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 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,217 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1291 Posts |
If I sell a coin on ebay for $5.00 and the buyer pays me, but I choose to ignore all of ebay's electronic shipping options and just stick the coin into a manually addressed envelope and slap an appropriate amount of postage stamps on it and mail it...will whatever is left of the $5.00 after final value fees ever make it to my bank? Or would the lack of a tracking number cause ebay to send the $5.00 into limbo? I know that sending a coin without tracking and without insurance is risky, but if I'm willing to accept that risk and the buyer gets the coin and doesn't do anything shady like pretend he didn't receive it...would ebay ever release the funds to me? |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6448 Posts |
I have had many sellers ship cheap coins to me in plain envelopes, so it must work for getting paid. As a seller, I have had a few buyers try to scam me claiming non-delivery. I always use ESUS for sub-$20 coins. Often the tracking information in the app only shows label printing. Buyers will claim non-delivery, not knowing that often ebay customer service can see more extensive tracking data. If I had been using plain envelopes, I'd simply be out of luck. My advice: don't try to save 25¢ and then get burned by a scammer for the total amount. |
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
No, ebay won't hold the funds up. As the seller you will be able to mark the item as shipped. You can even provide your own tracking number which you get automatically when you pay for the postage with a teller. I would STRONGLY suggest tracking. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1502 Posts |
What am I missing here?
ESE is the exact same rate as USPS Postage stamps ?
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
Maybe the OP inherited an old stamp collection, parts of which he wants to monetize through the regular mail? Edited by jdsstrat
05/28/2025 4:24 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
24876 Posts |
Quote:
You can even provide your own tracking number which you get automatically when you pay for the postage with a teller. USPS does not give tracking numbers for 1st Class mail - you have to upgrade to get one. Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1291 Posts |
I certainly understand the admonishments to play it safe and get a tracking number...but it just fries me when I sell a nickel under - but really close to - $20, and then the sales tax pushes it over $20 and the postage goes from 69 cents to over $4. And you might ask, "Oh, come on! How many times can that happen?" And the answer is ENOUGH that it makes me think it's worth the risk to ship without tracking. Back when I started selling coins on ebay in 2001, the vast majority of what I sold went into a manually addressed envelope, with postage stamps and then into my mailbox by the street with the flag raised so that the route person would pick it up. (I'm in a rural area.) Only when things began to exceed $20 did I think about taking it up to the post office...but $20 in 2001 was like...what...now? 40 or 50...? I only recall one instance of someone telling me they didn't get their coin. I'm not Pollyanna enough to think there aren't sheisters out there who wouldn take advantage of me...but we'd probably all agree that when it comes to ebay most of the bad guys (as in trying to steal or put something over on you) are sellers and that people who love coins are a cut above the average Joe  . (In my case, it also helps that what I stand to lose, if I run into one of those rotten tomatoes, isn't much...) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6448 Posts |
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What am I missing here? ESE is the exact same rate as USPS Postage stamps ? That is probably true for the ESUS 1oz tier. The 2oz and 3oz tiers are slightly more expensive. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1502 Posts |
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That is probably true for the ESUS 1oz tier. The 2oz and 3oz tiers are slightly more expensive. Nope. If you ship via EDS (implying it conforms to the USPS First Class Mail restrictions) it is the exact same cost as USPS Retail for First Class Mail, but you get tracking and insurance. I swing a metal detector and have a knack for finding dirty old coins. Dirt coin restoration projects - https://www.prodetecting.com/restorationsDirt coin restoration blog - https://www.prodetecting.com/blog/ccawDirt coin dig videos - https://www.youtube.com/@prodetecting |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6448 Posts |
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Valued Member
Canada
402 Posts |
consider shipping to Canada where ebay international charges vary from $16-23 for items that may only cost under $10 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5661 Posts |
Quote:
sell a nickel under - but really close to - $20, and then the sales tax pushes it over $20 and the postage goes from 69 cents to over $4 It doesn't work that way. If your total sale is for $20, but sales tax pushes the buyer's cost over $20, you can still ship it with ESE. I've done that several times. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1502 Posts |
Quote:
A USPS forever stamp is $0.73. So I stand by my statement. Your statement was a stamp was cheaper, now I am even more confused. EDS is cheaper at 1, 2, or 3 ounces. I swing a metal detector and have a knack for finding dirty old coins. Dirt coin restoration projects - https://www.prodetecting.com/restorationsDirt coin restoration blog - https://www.prodetecting.com/blog/ccawDirt coin dig videos - https://www.youtube.com/@prodetectingEdited by DOCC
05/29/2025 01:02 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5661 Posts |
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EDS is cheaper at 1, 2, or 3 ounces. Agree, ebay standard envelope is 4 cents cheaper at each weight, 1 oz, 2 oz, and 3 oz. Insignificant difference in cost, but the big benefit is the tracking and insurance. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1291 Posts |
@Zurie: I wish now that I had screen-shotted the last time that happened to me. It absolutely wouldn't let me use ESE...it was grayed out and forced me to use USPS Groundsaver. That's when I started thinking about just throwing the coin into a first class envelope and taking my chances without a tracking number. If it happens again I'll screen shot it and come back to you...maybe I'm doing something that's wrong that causes this to happen...? I confess that technology and how to use it often dies by my hands!!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5661 Posts |
I'm not sure why that happened to you. I just mailed a coin this morning that sold for $20, and the buyer paid $21.95 including sales tax. I shipped it ESE for 69 cents. I would also balk at paying $4.50 for shipping on top of ebay fees on a $20 sale. If the buyer has good feedback, I would just drop it in the mail with a first class stamp, then mark it shipped on ebay. 95% of the time you'll be fine. Just a couple suggestions, although they may not be pertinent to you. If you don't provide free shipping, make sure the total sales price including shipping is $20 or less. And be sure your listing indicates ebay standard shipping as the method of shipping, so that becomes the default when it's time to ship. |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,217 |
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Posted 05/28/2025 12:37 pm
