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USPS strikes again
scooter25
Posts: 769 ✭✭✭✭
Our illustrious postal workers are at it again. I sent this coin to a fellow forum member in perfect condition . It arrived with the package ripped open, one coin actually out of its 2x2 holder and the other like this 
I neglected to get the insurance, of course 🤦🏻♂️. Anyone else have these terrible experiences with USPS? Also, what the heck did they do to destroy a coin like that?!!?!
Definitely going to be getting the insurance from now on.
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Full insurance is always a must.
Insurance doesn’t matter for usps. I insured a roll of silver quarters before and when they lost the package they only would refund the face value. I only got 10 dollars. If you insured that silver Eagle you can only get 1 dollar from them.
Get private insurance or go with FedEx or UPS.
How were the coins packaged?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
In a standard bubble mailer but that one was also in a plastic hard snap case
Thanks and sorry for that.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Fedex and UPS won't insure bullion for the average customer. I've searched for private insurance, and could not find it for bullion. If you have a link, please post it. Registered mail is the only option I've found for Joe public.
Did you use registered mail?
I’m not sure, I did have a tracking number though
Got it. I'd bet that you didn't. Registered mail is very expensive; prohibitively so. You would have remembered the clerk ink stamping every inch of seam on that package. Non-registered mail insurance excludes bullion, but includes numismatic items. You probably would have needed to demonstrate the numismatic value to get more than the face value.
Registered mail doesn't really make sense for a couple of ASEs. Arguably, insurance isn't even justified. Using a box instead of a bubble mailer is probably the best measure to help avoid damage during mailing.
Anyone else have these terrible experiences with USPS? Also, what the heck did they do to destroy a coin like that?!!?!
I ship a few thousand packages a year, almost exclusively in bubble mailers. The last time I had a slab break was... I don't remember, and I'm not even sure it's happened. Sure, problems can happen and sometimes you get unlucky, but for the most part, the USPS is really good at what they do, and for any story you can come up with maligning them, there's one for FedEx and UPS, too. My guess is that your package accidentally went through a sorting machine that isn't supposed to take packages, and to that end, always make sure your packages are at least 3/4" thick. Any time I have one that isn't thick enough (for instance, a raw coin), I throw a packing peanut in.
Bummer. Sorry to see that
Agreed. But he did buy insurance (for silver quarters, not eagles). I was simply wondering what insurance he bought.
I use a Safe-t-mailer inside a bubble envelope for coins worth a few hundred dollars or less. For anything more expensive it usually goes in a Safe-t-mailer inside a small flat rate Priority box.
Only if you are trying to enrich the post office.
Two different people.
My collectibles insurance policy covers loss or damage via USPS, UPS or Fed Ex as long as you add signature confirmation up to 60K depending on level of service and carrier.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
I was always under the opinion if you had a sales receipt for an item and it was damaged or lost and insured that the receipt became the value of the item. Is that not the case?
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Can you tell us more about this policy?
"For stamps and coins of philatelic or numismatic value; the fair market value is determined by a recognized stamp or coin dealer or current coin and stamp collectors’ newsletters and trade papers. The date of the fair market value determination must be current and prior to the mailing date."
Source: USPS, DMM, 609, 4.1.g @ https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/609.htm
Yes, for most things. There are special rules for "cash" and "cash-like" objects. There are limitations on bullion.
I use them for sports cards primarily but they also cover coins (though not gold or platinum).
https://collectinsure.com/
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
Thx!
You're welcome. They are very easy to work with and their rates are very reasonable imo.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
Sold a roll of ASE, buyer sent these pics when it arrived. The roll was wrapped well and survived, buyer was happy.
If you sent priority mail, you automatically have $50 insurance. $100 if you go through certain postage vendors.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Wow...nasty damage. I always box inside a box....often Post Office boxes, sometimes a larger box, depending on what I ship. For high value, always registered mail. Cheers, RickO
Registered mail packages can get damaged, too. I had one box arrive that had been punctured, but contents unharmed, as they were in a PCGS box inside.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution