Left My Prescription Glasses in Hong Kong. Any Ozbarginer's Going That Way?

venturis on 30/01/2018 - 11:08
Last edited 30/01/2018 - 11:35 by 1 other user

My partner and I were recently holidaying in Hong Kong.

After a long day out sight seeing we stopped for a coffee on the way back to the hotel.

The next morning we packed up and started our return journey back to Australia.

Not until we arrived home and started unpacking did my partner realize that she was missing her prescription sunglasses.

After a bit of back tracking through where we had been since last having the glasses, we arrived at the conclusion that we'd left them at the McDonald's restaurant where we had stopped for a coffee (Yes I know, but it's actually not bad coffee).

We managed to make contact with the particular McDonald's store on Hong Kong island and confirmed that they had the prescription sunglasses.

I would normally write off anything left behind on holiday but, as it is $500 worth of prescription sunglasses and only a year old I thought for a little bit of effort and with some good luck we might be able to retrieve them.

I've tried several avenues to get them back including asking McDonald's to post them (I'd pay them for the postage), which they won't. Looking for a courier to collect them however, they need to be packed, addressed and have the con-note attached before they will collect. Also looked at a company called "Tiptrans" that claim to do personal shopping and will buy and post items for a fee but collecting lost property is not a service they provide.

This got me thinking. With all the fantastic travel deals appearing on Ozbargain almost daily, there must be dozens of Ozbarginer's heading to Hong Kong on any given day.

The McDonald's restaurant where the sunglasses are located is on Hong Kong island and fairly central to the major tourist spots and close to the ferry terminal.

I wanted to ask if anyone planning travel to Hong Kong and in the general area could pick up the glasses and return them via post local post once back in Australia. Better still, if you live in Perth, I can collect them once you arrive home.

Happy to pay a small finders fee for your trouble.

Before anyone asks. Yes, insurance is an option but that will be my last resort if nothing else works out.

Please PM me if you can help.

Cheers.

Travel

Comments

  • Quantumcat on 30/01/2018 - 11:11

    If you paid for travel insurance, why not use it? Would the excess be higher than postage + finder's fee?
    Shame you didn't do this two years ago, my sister was living there :-p

    • venturis on 30/01/2018 - 11:14

      Actually, the insurance excess would be higher than the postage and/or a finders fee. That's why I thought I would go this route first.

    • good grape on 30/01/2018 - 11:17
      +2

      Depending on how much the finders fee is :)

      • venturis on 30/01/2018 - 11:21

        That begs the question…what's a reasonable finders fee for something like this?

        Don't want this discussion to turn into a debate about finder's fees but I need to ask.

        • dasher86 on 30/01/2018 - 11:26
          +7

          according to this guy 10%
          https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/354557

        • Archi on 30/01/2018 - 12:35

          @dasher86:
          and any reasonable cost to return them..

          so he'll buy a return ticket and 2 nights accommodation and will expect to be reimbursed + a finders fee on top to the value of 10%

      • ronnknee on 30/01/2018 - 16:07
        +2

        Please don't be that guy.

  • boo hoo on 30/01/2018 - 11:13
    +11

    Airtasker Hong Kong ?

    • venturis on 30/01/2018 - 11:15

      That's not a bad idea. I'll keep that one as a backup plan.

  • Kangal on 30/01/2018 - 11:13
    +9

    C'mon, lets see social engineering at work!

    OP will happily (i think) pick you up from Perth Airport and drive you to your house as compensation.
    Be shame if they picked up the wrong glasses though, ha!

  • good grape on 30/01/2018 - 11:16
    +1

    you’re in luck. But I can’t seem to be able to pm you.

    • venturis on 30/01/2018 - 11:18

      Sorry. I hadn't enabled messaging in my profile. Fixed now.

    • boo hoo on 30/01/2018 - 11:20
      +13

      gg
      As always, should you or any of your
      OZB Force be caught or killed,
      the moderators will disavow any knowledge
      of your actions or membership.

      • good grape on 30/01/2018 - 11:42

        don't really understand this? is this aimed at me?

        • try2bhelpful on 30/01/2018 - 12:29
          +1

          Mission Impossible intro. Check it out.

        • Baysew on 30/01/2018 - 12:48
          +4

          Don't worry, the post will self destruct.

    • venturis on 30/01/2018 - 11:51
      +4

      I understand that some people will consider this to be a waste of time and would personally just spend the $500 to buy new glasses.

      I'd rather try to get them back rather than just accept that they will be thrown in the trash.

      It's not the value of the glasses that's the issue, rather the knowledge that it would be a such a waste to have something thrown away that doesn't need to be.

      Each to their own I suppose.

      • Mary Poppins on 31/01/2018 - 21:03
        +2

        Hey… my motto, if you don't ask, you don't get. Good on you!

    • sparkles on 30/01/2018 - 12:13
      +10

      You know @tuzii, some people like to accrue good karma and (shock!) may even do this for nothing in return. Not everyone thinks like you.

      It's not even a "finders fee", it's simply doing another person a favour should you be able. I'd do this sort of stuff for free because I'd hope someone would do it for me should the situation be reversed.

      • try2bhelpful on 30/01/2018 - 12:30

        Completely agree. If I was heading over there I would consider it, especially given it is near the ferry terminal which wouldn't be much out of a lot of people's way.

  • Baysew on 30/01/2018 - 11:37
    +7

    I have a similar problem. I left some headphones behind, anyone one willing to pick up for me?

    • boomramada on 30/01/2018 - 12:12

      If they are Bose/Sony noise cancelling headphones, I will pick it up and keep it for you ;)

      • Baysew on 30/01/2018 - 12:41
        +10

        They are Daiku-branded headphones. Purchased as presents for 15 friends.

        • boomramada on 30/01/2018 - 12:47
          +1

          Aww you nearly got me there, I thought QuietComfort 15 ;)

  • Choc83 on 30/01/2018 - 12:21
    +9

    I had 15 pairs of headphones get held up in Bogota, Colombia. Can someone help me out?

    • try2bhelpful on 30/01/2018 - 12:32

      Love the references. Don't think you will be able to smuggle much back in a pair of glasses though.

  • goegge on 30/01/2018 - 12:31
    +2

    Speaking in general terms here. Be careful when considering requests like that. The item you are picking up might contain more than you are aware.

    • Olokun on 30/01/2018 - 12:43

      I always knew that OzB was a front.

    • try2bhelpful on 30/01/2018 - 12:43
      +2

      I agree, but a pair of glasses are unlikely to contain contraband. I certainly agree in relation to already wrapped packages.

      I had a couple of interesting experiences.
      a) This is one we caused. A while ago we asked a friend to take a big box of Lego blocks back from America to another friend with kids - we also sent back a Star Wars top that, when it whirled, played the Star Wars theme and displayed a message. We put the top inside the box and gave it to the guy, without notifying him about the top (mainly cause we forgot). He got to the airport where they scanned it and asked what the box contained, he said lego bricks, and then they asked him what the device with the battery and the wiring was all about. Fortunately this was (just) pre 9/11 so our friend was OK, but nowdays he would probably be in Guantanomo Bay, if they hadn't shot him first.
      b) A lady at the airport was explaining her son was selling hangover cure tablets and she was handing out free samples for people to try. She seemed nice so I said thank-you and then quietly disposed of them in the airport toilets before getting on the plane. I'm sure they were innocuous but I wasn't going to have that conversation with airport security.

      TL;DR I agree "beware" but I think glasses are probably OK - unless OP is importing plutonium.

    • venturis on 30/01/2018 - 12:45

      You make a very valid point. It didn't occur to me that the item you collect might contain more than you bargained (no pun intended) for.

      These are prescription glasses in a very standard glasses case. No space for anything to be hidden but as its been in the hands of people with whom I have no relationship, it would be worth checking that nothing has been tucked inside the lining of the case.

      Anyone that collected them for me has my permission to rip the lining out of the glasses case to be sure nothing hiding away.

    • original15 on 30/01/2018 - 18:07

      Sunglasses packed with extra thick padding, stored in a duffel bag that now weighs 20kg, that what you’re thinking?
      As a recent inductee to the prescription glasses club I’d pick them up for you if I was in HK OP but can’t help

  • dissin on 30/01/2018 - 13:02

    Ask Twitter or social media service popular in HK

    Offer a kind request and reward to help

    See what happens

    • venturis on 30/01/2018 - 13:10

      I'm not very active on social media. Actually not at all. I wouldn't know where to start. OzB is about as adventurous as I get but I like the idea.

    • citygal on 30/01/2018 - 13:34

      Very unlikely this will work judging HK's culture

      • dissin on 31/01/2018 - 18:33

        True but many expats work there too

  • citygal on 30/01/2018 - 13:35

    Actually how much are you thinking of offering for reward? And where is this McDonald?

  • Justplanemad on 30/01/2018 - 16:32
    +1

    Which McDonald’s exactly? Maybe PM if you don’t want to disclose which one

    I live in HK but I don’t go to The island much, and I’m away for 2 weeks.

    Worst case after 2 weeks I could pick them up- but the hard bit is getting them back to Perth. This would only be worst case if can’t find someone - as it’s not convenient unfortunately and I’m not in HK currently. So I hope you find someone who’s much more useful that me!

    • venturis on 30/01/2018 - 17:29

      Thanks for the offer. I'll send you a PM with the details just in case. Hopefully someone else will be able to help as it sounds like its a long way out of your way.

      • chuckynoris on 31/01/2018 - 22:18

        Why don't you Call McDonald's Australia and see if they can get them back for you? They maybe able to persuade Hong Kong to send them back to you it is worth a try. All Maccas would have to do is send a email to Hong Kong requesting the glasses be sent to the office in Australia. My guess is the reason why they wont send them back because it will take some effort for a manager to take it to the post office. It is appalling really.

        It is a bit like the US companies who wont send parcels to Australia. All they have to do is find out how much it cost and send it but as i said it is too much to excel in customer service and make the effort.

        • Quantumcat on 01/02/2018 - 08:59

          He tried that and they refused to post them

        • chuckynoris on 01/02/2018 - 10:18

          @Quantumcat: No i said he should contact McDonald's Australia not Hong Kong.

        • Quantumcat on 01/02/2018 - 11:00

          @chuckynoris: Oh, I see what you mean. Sounds unlikely but worth exploring!

        • chuckynoris on 01/02/2018 - 20:18

          @Quantumcat:
          It isnt that hard. All they have to do is send a email to Hong Kong requesting the glasses be sent to the office in Australia not that difficult. But it will take some initiative by the employee who gets asked to think of this.

  • Baghern on 07/02/2018 - 23:27
    +1

    result?

  • venturis on 10/02/2018 - 15:03

    No joy from my fellow Ozbargainer's. :(

    Had a couple of people offer to "maybe" pick them up if it was in the vicinity of where they were planning to visit but alas no-one came back to me confirming they had collected the glasses.

    Fortunately and luckily, I found a colleague at work who is traveling to Hong Kong. He has kindly offered to jump on the ferry from Kowloon to pick up the glasses. Will be a very nice bottle of wine or spirits in it for him even though he didn't want anything in return.

    Thanks everyone on Ozbargain that offered to help or provided suggestions.

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