The International Guinea Pig Adventure

[mini'smama]

I am just dying to introduce Charlie to my grandmother. She will get a kick out of the idea of mailing a stuffed guinea pig around the world.

[mini'smama]

With all of the severe, to the point of grounding flights/delaying shipping, type of weather we've had here in the States lately...poor Charlie must be having a devil of a time getting around.

[cavy-cool-crazy]

Wow I have missed a lot. It's been so long since Sir Charlie & I sent Charlie on his way and he's been so far already. It's going to be another year before he finishes his journey the way he's now so popular!

I'm so relieved he's not gotten distracted by all the hay in any of the many farms he must have gone past. Don't want him going walkabout no matter how good that hay smells.

[Percy's Mom]

Candy and Coiler - Did Charlie get sent off and received at his next destination? We seem to have a bit of a communications problem here. Coiler was logged in 3 days ago, but hasn't posted at all in about a month.

[JarBax]

(shouting)


"Charlie - where are yoouuuu...?"

[mini'smama]

Darn it all. I hope Charlie isn't lost. It was almost getting to be my turn to host him.

Grrrrr.

[Susan9608]

<sigh>

Is Charlie lost again?

If we can't find him this time, perhaps in addition to an age limit, we need a higher # of posts limit for participation? Or something ... maybe insurance from the post office, so the post office has to replace Charlie if he gets lost?

Maybe we need to do something like a weekly weather check to ensure Charlie won't get caught in storms or something?

I know a lot of people are getting frustrated by these endless delays ... What else could we do to speed up the process?

[Coiler]

I never saw Charlie and I dont know where he is. And nothing from candypigpig either.

[MilwCavyMom]

Coiler...did you receive any notice from Candy who had him last?

This is indeed frustrating for those of us who would like a turn with him.

[cavy-cool-crazy]

Did anybody ever hear back from bromers? I've not seen her here since the original Charlie went missing. I hope candypigpig has Charlie safe and has sent him on. Not only does Charlie go misisng, but all his documents of his travels too!

[MilwCavyMom]

Last I saw from Candy she said she sent it out, and it was returned and she was going to PM Coiler for the correct address, but Coiler hasn't heard either. I am looking forward to getting Charlie if he's not lost again.

[Susan9608]

Candypigpig was just on line on the first. Hopefully she'll check this thread and let us know something about Charlie.

[this_lil_piggy]

I don't know if there are any equivalents for people mailing Charlie out in other countries, but I think a good requirement for us in the US is Delivery Confirmation. It would cost a mere .50 extra and would give us the benefit of having a trackable number on him if he gets lost and we need to ask the Postal Service to try and find him. It would also provide proof that each person sending him on his way, is actually sending him as promised--IE they have to post the DC number here when they ship.

I don't know if just making the number of posts a criteria would work or not. There are a lot of us here that have posted tons in short amounts of time. I think a better idea would be to require a person to have been a member for 1 year and have made at least 100 posts, or something to that nature. This may cut some of us out of the excitement, myself included, but I am ok with missing out if it means Charlie keeps moving on his journey and doesn't fall into irresponsible hands so easily.

[MilwCavyMom]

I agree on having a UPS or similar tracking number. However I don't know if it'll matter too much if a person has been here a month or a year, things can still happen. I just wish that if something happened, if the person did not get it mailed out, or it got lost that they would come on and say so rather than not come around at all.

[fairysari]

I sent candypigpig an email through the mailer. Hopefully she'll get that and remember to log on here and update us.

Like I said on Feb 22... this is RIDICULOUS! I think part of the requirements of getting on the Charlie list not only have to be 30 days (I think a year is way too long), but also say 200 posts, and REGULAR posting. I think you should be logging on to the forum a minimum of twice a week, if not more.

Mail tracking won't really do anything for our problem unfortunately - the problem hasn't been with the post office, but just with poeople actually taking him TO the post office.

Maybe if we made some sort of example out of the people who can't live up to their Charlie promises it would be a deterrent to others to keep him and not mail him.

And to candypigpig - you should know that you have let dozens of people down. We were counting on you to post pictures, keep us updated, and mail Charlie in a timely manner, and you disappointed us. I think it's really irresponsible and inconsiderate.

[this_lil_piggy]

I understand that a DC number wouldn't actually fix anything, but I was thinking more along the lines of maybe if people were required to provide a tracking number proving that he was mailed back out within X amount of days of that person receiving him, perhaps it would act as a deterant for people holding on to him, fibbing, and side stepping their responsibility. Maybe it would push them to do the right thing, in a timely manner.

A year is a long time for someone that is a regular poster I suppose. But, for someone who isn't a regular poster, doesn't log on frequently, I think it is fair. Maybe something between our suggestions...like 200 posts, 30 days, and twice a week log on, OR minimal of 1 yr regularly active membership? *shrug* I dunno. I just know it sucks that everyones fun with this is crapped on with no regard. I mean, if I knew I was the last one that had Charlie, and I logged on, one of the first things I would do is check to see if he had arrived to his next destination, or give some sort of an update. The fact that the last participant logged on 5 days ago and failed to do one or the other is unacceptable, and there really is no good excuse for it.

If something came up and you couldn't mail him back out on time, you were short on cash and haven't been able to send him.........whatever. But at least have the common courtesy to inform those involved--someone involved-- so everyone isn't sitting left wondering. I think we can all be understanding that things happen..... but the avoidance and lack of information is infuriating.