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 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,968 |
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Valued Member
United States
325 Posts |
does anyone have an idea what the best way to ship a three ring binder full of morgans/peace dollars. This book weighs about 15 lbs and some of the coins are terrific to say the least.
the paranoia part comes in when insuring the package. Do you actually tell the shipping clerk, "Oh these are silver coins from the early 20th century and they're worth about 5K"?
should pickup be made at the shipping company office or a front door drop with signature?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
532 Posts |
While we are always protective about our collections you must remember that the shipping companies are not impressed. They ship valuables far exceeding our coins daily. Registered mail can be expensive but it ensures they don't wind up lost somewhere along their journey. Everyone to touch it signs for it every inch along its way. I don't know what method your using, UPS, USPS etc but nearly any company can offer secure delivery insured for full value without much worry. As long as there is nothing hazardous or flammable or outright illegal, then who cares what is in the package. The only reason they ask is for insurance reasons. You lie on the insurance forms and it voids the claim.
Tell the clerk anything you like but like mentioned above, they probably wont bat an eye. I would say to definitely have signature confirmation added. Proof of delivery only means it was delivered to that address....not actually received by a person.
Registered mail puts it directly into the persons hand you are aiming for. No guesswork about where it went. Insured, registered w/signature confirmation and you are good to go. Just make sure you cover all your bases.
Don't be cheap on packing supplies. Pack it neatly and securely, leaving nothing to chance or rattle. No stray labels or markings on the box. Walk it through the entire shipping process...don't just send your son/daughter/wife/husband to drop it at the post office while they are already out running errands.
You will be surprised how secure some of the delivery methods are with important packages.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1000 Posts |
My advice, since I did have a package containing hundreds of dollars worth of silver get torn open with the contents being "lost in transit". Double package, meaning put a box inside a box and label both with mailing address and return address. Tape both so tightly, that a tool (box cutter, scissors, etc.) will need to be used to get into both. Keep pictures of the contents, as well as proof of value, such as a print out of the closed ebay listing and emails between you and the buyer. This will come in handy if you need to make a claim. I would use Paypal or USPS.com to print up a priority mail label with delivery confirmation and insurance with the bar code tracking. When you drop it off, request that they scan it in right in front of you. Once it is in the system, I think it makes it more difficult for it to disappear from the system. Good Luck Edited by MINT_MARQ
09/24/2009 06:57 am
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Moderator
 United States
23516 Posts |
Do not tell the USPS that they are coins. Use the term numismatic collectibles or some other term. This will help you avoid snooping eyes and hands
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
"hobby supplies" works well, too, and do not skimp on the insurance/value declaration if sending overseas.
Bubble wrap completely around the 'pages' of the binder, so it goes between them, then tape the bubble-wrapped pages to each other, and finally more bubble wrap around the entire thing before placing into the first box. Padding of some kind around on all sides. Place 1st box inside 2nd box. Like mentioned earlier, make sure to label both with To and Sender addresses and tape enough to create mini Fort Knox's.
It doesn't really matter about where the recipient signs, whether at the shipping company or at the delivery address - just as long as one is required. It might be nice to ask them which they prefer. (I *hate* going to our local post office - sometimes you can't even get into the parking lot, let alone the snake-around-the-building line.)
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Forum Dad
United States
24161 Posts |
Quote:
Use the term numismatic Yep, then half of them will think it's a part for a drill. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2490 Posts |
Be very careful. Some carriers have very specific wording on "unacceptable items". When I worked for the Devils Haulage Line (as it is known in some parts) we accepted consignments listed as coins, even though the conditions excluded "antiques" and "precious metals".
When they went missing, "well we can't check every declaration, and you have no claim as the goods were an unacceptable commodity"
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Pillar of the Community
Philippines
1156 Posts |
Whenever it's really important for someone about something being sent, and loss is not an option, I would go for the carrier Pros, DHL or UPS, insured, door to door and addresee signature required, go for worldwide package tracking.
Sent 20Kilos materials for testing to Germany this way, big bite on cost, but I rested easy, only way it can't reach destination would be a major disaster.
Any other way, the risks just grows and grows, balancing cost to risk ratio is always a tough call, but it becomes easy when failure is not an option.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1151 Posts |
Quote:
Sent 20Kilos materials for testing to Germany this way, big bite on cost, but I rested easy, only way it can't reach destination would be a major disaster. Ever see the Tom Hanks movie Castaway? |
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Pillar of the Community
Philippines
1156 Posts |
Hi collect4fun! Quote:
Ever see the Tom Hanks movie Castaway?
No, I was too busy then, any interesting notes on that movie? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2520 Posts |
Quote:
Ever see the Tom Hanks movie Castaway?  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1248 Posts |
whatever you do...DO NOT declare the contents as coins.
YOU will have NO claim in case of "loss".( theft, 'gone missing" etc...
AND... WHY would you have to declare the contents if mailed within the USA?
all of you who say send Registered mail because everyone who handles it must sign......
definitely NOT CORRECT.. the item is scanned and that is it..... AND if you live in a rural area... USPS will just put it in your mail box....saying NOTHING on the tracking... or that it was deliverd... OR if the post people know you... will hand it to you.....
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
Quote:
Castaway LOVED that movie!  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1082 Posts |
Registered mail must have changed, then, because the way it used to be handled was that it was kept separate from the regular mail stream in it's own red mailbag, and was the first thing unpacked and dealt with when the mail came into a different office along it's journey. The number was noted by every clerk who touched it along the way, and because of this, it had a high traceability.
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Forum Dad
United States
24161 Posts |
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AND... WHY would you have to declare the contents if mailed within the USA? If it's insured you do, because certain things cannot be insured. You must also declare if ANY package is liquid, hazardous, or perishable. Quote:
all of you who say send Registered mail because everyone who handles it must sign......
definitely NOT CORRECT.. the item is scanned and that is it. It most certainly is correct. Every day of the week. The package also must be completely sealed with paper tape not plastic so they can postmark along every single seam so tampering is evident if it occurs. The package is signed for and checked for tampering at every exchange and most of the time during transit is in a locked cage. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Do you know how the Hope Diamond arrived at the Smithsonian Institution? Famed jeweler Harry Winston sent it via USPS Registered Mail when he donated it. Total postage including insurance was $145.29 in 1958. If Registered Mail is secure enough for the Hope Diamond, it is safe for anything. http://www.usps.com/postalhistory/_...eDiamond.pdfAs an aside, the unfortunate mailman who delivered the package had a bit of a downturn in luck afterwards, including a crushed leg in one accident, a traumatic head injury in another accident, the early death of his wife via heart attack, and the loss of his house due to fire  |
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Replies: 17 / Views: 2,968 |
Posted 09/24/2009 06:55 am
