Trombones go to war over theft at parcel firm

We have received this message from Simon Minshall, president of the British Trombone Society:

As part of its charitable activities, The British Trombone Society lends high-calibre trombones to deserving young people for furtherance of their studies.

At the end of August 2022, one such instrument, a Yamaha YSL-882GO F/Bb trombone went missing whilst being shipped by the courier DPD from the Society’s service agent in Birmingham to a student in Devon.

Using DPD’s parcel app, the trombone was last tracked to the Aldridge Depot in Walsall and a Missing Parcel enquiry was opened. After several weeks of “searching,” the instrument was deemed “Whereabouts Unknown” and DPD hoped to close the case with an offer of £50 compensation.

In the meantime, thanks to the diligence of the Society’s agent and staff, the trombone was located, being advertised for sale on Facebook Marketplace!

DPD had sent the trombone to Lost Property and subsequently passed to an auction house when no one had claimed it. The instrument had now been sold via the auction house to a private buyer.

DPD now need to “do the right thing” and return the instrument to the British Trombone Society.

DPD is a Fench company, owned by La Poste. They appear to accept no responsibility for this distressing incident.