Shipping Gold to Puerto Rico
P0CKETCHANGE
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I sold a 2016 gold commemorative coin on eBay for ~$1400. The buyer is located in Puerto Rico, and has excellent feedback over many years, so I'm not concerned about the buyer.
Would you recommend shipping this item Priority or Registered? I feel that shipping to PR may be slightly riskier than the continental US, and want to make sure I'm covered in the event of loss. My concern is that USPS might classify the coin as gold bullion—not a numismatic item—in which case it would not be covered by insurance unless registered.
Any advice from folks that have had experience with this?
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
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While admittedly, I don’t have experience with this, I suggest registered-insured mail, because it’s the safer method. Why take a larger risk than is necessary?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I agree with @MFeld... Registered-insured for shipments of value. Cheers, RickO
Check with the PO. There's lots to consider with the recent hurricane.
Considering the hurricane, I'd wait or e-mail them to see if they have electric & PO delivery yet.
Also, consider contacting your local PO to see if they have any alerts about mail to PR
BHNC #203
Registered once the power is back on.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I have experience with this; a $10 Liberty was “lost” (never received) in Puerto Rico. I had sent it insured but not Registered, so I recommend sending it registered.
Is it still insured, registered or not, when it leaves the US? PR is a territory and the rules could be different. Best get with the PO.
If they were delivering mail there I'd probably send in a small priority box.....self insured.
It's bullion so does the PO allow insurance coverage? I thought bullion was not insurable.
Best of luck,
bob
I think for that price I would send registered either way.
Collector, occasional seller
Thanks all for weighing in. My gut said to send it Registered, and most of you agreed, so that's what I did. It cost ~$23 more (out of my pocket), but that's well worth the peace of mind. I also selected the 'Restricted Delivery' option, so that the parcel can only be released to the named recipient with proof of identification.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
I hope it works out well for you.
The coin made it safely to the buyer using Registered Mail, Restricted Delivery. Took a little while given the storm in PR and then Hurricane Ian in FL, but all’s well that ends well. I recommend this shipping option to PR.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Did they leave you positive feedback? This truly confirms all is OK they have the coin in hand (no excuses can be made such as empty package or whatever) and cannot change it once it has been left. That is what matters the most. Personally I never sell to any country other than Canada and the USA.
NFL: Buffalo Bills & Green Bay Packers
Source: USPS DMM, Section 609, Sub-Section 4.1.m
I think this means:
~ the maximum indemnity for non-registered shipments of "bullion" is $15.00, regardless of how much insurance coverage was purchased;
~ and, the maximum indemnity for registered shipments of "bullion" is the amount covered by the fee paid for the insurance.
WOW, I have trouble getting mail from 39 miles away! Congrats, would you do it again?
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
Puerto Rico is a US territory. They use the USPS too and it’s not considered international mail.
Yes they did
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Then you are all good. No worries.
NFL: Buffalo Bills & Green Bay Packers
Moving forward why not just list stuff with best offer and a little higher buy it now so you can pick and chose your buyers based on country and their feedback. Just a suggestion.
NFL: Buffalo Bills & Green Bay Packers
I lived and bought and sold coins in Puerto Rico from 2002 - 2006. Always used priority. Only lost one coin shipped to my PO Box. Probably a misplaced packaged in another PO Box either stolen from me or embarrassed to say they opened it . Regardless, if I had to send a coin today, I would still use priority.
WS
I'm impressed with the length of time it took.....No time at all, really.
I sent a registered package to Alaska this past Summer. No storms, or any weather involvement. It was delivered just a day shy of 4 weeks. Luckily, I had a patient buyer. It was a coin he could not have gotten elsewhere, so that helped.