Damaged set when put though a customs inspection department?

Recently I received a set from an overseas shipper when it arrived here in the U.S. Upon the same day it was to be delivered it was recalled to be re inspected by US Customs. They must have had Gorillas doing the inspection because they totally ripped up the packaging tore into the box and pieces and the bases of a few pawns looking for who knows what returned the parcel to the courier service and delivered the parcel through a courier the next day. The courier was not at fault here it was the US customs who handed the package back to the delivery outfit in this condition. An investigation is underway and I will be reimbursed for all the pieces damaged 4 in total. I sure hope no one else goes through this hellish episode with their chess sets being delivered by an overseas proprietor and manufacturer of chess sets and related items and have their country's customs department engage in such disregard to property as if looking for hazardous contraband or dangerous radioactive materials. Isn't that what X rays and geiger counters machines and bomb and drugs sniffing canines are used for? A real damn shame how things are handled nowadays but I digress this may just be a lone isolated incident unless it's happened to anyone else willing to chime in here. 

The pictures that are shown are the way the package was received. It was already ripped open and the courier looked a bit ashamed to hand me a package in such poor condition. I let him know that I know this wasn't his doing that the U.S. customs agency is to bear the full blame for this fiasco. 

Wow, that's horrible. I think it just might've been the luck of draw to be "examined" by US Customs. I hope I never encounter this.  All the BS bureaucracy you're going to have to go through now to get reimbursed is insult to injury.

My sympathies! Btw, what set did you purchase?

Very sorry this happened to you,but I'm sure things will work out.Hope it's not the custom C.B. set you waited so long for.

They once opened my suitcase (US customs) and left a ton of gel to droop over electrical equipment. I wasn't happy.

A few months back someone posted a picture of a solid wood chessboard they received, customs drilled several holes into it so see if something was hidden inside. there was not. but there were holes in the surface of the previously polished wood board.

From personal experience I had one package from India opened by customs, but they did not savage any of the pieces, just looked at them I guess.

What and awful story ! good luck with your dealing's with US customs .

After spending out all that billions to keep America safe over the past decade etc.

Can you not sue them for criminal damage or at least get compensation back ?

Welcome to Trump's America.

Replacement reimbursement is the method to appease my situation and I'm ok with that from the company. They will deal with both the courier and U.S. customs. No further action from my end required. 

That's good / Because this Day & Age it's very hard to talk to a human in these's matters of kind's !

aint the same world u grew up in...  better safe than sorry

It sounds like bad employees at customs.  Surely it can't be Customs policy that destroying peoples property is ok in search of contraband.  

On the other hand, how do you check a pawn for possible cocaine or explosives etc.  There must be a don-destructive method.  Dogs?  

Not surprising that training and professionalism is lacking in a job like that.  Anyone who has dealt with TSA at the airport knows that they aren't exactly West Point cadets filling those positions. 

So after putting a man on the Moon as we being told !  50 years ago .

This is the best way to check someone's post ? In Trump's America !

Damn that sucks to read. I understand your frustration. About ten years ago I had old furniture sent in from the Netherlands to USA. The packaging was torn open and one of the cushions ripped apart. The packaging had the "Examined" label similar to yours. The underside of the couch was also damaged with a knife. I threw it out. My brother, who sent the package, filed the compensation claims.

If the felt was the only thing the inspectors damaged then perhaps it can be refelted so you now have extra pieces in addition to the replacements. Is that a crack or a felt fiber on the right side pawn?

Don't even get me started with my audio equipment hassles of the past.

The felt destroyed as well as the plaster underneath the base to hold in the weights and the finish of the piece totally marred. They weren't careful at all total negligence to proper handling. I will be reimbursed for the pieces. 

Fortunately it will all be cleared up soon.....Let's hope this is the worst thing that can happen in one's life.