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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,195 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5953 Posts |
OK here we go. Is it legal or illegal to ship US coins via the US postal service? If a package is insured and the contents are damaged can you still claim on the insurance if the box has no visible damage? I recently send something we will call machined parts to someone and the package arrived today. there was no visible damage to the box but the contents of the box had broken out of their storage tubes. The box was filled to capacity with bubble wrap so there was no way for the tubes to break open with some major vibration. The machined parts were made to a very high tolerance and with them escaping from the tubes they banged against each other and the surfaces bacame less than perfect. How am I going to explain to the PO that these machined parts are now only worth a fraction of their value ? Will they in fact even allow me to put in a claim. Or am I going to have to take a hit on this one? Hopefully there will be some experts here who can answer these questions. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2703 Posts |
I would file the claim with a clear letter explaining the damage. Don't expect the claim to be processed for several months. The Post Office is notoriously slow in processing insurance claims. I am still waiting to hear back for a claim I filed on January 15th, 2007 regarding a French ecu I bought from M&M on Vcoins. An envelope showed up but there was a tear and the expensive coin was missing inside. I am still bummed about it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
I'm far from an expert, but I do deal with actual machined parts that are made to very tight tolerances. 9 times out of 10 a damaged part is due to the packaging. Not enough packaging for the weight of the item, not individually wrapped prior to putting in a box with "peanuts" etc. Unfortunately, we have insurance on a lot of our stuff, but it still falls back on the shipper. Is this correct, I cannot answer, but my honest feeling is if your "parts" did not arrive safely, it may have been the shippers fault, not the transporting service..  Again, I'm not justifying any damage being done as one persons fault, but I think it can be prevented in the future IMO. I also do not see why you can't make a claim regardless, but I'm curious if it makes a difference if you told them it was something fragile and had them put a sticker on it. My PO always asks if it's something liquid, fragile, etc. They may be a stickler about this fact, but I haven't a real clue to be honest. Just throwing out thoughts now.... |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5953 Posts |
In this case I can say the parts were packaged well (I am the sender). The Tube about the size of a dollar tube was full and packing placed in the top of the tube to stop movement. the tube was then rolled in bubble wrap and placed in a square flat rate priority mail box the bottom of which was lined with bubble wrap. the box was then stuffed with bubble wrap to the point where it was hard to close the lid and tape it. Lots or clear tape was used to keep the box shut. The box was shipped using the USPS shipping machine in my POs lobby. As I have said the person receiving the box said it was not damaged but for some reason the contents of the tube had spread thought the box in this case it was ASE's that were destined to be sent off to PCGS by a buyer in the hope of getting a few back as MS70. I have not had the contents of the box returned as yet but from the description the ASEs are now not BU. I trust the buyer to honest with me as we have dealt with each other before so I do not suspect a switch. I am not out a huge amount on the deal after refunding his money but I paid for the insurance and was wondering if it was worth making a claim and if the PO would even acknowladge that the value of the boxes contents had diminished in transit. |
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Valued Member
United States
280 Posts |
Why pay for insurance and not make a claim? The tough part here is that there was no damage noted when the package was received.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
Wow, sounds like they were packaged very well.  I would post a claim, but I wonder if Gatdon is correct in his thinking. That really stinks Richard, I hope things work out OK. My guess is that you will be able to tell if there was a switch anyway, although highly unlikely. The only thing I guess is left judging by your packaging description would have been to tape the ends of the tube shut after the bubble wrap was stuffed in both ends. Then I would see no way for the coins to come out without the use of a utility knife/razor.... Again, I hope things work out for you. I can tell you that any package I have received from you in the past has been perfect!!! |
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Valued Member
United States
112 Posts |
I was thinking, how did you really know that the box was not damaged? Were you able to take a close look at it? Maybe the box was dropped on a corner and caused enough jolting to loosen the coins. It wouldn't leave a very noticeable mark on the corner. Just wondering.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1151 Posts |
-Is it legal or illegal to ship US coins via the US postal service? If a package is insured and the contents are damaged can you still claim on the insurance if the box has no visible damage? - From the USPS website: "...The types of indemnity claims that are payable are as follows: ... Fair market value of stamps and coins of philatelic or numismatic value, as determined by a recognized stamp or coin dealer or current coin and stamp collector's newsletter and trade paper." If you do a search for coin on the USPS website, there is a publication 122 - Customer guide to filing domestic insurance which gives all the needed info to file a claim. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5953 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1151 Posts |
I know it is illegal to send coins, gold and silver to some other countries, so if a loss happens there,I would think you are S.O.L.
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Valued Member
United States
173 Posts |
I would file the claim, you paid for the Ins., what do you have to lose?
The only problem I see is, where there is NO physical damage done to the outside of the package, they (the Post Office) will try to claim "not adequate packing of the product" such that the inferior packing was the reason for damage to the product.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,195 |
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Posted 05/04/2007 5:42 pm
