
We should march on AQIS and release all hostages!!!
Jul 17th 2004, 11:22 am
#9
I'm PR Now!! Yeah!!
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Georges Hall, NSW
Posts: 192
Hi Lesley, who did your shipping..?
We are in the process of choosing a shipper
We are in the process of choosing a shipper
Jul 17th 2004, 11:39 am
#10
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Any truth in the rumour that Panda had a couple of black eyes when you got him back ??
Jul 17th 2004, 11:41 am
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Originally posted by Bordy
Any truth in the rumour that Panda had a couple of black eyes when you got him back ??
Any truth in the rumour that Panda had a couple of black eyes when you got him back ??
Jul 17th 2004, 8:20 pm
#12
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Originally posted by Bordy
Any truth in the rumour that Panda had a couple of black eyes when you got him back ??
Any truth in the rumour that Panda had a couple of black eyes when you got him back ??
Hee-Hee!!!
Jul 18th 2004, 12:04 pm
#13
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Originally posted by Bordy
Any truth in the rumour that Panda had a couple of black eyes when you got him back ??
Any truth in the rumour that Panda had a couple of black eyes when you got him back ??
John Mason did the shipping - 300kg of air freight (40ft container currently in Brisbane). Company called OSS dealt with it at this end. Can't fault John Mason.
Teddy will be couriered to us when negotiations with AQIS are concluded. OSS have been most sympathetic.
Lesley
PS Panda (Ming to his friends, such as you) says thanks for all your good wishes.
Jul 18th 2004, 12:18 pm
#14
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Hope OSS were good - they were pretty on the ball with my stuff (got the feeling they were trying to make up for the horrendous job ***** ******** did); they even removed packing stuff (which i hadn't paid them to do).
Some friends wanted to stop by and pass on their best wishes to Ming the Panda by the way -
Some friends wanted to stop by and pass on their best wishes to Ming the Panda by the way -
Last edited by Pollyana; Jan 6th 2007 at 9:58 am.
