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 Replies: 11 / Views: 2,537 |
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Valued Member
Russian Federation
417 Posts |
I decided to make my first test buy from US (im in Russia), any cheap (~10$) coin I cant buy in my marketplaces. Max weight 1-2 ounce. I asked a few ebay sellers about a shipping cost with tracking on all the way, but got a very different answers: one said it's 15$, another 50$, third 100$.  On USPS calculator I can see very scary prices. I need all-way tracking, not only in US borders, because untracked shipments won't be delivered for sure. I would agree to any shipping speed, even it will be a sea shipping for a 2 months. What shipping methods are best for me? Edited by flying_teapot
12/20/2017 04:47 am
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Many sellers try very hard not to ship overseas. Most are set up to reject orders or bids from overseas. From the sellers view point sending a package without door to door tracking is just asking for trouble. The only package that I've ever "lost" was shipped overseas. The only negative I've ever received was from buyers overseas. In both instances I was threatened with a negative if I didn't refund a part of the price. Unless a seller uses ebay's own overseas shipping system (I've never used it), or much more expensive shipping to offer tracking, most are rightfully afraid of any but US shipping with the exception of Canada (yes, I know they aren't overseas). |
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Valued Member
 Russian Federation
417 Posts |
Does USPS First Class Mail International have tracking before it goes out of US border?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2134 Posts |
Quote:
...most are rightfully afraid of any but US shipping... I've bought many times from the USA, India, China, Australia without any problems. However, any time the seller specifies shipping via the Global Shipping Program, I don't even bid, because it's ridiculously expensive (for example, $31 instead of $12 on an $8 purchase). |
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Valued Member
United States
413 Posts |
Hi ammcollect, Russia, India and China even Italy topped the list for many ebay sellers that they would not ship to these countries due to not so reliable and untrustworthy postal services. If one is from these countries, they usually have to ask someone in the USA to bid and purchase the items in order to have them posted to them. As to tracking service, for these countries, it has to be only Registered Mail service which costs nearly $14.00 plus the actual postage. It includes "free" $50 insurance on certain items, coins have to be insured extra. You might be looking at $18-$25. Some sellers will try to conceal the coins well. Registered Mail service does not really protect your coins if it were to be sent to Russia. Russian Post Service especially the customs will tamper with the mail regardless. I had a Ukrainian friend who told me that her cousin in Germany tried to conceal €50 note inside the card as she did not want to pay extra for registered mail service. By the time, my friend received the card. It was opened and the note is missing. She adamantly told her cousin that she must not send anything without any protection services. Her cousin was upset that they still find her note inside the card between the card's front thick card boards. This is why many sellers would not post to Russia and other certain countries. @ Pertinax, we are talking about Russia, not the UK. Or that you have no problem receiving from other countries--it is not issue. Ammcollect is trying to understand why he or she is unable to get items at reasonable cost of postage. Some sellers would not sell to Russian buyers due to their bad experience(s). That impacts on other Russian buyers. Pertinax is correct that any seller with Global Shipping program is not worth it as it does not reflect the actual postage and cost of registered mail services. At the same time, you have to remember that the sellers have to cover the fee that is deducted from the postage by ebay to prevent any inflated shipping cost even if one quoted actual shipping cost. That is why some sellers are trying to price the shipping cost a bit more. I believe there is special service for Russians who want to order items from overseas. It might costs little more but it will worth your time and efforts. This service will use people who lives in the USA to order items and have shipped to them then have items posted to Russia. Or ask your friends in the US if they could help you out. That is if you have friends there. |
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Valued Member
Russian Federation
417 Posts |
Thank you for your answers.
Carrigna, we have same special service, but it's pointed mostly to consumer electronic and clothes, and all coins are prohibited by their rules.
I think I should try to by cheap coin for a test USPS First Class Mail International. Of course without treating a seller about refund. Also, I have 100% delivered untracked packets from China, so though about it gives me positive hope.
Edited by flying_teapot
12/20/2017 10:44 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4212 Posts |
I don't think tracking applies, once it leaves the states. (big 'if')
It is possible, however, to mail an envelope containing a rigid item, weighing
2 oz, for under $5. It's risky, for sure, but I've had sm. priority boxes go AWOL,
curiously, 2 in Toledo.
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Valued Member
Russian Federation
417 Posts |
Yes, it doesn't have a tracking outside US. It's like a lottery with a 15$ enter  But if I win, i'll get a coin that counldn't be bought in russian marketplaces for a fair price (or there are no coins of that type for sale). For example, Standing Liberty quarter type 1, Flying Eagle cent in price/condition 15-20$. Edited by flying_teapot
12/20/2017 11:45 am
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2134 Posts |
Quote:
If one is from these countries, they usually have to ask someone in the USA to bid and purchase the items in order to have them posted to them.
How does that help ? If the Russian's friend is in the USA, surely they would have the same problem as anyone else in the USA. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4593 Posts |
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1949 Posts |
We ship out a few hundred packages a year to Russia. Our loss rate is on par with several other countries which have a bad postal reputation (Mexico, Italy, Israel), but certainly not the worst in the world. The idea of 'door to door' tracking to anywhere in the world (including domestically) is only as good as the carrier delivering the last leg of the item. We have had Express Packages and Registered International shipments never receive a final scan, though most of the time they are indeed delivered. In regards to Russia specifically, 1st class will not have tracking when it leaves the U.S., and I have found Priority and Express shipments to Russia do not always receive the proper scans. Registered shipments to Russia can be complicated, as U.S. Registered forms must be handwritten, and that can be complicated when an address is Cyrillic There are many Russian buyers who use 'reshipment services', where shipments are delivered to an address in the U.S., where they will accumulate items and eventually, have the items shipped freight, in a quite secure manner. This is a link to one such service: http://www.meest.us/rus/poslugi/dos...stavka_.html |
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Valued Member
Russian Federation
417 Posts |
So, I made first test order via USPS First Class Mail International.
I was surprised a lot, when russian customs put a new tracking number for my packet. There's no way to know a new track before shipment delivered, but it's a good thing anyway. In fact, this shipment becomes all-way tracking, and russian post has very optimistic (near 100%) responsibility to deliver it to the address.
Total:
This is the best method to ship cheap coins to Russia. Better not slabbed because of size. Truly saying any expensive coins could be stolen on customs (if you will write in the customs declaration what is the coin in packet - chances will rise extremely high), but not on the next sorting centers.
An awful minus - everyone can cheat you saying a lie "not received", and have your coins and money back. You will have no chances to know a ru track, it just a new sticker on the packet.
And one more advice - in customs declaration you should write "gift".
Ask me a question if you have one.
Edited by flying_teapot
01/16/2018 1:08 pm
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Replies: 11 / Views: 2,537 |
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Posted 12/20/2017 08:51 am
