You Broke My Menorah???? (Dresser Queen I think I Hate You)

[HermioneGranger]

File a police report for theft and vandalism, and definitely go after the shipping company.  Their driver screwed up bigtime.  He never should have given the package to her without your permission.  In the meantime, see if you can get a new one overnighted to you by the company, and let them know what happened.  Maybe they can use a different shipper next time.  Oh, and definitely report her to the HOA.  She has no business touching your stuff.  

ETA I'm really sorry about your menorah.  It's beautiful. 

[cicero]

oh my gosh - huge huge hugs!! as a quick 'fix' - just buy some of those tea candle holders (the cute little glass cups) - get eight identical and one bigger one. like this http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=sc_qi_detailbutton/601-3271243-6261746?&page=1&index=target&rh=k%3acandle%20holders&asin=B000SBKF6U

or if there is a judaica store or chabad house near you, just get a small cheap one and pretty candles. would you like me to mail a cheap one to you? they sell them all over here.

I'm glad the store will reimburse you, and for the future make sure that any deliveries you order will hand it over to you or your DH ONLY. no neighbors.

Gad that woman is plain psycho, this is beyond mean or annoying.

Thank you for all of the suggestions

There actually is a local Chabad.....but I didn't know there was an actual store/place I thought it was just Orthodox education.

This got me thinking though, I wonder if there is a local temple with a small gift store that might have something.

Thank you for getting me over my initial ARRRGH WHAT DO I DO? into problem solving mod.

I guess I just feel silly for being so disappointed. And you are so kind to offer sending one I wish they sold them all over here!

no problem and the offer still stands. if you PM me, i could ask my sister if she happens to know where you might be able to buy one.

[M-theory]

I agree with calling the police and HOA. She had no business doing anything with any of your packages unless you'd specifically asked her to do so ahead of time. Perhaps her intentions were good, but it doesn't sound much like it based on your previous experiences with her!

I also agree that you're entitled to a free replacement, even if it doesn't arrive in time. Since it is an item of religious significance, they should update you to expedited/overnight shipping for free - in that case, it would surely make it on time.

Congratulations on your excellent temper control. 

[willow08]

I second the previous poster - call the menorah company and have them OVERNIGHT you a new one, preferably with signature required.  Can you receive personal packages at work?  If not, is there a close friend or neighbor who is home during the day that you can send the package to with "MarinaDCA c/o Awesome Neighbor"?

I would also report this to the HOA and to the police.  This is beyond "normal" neighborly bickering, this woman STOLE from you and BROKE what she stole.  Personally, I'd be suspicious of her even more because it was a menorah that was broken, unless she is Jewish herself.  This woman is out to get you - please, try your best to not let her do so.

That is a beautiful object, and doubly so for the religious significance.  I am sorry DQ did this to you.  

POD!

I'm so sorry Marina.


Also, there are instructions in the Worst Case Scenario Holiday Guide on how to make a lovely menorah out of a beautiful glass dish, filled with sand to hold up the candles.

[Hopefull]

That was a beautiful menorah!!!

I just looked a the price. HOLEY MOLEY I would be rippin mad too!!! THis was no "accident" I think it is time you made a report to the HOA just o have it on file.THis lady is truly unstable. BTW for any future deliveries make sure you specify that there are to be NO packages left at your door. If they leave a little note sayign there were there then tell them to put it in the mail slot. (or slip it under the door)

Also warn this nasty hag that if she touches any of your things you will call the cops on her right away.

[Friday]

If it were a package from the USPS and she opened it to "Check" (which you say she did), it is an illegal act.  Find out if the same rules apply to private shippers.

[DaeOne]

If it were a package from the USPS and she opened it to "Check" (which you say she did), it is an illegal act.  Find out if the same rules apply to private shippers.

Bang on. It's a very beautiful menorah, one of the most beautiful I've ever seen! I'd definitely let DQ know she is not allowed around your doorstep. If the HOA can't back this up, you can always let them know you can move.

[IndianInlaw]

My goodness!  What a lovely work of art.  I have never seen anything like it in my life.  I didn't know menorahs could look like anything like the ones you see on television.  I have real tears in my eyes thinking that it got broken, especially by DQ.

You have wonderful taste.

Anyways, the fact that she dropped it "a few times"  is highly suspect.  I am a middle aged lady and I recently managed to carry a UPS package containing a large,metal,  fully loaded toolbox into my house and down the basement stairs without damaging it or killing myself. I didn't even drop it once.

Plus, a reasonably prudent person would assume that a valuable glass art object would be packaged to within an inch of it's life.

When you contact the HOA, be sure to specify it's a FOUR HUNDRED DOLLAR item.

You really need to get a restraining order.

[snarf]

Marina, I'm so sorry you have to put up with this neighbour (I've read some of the other stories and  ).  It sounds a little fishy that she dropped it a few times.  If I drop something (whatever it is-even a pencil), I make sure I have a firm grip and do NOT drop it again. 

Was it packaged well enough to sustain a drop?  If not, it is definitely on the part of the shipper.  If it was, I may suspect she opened it then dropped it.

[Shoo]

My gosh, Marina.  This was obviously a hate crime.     I think you should file a police report.

Failing that, you should definitely complain to your HOA, the shipper, and anyone else who will listen.  And possibly, you should filea claim in small claims court to recover the cost of the menorah, if the shipper won't cover it.

The woman is nuts.  She destroyed your property, which happend to be a religious icon.  That's got to be a crime.

[HorseFreak]

One year we ordered 3 Palm Pilots online to be delivered after Christmas. When UPS delivered them we weren't home (on vacation) since the package wasn't due to be delivered for another week. We check online and see that it supposedly had been delivered and we searched everywhere around the house, but found nothing. Keep in mind, this was a "signature required" delivery. My dad calls UPS and is fuming on the phone because the delivery guy said "I gave it to a man outside the house." Some random dude in front of the house! $300 worth of electronics! Thankfully that "guy" turned out to be the teenager next door that we had hired to shovel, but it didn't seem like he was planning to bring them back any time soon. UPS had already set into motion us getting free replacements since in these cases the delivery guy is at fault.

[IndianInlaw]

I just went back and reread the OP.

SHE OPENED IT?

[NOVA Lady]

To let you all know I am DEFINITELY going after the shipping company about this, because I don't know WHAT would have prompted them to leave a package with someone else to take into their home without instructions to do that

[mama1980]

I think it's time to call "Judge Judy" and file a small claims against dresser queen. 

[Bibliophile]

This isn't theft.  Delievery companies leave things with neighbors all the time. I've had to get flowers, books, dvds, computers, etc. from neighbors.  Unless you specify for them not to.  What she did sounds deliberate.  Can you file a police report for damage to property?  I would definately report her to the HOA.  And let your neighbors know that they should inform deliery companies to only leave the item with a member of the household as well.  

The woman is obvously vengeful, spiteful and hateful.