Just thinking again … is there a role for GPS trackers like Airtags or Smartags in Coin shipments

retirednow

Reading several of the blogs here recently about lost and or delayed coin shipments, it got me to thinking about GPS type tracing devices.

I just shipped a piece of luggage in advance of a 2 week trip (as I did not like what I saw on the news about all the delays and lost pieces at airports). My luggage piece shipped via Fed Ex ground and I had put in 2 different Android trackers to try them out. Oh yea - I had entertainment for the next 5 days as I watch my luggage ship across the country right to the doorstep of the address. This included all the truck stops and the couple of FedEx truck transfers points.

So saying that, I wonder if sellers and auction houses could use similar GPS tags in those higher (one of kind) value shipments to track the article. Kind of like for the Bass pieces. I picture a seller enclosing a GPS tracker housed in the package and enclosed it in a self-address envelope that when arrived, the buyer would return the tracker in the envelope for reuse by the sellers

I would think insurance companies would jump on this to help make claim management more manageable.

Well … I was just thinking.

Clackamas1

For Ebay stuff and other online sales - yes. PCGS/NGC registered - marginal

MetroD

FWIW, there is a question specific to GPS trackers in the PCGS FAQs.

Source: https://www.pcgs.com/faq

To me, this suggests that they are already encountering these devices.

Glen2022

what is the cost of the trackers?

PeakRarities

In the Facebook group I’m in for pre 33 gold, just this past week one of the dealers just sold a pan pac octagonal in 62cac ogh. In his description he noted that the coin would be shipped with an RFID tracker, so it looks like it’s already being done. I’m sure that tracking devices will become more common with high dollar shipments.

MetroD

If anyone is interested, here is some info on the FedEx offering (i.e., SenseAware).

Namvet69

Fedex single journey in US is $150

Kliao

I think GPS trackers are a good idea for high value shipments. With the technology becoming more advanced and cheaper, I think we'll see more of them in the future.

Jzyskowski1

Here’s a couple from eBay.

retirednow

I bought a 2 pack of each ... Smarttag and TILE ... for Android devices ... about 35$ for pack of 2.

Thanks for the feedback ... I did not know these options at PCGS and FEDEX were available the

winesteven

I bought the two pack TILE from Amazon for my fiancé’s fob key and phone. Never thought of using it when I ship or receive coins. While I have private insurance, what good are the $’s if you lose your coins?

I think this is a phenomenal idea, especially compared to the $150 FedEx fee per one way use. Especially when you can arrange for the recipient to return the tracker, to then use again and again!

So this idea is just one more benefit of partaking in this forum - you teach me things every day!

Steve

ricko

This is an interesting option. It will help with lost/misplaced packages. Not sure it will help much with stolen goods though... Of course, there are a lot of dumb thieves out there, so it could catch some... Cheers, RickO

LanceNewmanOCC

@retirednow said:
Reading several of the blogs here recently about lost and or delayed coin shipments, it got me to thinking about GPS type tracing devices.

I just shipped a piece of luggage in advance of a 2 week trip (as I did not like what I saw on the news about all the delays and lost pieces at airports). My luggage piece shipped via Fed Ex ground and I had put in 2 different Android trackers to try them out. Oh yea - I had entertainment for the next 5 days as I watch my luggage ship across the country right to the doorstep of the address. This included all the truck stops and the couple of FedEx truck transfers points.

So saying that, I wonder if sellers and auction houses could use similar GPS tags in those higher (one of kind) value shipments to track the article. Kind of like for the Bass pieces. I picture a seller enclosing a GPS tracker housed in the package and enclosed it in a self-address envelope that when arrived, the buyer would return the tracker in the envelope for reuse by the sellers

I would think insurance companies would jump on this to help make claim management more manageable.

Well … I was just thinking.

thanks for the post. we've discussed these before and mostly, in my mind, i was only thinking of the negative applications but using these in such fashion is a great idea.

if the shipping services get enough gps tracking data from missing packages, it will help to refine and triangulate precisely where in the chain the problems are occurring.

alefzero

The TILE Pro 4-packs are sometimes on sale at Costco. I use them to find my checked bags, locate by bourse keys, etc. The app can take the phone's battery down a little faster, but that is not a big deal to me.

messydesk

I received a package in a Priority Mail flat rate envelope once that had all sorts of stickers the seller had printed up with anti-theft warnings, more numerous than the Colonel's herbs and spices, all presumably based on distrust of the USPS. One of the labels mentioned RFID tracking. All BS, but worth a chuckle for the day. I love the coin I received, but the seller was definitely a piece of work.

LanceNewmanOCC

@messydesk said:
I received a package in a Priority Mail flat rate envelope once that had all sorts of stickers the seller had printed up with anti-theft warnings, more numerous than the Colonel's herbs and spices, all presumably based on distrust of the USPS. One of the labels mentioned RFID tracking. All BS, but worth a chuckle for the day. I love the coin I received, but the seller was definitely a piece of work.

have you ever shared a pic. i for one would LOVE to see it. i've seen some doozies in my day but i get the impression the package you mention, SET the standard!

BStrauss3

@Glen2022 said:
what is the cost of the trackers?

In the $20 to $50 range... single unit price. Amazon has $29/1 or $99/4 for the Apple AirTag. Samsung Galaxy SmartTag+ is $32. Tile's units range from $20-25.

SoCalBigMark

Just sent my $7000 emtb air from Newark to Paris, then ground from Paris to Faro, the airtag did a good job of tracking it.

privatecoin

Hmmm... I should hook one to my Ex's car for fun....

pcgscacgold

The dealer I bought my Early Gold from used an Apple Air Tag and included a postage paid envelope to send it back.

messydesk

@pcgscacgold said:
The dealer I bought my Early Gold from used an Apple Air Tag and included a postage paid envelope to send it back.

I imagine that before long you'll be able to get custom branded trackers with your company logo on them.

retirednow

@ricko said:
This is an interesting option. It will help with lost/misplaced packages. Not sure it will help much with stolen goods though... Of course, there are a lot of dumb thieves out there, so it could catch some... Cheers, RickO

Interesting. I was told by a friend that they had a another friend that lost luggage with the airline and tracked it with a tracker, when showed up at the airport, they went down to see if they could retrieve it .... then it showed up in a new location ... the dump. Airline claimed they did not have it revived at the airport.

retirednow

@privatecoin said:
Hmmm... I should hook one to my Ex's car for fun....

there are app's for smart phones that will detect if it being ping frequently ... this would imply a tracker is close to the phone and most likely riding along with it .... just saying

retirednow

@pcgscacgold said:
The dealer I bought my Early Gold from used an Apple Air Tag and included a postage paid envelope to send it back.

that is smart ,,,, I wonder what their feedback is about using tracker?

Mr_Spud

That’s a great idea.

It made me think, if/when they get cheap enough, maybe PCGS can include a gps tracker in with the chip inside the slab as an anti theft device.

BStrauss3

@Mr_Spud said:
That’s a great idea.

It made me think, if/when they get cheap enough, maybe PCGS can include a gps tracker in with the chip inside the slab as an anti theft device.

Power is the problem. It still takes a fair bit to pull in the satellites for tracking. Amplification and signal processing aren't free on the energy budget. The RFID style tags are passive, and just need a tiny amount of energy to power on and squirt a weak signal.

MWallace

If I was using a PO Box, I don't think I'd be too happy to bring a package home with a GPS tracker in it.

davewesen

I suspect they will work great when the shipment goes as planned. If somewhere along the way, the package was rifled or stripped of contents, it would only show where the empty package and packing material were left.

Namvet69

If the thief doesn't know there's a tracker in the package, the discard locale is still a lead worth following up on. There are cctv cameras in a lot more places than ever before. Just saying.