Lost 1879-S Morgan - Ebay Shipping 101

My experience receiving ebay purchased items has been all over spectrum--some way over-packed (not a bad thing, considering), many well-packed, and some horribly packed. Did have one nice Canada 1958 dollar fall out of a gum sealed envelope somewhere in transit a while back. Had to eat that one.

That is a really nice morgan to lose in transit. I would talk to your mail carrier about leaving a package in your mail box that has been opened. Ask your mail carrier to notify you in the future before leaving an empty open package. If you refuse delivery, the seller is on the hook for a lost coin.

My guess is the seller has the insurance and the seller claims it. Keeps those proceeds and my money for double prizes.
I didn't buy insurance on this coin, I figured if it got lost...the seller makes the claim, gets the money then refunds me. Guess I'm incorrect. But since I received the actual package and the USPS said it was delivered. ebay cleared the seller. All coins I purchased on ebay, I now add a note to to seller asking them to tape the seal and use extra tape on the whole package.

We have a PO box not a mail box, so it is a little more secure. My wife picked up the mail that day and didn't notice. My wife is not the most observant so I can't fault her for telling the post office before she left. The post master said I can file a claim for the lost item. If it's found they will return it to me...Not much hope in that...but i'll do that tomorrow...we wait and see.

Yeah I picked this coin because of the toning and how the gold tone matched the ANACS slab color. It just goes together very well and it's was going to be my most toned coin in this test. The rest of the coins are pretty flashy white.

Regardless of ability to claim insurance, you should notify the postal inspector. If a USPS employee is stealing package contents, they need to know that.

I was reimbursed for a Fedex overseas shipment that was ripped open just like yours. Bubble wrap is not substantial packaging for coins, nor is a delivery tossed on my porch.

I was not reimbursed for USPS shipments that the driver signed for that didn't arrive. My mailbox is not secure so I got a PO box. So far that has worked. It ensures that I sign for the delivery personally and not the driver.

Unfortunately you are out of luck as it was not brought to the P.O. attention when it was picked up. I also have a P.O. box and had a similar situation occur with the same type of mailer with a coin shipped from Germany. It was insured and required signature confirmation. The mailer was torn open and an $800 coin was missing. The mailer was enclosed in a clear plastic sealed zip lock with a printed label on it from the point of entry into the U.S. stating that the mailer arrived in this condition.
Once I saw the condition I refused to accept it but took photos and contacted ebay. I was made whole. Ever since this episode I will pay for signature confirmation if the seller does not offer it.
A little extra tape on these type of mailers will not make any difference at all IMO. If they are sealed properly I find them practically impossible to open without the use of scissors.

I have to agree with NSS, that looks like an intentional removal. Those sealed envelopes do not open easy. Postal Inspector should start at hub where Zypies drops off their shipments.

I always tape my ebay shipment envelope AND tape the coin to the packing slip/receipt.

Brandmeister: You are correct. My concern has been with purchases outside of ebay and it has only happened a couple of times on small ticket items where the seller would insure the parcel on his end but not include signature confirmation. Completely understandable so I would offer to pick up the cost.