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 Replies: 24 / Views: 4,148 |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
3831 Posts |
Put it this way, I'm a collector so it's not like it's impossible to have coins sent to Australia. Just label them as gifts / metal planchets / tokens etc will be fine.
The idea is it's just not 'smart' for a package to say "Hey I've got money here so open me up".
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
From gxseries last link regarding prohibited items: Quote:
57.1.13 coins lodged for delivery within Australia which exceed a face value of more than $A200. For the avoidance of doubt, coins up to a limit not exceeding the
face value of $A200, lodged for delivery within Australia, are not prohibited from carriage if lodged under the registered post service or under a parcel delivery service which requires a signature on delivery;
57.1.14 coins lodged for delivery in the international post; The way I read that is that as long as it is being delivered to an Australian address, then the limit is $A200 face value and all coins are prohibited being sent to an international address from Australia.  There is also this note in the USPS link: Quote:
Notes:
Coins; banknotes; currency notes, including paper money; securities of any kind payable to bearer; traveler's checks; platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; watches; and other valuable articles are prohibited in Priority Mail Express International shipments to Australia. So, it seems that only applies to Express. I am interested in this because I am the one sending Yass coins through USPS, then ShopMate, to Australia. In this case, the coins total $14.50 US face value. In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Pillar of the Community
 Australia
652 Posts |
I rang Australia Post(AP) seeking advice on the receipt of international coins. I was initially advised that they were a prohibited item and that they reserved the right not to deliver them. I raised the point that Border Protection (BP) have no concerns on the receipt of foreign coins. I was advised to take it up with BP before AP would escalate the issue.
I rang Border Protection in terms of receiving coins from overseas. There is no restriction on coins apart from having to declare and pay GST (10%) on coins with a value over A$1000. They were quite clear on that point.
I then called AP again. After again discussing this issue and waiting for the matter to be discussed off line, I was advised that while the coins are NOT prohibited items, it is AP POLICY that they prefer not to deliver the items due their policy in relation to insurance claims. AP will not insure coins. I also raised the point that the US and New Zealand mint have delivered coins to me on a number of occasions. AP response was that it probably wasn't AP that actually delivered the coins. Correct.
That then brings me to the USPS issue of prohibited items. Going over their website was like extracting your own teeth. You can only contact them if you following the bouncing ball, which NEVER lands on the right question to ask. As far as I am concerned their advice is also wrong.
I will let you know what happens when Shopmate mails my coins.
Edited by Yass
12/11/2017 11:19 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12477 Posts |
Thanks for the followup and research, Yass. In this specific case, the USPS has nothing to do with it (thank goodness). ShopMate receives the package in the US. After that, I don't know what method they use to then ship it to Australia. At a certain point, it must be transferred to a postal carrier (not necessarily Australia Post) to be delivered to the final destination. I don't understand AP's unwillingness to handle coins. Then again, I don't know what they automatically insure and for how much. From what you said, it seems that there isn't a legal importation issue, just a business issue with the AP. I have no idea what the USPS is on about. It will be interesting and enlightening to see how this shipment process plays out. Stay tuned!  In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
Edited by spru
12/12/2017 02:48 am
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
That then brings me to the USPS issue of prohibited items. Going over their website was like extracting your own teeth. You can only contact them if you following the bouncing ball, which NEVER lands on the right question to ask. As far as I am concerned their advice is also wrong.
It is. They have plenty of incorrect information on the banned items pages for other countries. They saw that sending money was banned (aka sending cash payments) so they automatically just said coins were banned or saw the cultural heritage restricted items. Quote:
I don't understand AP's unwillingness to handle coins. It's only official policy because they can't afford to payout insurance claims on them and don't want the liability of having small super expensive things in their custody like that. Or people complaining to other parts of the government they won't honor their insurance and trying to force them to pay. The reality though is they can do handle coins everyday. Order anything from the Australian Mint, it'll come AusPost. |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
652 Posts |
Mu US purchase has arrived at Shopmate. It cost me (after 20% discount) A$30 to deliver. I also had to declare the contents. Seriously, the closest I could come to was a 'Book'. As it is a Dansco Album, I'm not particularly misrepresenting the contents. I also described it as 'Numismatic Album and Supplies'.
Now waiting.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12477 Posts |
I was wondering how you would declare it. It seems using the term "numismatic" is a good choice, not only in this case, but for protecting any packages from theft. "Numismatic Album" is exactly what it is.  In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Numismatic, hobby supplies, album, book, all would work for danscos. Albums aren't really anything to worry about anything that's truthful works and it should come right through. They're looking for things where the value isn't properly declared to void taxes or drugs/weapons ect.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
9439 Posts |
Australia Post certainly deliver coins from Royal Australian Mint.  I have sent many packages overseas with no trouble at all. I label the contents as "Hobby Supplies". Occasionally I might get asked to be more specific, then I just add "metal discs". Steve :) |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
652 Posts |
My coins from the US arrived via Shopmate a couple of days ago. My son signed for it. It was delivered by Auspost and wasn't opened by Customs.
I now have another package to be delivered from the Canada Mint (who will also not send to Australia).
I think that while a little more expensive, Shopmate appears to work well.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12477 Posts |
That's good news! In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
I now have another package to be delivered from the Canada Mint (who will also not send to Australia). That's really weird that they refuse to ship there |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
652 Posts |
My roll of coins from the Canadian Mint have arrived at ShopMate. Unfortunately, they have been identified as 'Prohibited Goods'.
More to follow.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
652 Posts |
I spoke with ShopMate Customer Service this morning. They advised me that they require a license to on-send the coins to Australia. I asked for details regarding this 'license'. They were unable to provide any details. They suggested I speak to Customs. When I advise them that I already had and that there were no issues with importing collectible coins, they just 'shrugged. I rang Australia Post who advised me that ShopMate, while badged as an Australia Post enterprise, is really only a franchise. They knew nothing of a license stipulation either.
ShopMate will send me details of how I may be able to get around this dilemma.
Like a dog with a bone, I'm not letting this one go. I will escalate with management (if I can find out who that might be). Fortunately, this was an experiment and will only cost me $70
Incidently, I wrote to the Canadian Mint as to why they don't send to Australia, No response.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
652 Posts |
Bottom Line
ShopMate will on-send to Australia IF the parcel does not identify the contents as coins. As my recent purchase was from the Canada Mint, it was obvious what the contents were and ShopMate subsequently listed it as prohibited goods.
The issues is not that the coins are legislatively prohibited, it is that Australia Post will not 'license' its agent ShopMate to post the item to Australia. It is Australia Post POLICY to not insure the coins (regardless of their value). It is NOT an Australian Government custom issue. I was assured by Australia Post that they will not change their policy.
My only alternative is find another postal address in the US and have the coins sent there for on-sending to Australia.
It now seems obvious to me that the reason companies like Canadian Mint will not send to Australia is because of Australia Post policy.
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Replies: 24 / Views: 4,148 |
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Posted 12/11/2017 9:48 pm
