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 Replies: 27 / Views: 3,787 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
864 Posts |
Hi, I've NEVER mailed coins to other countries and have some questions about doing this. As some folks already know, I have some packages to be mailing out next week. To the USA (for starters  On Tuesday I need to go buy envelopes or something to package them in. I'll be sending some rolls of coins - at least a couple rolls in each package/envelope. Is there anything special I need to know about mailing coins across the border? I know absolutely zero about mailing coins and packages out of the country. Any rules re packages or papers to fill out? Processes? I've only ever mailed letters or cards to the USA, sometimes with small flat souvenir type things inside the envelope, so no special thing except the post office weighing them to find out how much I owe them I think. Any help or info greatly appreciated please and thank you! |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
864 Posts |
PS: For the record, these aren't valuable coins and I have a very small budget to work with so please keep that in mind  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
10743 Posts |
Hi, Dottir, I've never had any trouble sending coins to the U.S. or Australia, (I sent coins to Turkey that never arrived though. Just make sure the coins are packaged well, and don't move around. Quote:
Any rules re packages or papers to fill out? Processes? The girl in my Post Office always helps me out with this, they always arrive, hope this helps some. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
864 Posts |
Yes, thanks Josh, that helps ... some |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3592 Posts |
I always go to the local post office and ask questions..here in the US I've even heard that different P.O.'s have slightly different rules or opinions so I think it's best to go straight to the source.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1166 Posts |
I hate going to the post office to ship items across the border. Because we use size, weight and destination, the costs can be outrageous. I used to sell rolls of pennies but when you added up all the mailing costs, it usually was higher than the value of what was shipped.
My other pet peeves:
Tracking...$15!
Shipping to England - Air 2-3 weeks! Surface 2-3 months!
I receive coins from the States and their postal cost is like $1.70 (or $2.70 with tracking) for a larger envelope. I send the same number of coins to the States and my cost is $7.00!
Edited by ikandiggit
04/01/2011 08:38 am
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
10743 Posts |
Yeah, the postage to the U.S. is awful expensive, a CCF member wanted to buy 25 or so rolls of nickels and the postage was like $30.00.  Josh.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
864 Posts |
Hmmmm, I'm sure glad I asked in here before going to mail stuff. Our Canada postage sounds pricey! For those prices I think there should be better service than what I've seen  Thanks to all of you/s help! Another BC someone ( thank you!!) sent me some info about mailing out of Canada. I found this specific info really helpful as I'm in BC too! -- There is a form you need when shipping outside of Canada for a few coins. -- It says small packet but always ask to be sent LIGHT Packet as it is cheaper. -- Small packet cost around $5.60 and Light packet is $2.79 to the US for the same coins..if you do not ask for Light packet they charge you the extra $ for the same service. -- For a few coins to Germany Light packet is around $5.00. -- For rolls you will have to put in a small box due to the weight and cost would be around $8.00 - $10.00 range and you still need this form for all shipments. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
864 Posts |
By the way, thats lots of extra money for tracking EEK! Someone sent me a package with a tracking number on it from the USA post. It seems like the "tracking" part only worked on the USA side. Once over the border to Canada, it was untrackable :( Don't know if this works the same in reverse, when sending with tracking from Canada to USA.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1166 Posts |
I bought a set of digital calipers for $29.99 with free shipping from China on a Sunday and I received it on Friday. I sent a letter to England and it took 19 days. I mentioned this to the clerk at the post office and I got the "Canada-has-the-best-service-and-cheapest-postal-rates-in-the-world" speech instead of an explanation. He wasn't listening to what I was saying. Frustrating!
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
864 Posts |
I'm sure glad I posted now as I have to have packaging and everything else all figured out and ready to go before Wed 6th when I'll be mailing out that day. My priority ABSOLUTELY MUST GO that day one is the contest prize of course and at least one other. If prices too much for all packages in one go that day then I may have to hold off sending the other 2 or 3 til about the 21st though (day after payday ) By Wed I'll be an experienced coins mailer-outer from Canada WOO HOO. Another  moment for this kid! I just get deeper and deeper into this whole coins collecting thingy! |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
864 Posts |
PS: I'll also likely need to get a neighbor or the postal worker to address the packages if printer not run dry by now or at least fill out the forms for me. Writing by hand very hard to impossible, hence why I love my computer and keyboard!!  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
617 Posts |
Hi Dottir
[
when mailing anything think weight distance and size
Light pack is your most economical choice, it's the cheapest next to a letter. It is just as fast as a letter because it travels with letters unlike parcels. Even a parcel sent air mail is usually slower than a letter.
to send anything light pack it must be under 2 cm thick and under 500 gms. ( note: this size and weight would be a letter in Canada and should go at a letter rate)
the drawback is that a light pack is not traceable and can not be insured.
If you have to send rolls then your out of luck, but if you can lay the coins flat then your OK.
I use a paper coin roll then sort of lay the coins over on a45% angel to keep it under 2cm.
You need a customs declaration that the PO will give you.
Your next best option is Small packet Air mail (surface is cheaper but going over seas will take a little longer that for ever)
use this when it has to be over 2cm or if you would like it insured (up to $100 included.. but no more, if you want more then you will need to use a more expensive service)
You need a customs declaration
this way is more expensive
also keep in mind that the price almost doubles at different weight intervals - up to 250 gms is one price
- up to 500 gms is almost twice the price
- up to 1kg almost double again
( EVEN IF YOUR 1GM OVER) 251gms would be twice the price of 249gms so the weight of 1 coin might double your price.
If you need a tracking number or more that $100 of insurance then you will need to use a more expensive service
anyway I hope this helps a bit
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
864 Posts |
All that does help a lot too and thank you!!  I spent some time in the Canada Post site browsing. It also looks like keeping the value UNDER $20 CAD exempts more expenses too, like HST taxes and duties yada yada. Note to self: also get some little gift cards to include with the "gifts" I send Re the metric stuff, I'm still old school thinking. I still think in pounds, miles, quarts etc. Never did get around to learning metric. I'm a dinosaur I'm afraid. Thank goodness there are conversion sites online!  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
864 Posts |
By the way, I'm amazed at the variations in times spans for mail to get from Point A to Point B between Canada and other Countries. Also want to say that I really like the suggestion for laying coins flattened out in paper rolls. I'll probably use that technique! I was also interested and paying attention to how some people have packaged things to me. Its also just plain fun to see how differently each person packages things. Fun stuff! Plus gives me ideas of "how to" |
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Valued Member
Canada
53 Posts |
Most of the courier companies I was checking out for a recent shipment actually ban shipping coins, but CP actually turned out to have cheaper rates anyway for the 60+ lb package I was pricing (about C$100 w/tracking). Several Canada Post workers I have encountered believed that they ban coins too but they don't, the only restriction on mailing currency seems to be that you have to declare amounts over $10k.
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Replies: 27 / Views: 3,787 |
Posted 04/01/2011 05:41 am
