Post Office Wouldn't Let Me Use Bubble Mailer?

LeeG

I went to the Post Office yesterday to submit my 1921 Morgan as my Quarterly Collectors Club Submission. I put it in a standard 5 X 7 Manila Bubble Mailer. The PCGS Submission Form states that all coins need to be sent Registered Mail, Insured. I put the value of the coin at $100. I know it's less but it doesn't cost much for $100 of insurance. The clerk said I didn't need to send it registered for that little of value? I told him that the Submission Form states Registered and Insured and because this was my first coin submitted I didn't want any hiccups from PCGS if I didn't send it the way they say to. He said ok but it can't be in a Bubble Mailer if Registered? He verified this with the other Clerk working the counter. I had to buy a mailer that had two cardboard sheets in it not bubble type? What gives here? Anyone else have this problem in the past? Do all coins sent to PCGS for Grading have to go Registered Mail even if the coin is low value? Thanks for any help provided! Lee

ziggy29

I've sent registered mail in bubble mailers. You do need to secure use brown packing tape over all seams. I also crammed it full of bubble wrap. I had no problems with that. The only trouble I've had was trying to use first class with delivery confirmation and not enough bubble wrap to make the package 3/4" thick at one point.

Scavenger

Actually I had the same experience - the guy explained to me that if you register the package, that is the most security that they offer, and they dont want packages that can be easily torn open.
Mine had to go in a small box.

rlawsha

I usually send in my coins to PCGS via USPS Priority insured, not Registered. PCGS accepts them just fine.

Barry

You post office is correct. You can only use plain paper/cardboard mailers. No Tyvek, no pressed seams, etc. with US Registered mail. Interestingly, you can use those mailers for International Registered Mail.

For $100 coin, Registered is a waste of money. Insurance for first class would be $2.20. Registered is in the $10 range. Another question is why submit a $100 coin to PCGS in the first place?

Baley

Another question is why submit a $100 to PCGS in the first place?

an even better question, is why submit a $20 coin?

Steve27

"Do all coins sent to PCGS for Grading have to go Registered Mail even if the coin is low value?"

No, I've actually sent coins regular mail uninsured to PCGS.

oreville

I can confirm first hand that Barry as well as your post office is correct.

Longacre

I had the same experience. I just bought a paper envelope at the post office (I think it was 30 cents) and put my already packed bubble mailer in that envelope, addressed it, and sent it. The recipient just had to open two envelopes to get to the coin, that's all.

mgoodm3

<< <i>I had the same experience. I just bought a paper envelope at the post office (I think it was 30 cents) and put my already packed bubble mailer in that envelope, addressed it, and sent it. The recipient just had to open two envelopes to get to the coin, that's all. >>



i did the same thing. Just stuffed it all into a bigger envelope.

braddick

From what I understand, PCGS picks up their mail twice a day. You could mail it with a couple of first class stamps and PCGS would accept it. I know, I've done it on low cost coins. I think, for liability purposes, PCGS strongly encourages Registered mail.

Conder101

<< <i>Do all coins sent to PCGS for Grading have to go Registered Mail even if the coin is low value?" >>


PCGS requests they be sent Registered for reasons of security for your coins. You don't have to send them by Registered, but a couple years back some, or at least one, of the postal employees figured out that there were a lot of valuable coins being sent to PCGS by insured and priority mail that couldn't be effectively tracked and a bunch of coins being shipped to PCGS started disappering along the way. Registerd are signed for every step of the way and are only handled by USPS employees. Insured and priority are scanned at the source and delivery points (SOMETIMES at intermediary points.) but are not trackable inbetween and may be handled and processes by outside contracted employees. This makes insured and priority much more likely to go missing than Registered. So PCGS says to send them Registered.

BillJones

The Post Office is a pain in the butt.

There are some postal clerks who think run the company. They set up their own rules and are constantly complaining about this and that. They complained about safety mailers for Registered Mail, even when the envelope was cover with brown paper tape. Then when I got boxes, like they asked, they complained that the boxes were too small. Part of their game is "revenue enhancement." Get the package as big and heavy as possilble so that they can charge more.

I HATE Mr. Zippy. He's got no zip, and he's a pain in the butt.

ziggy29

<< <i>Part of their game is "revenue enhancement." Get the package as big and heavy as possilble so that they can charge more. >>

Not to mention making up silly rules to make you use Priority instead of first class.

LeeG

This is great information for me. This should be added to the "Required Reading" file for all newbies like me. I appreciate everyones input. Lee




<< <i>Another question is why submit a $100 to PCGS in the first place?

an even better question, is why submit a $20 coin? >>




Barry and Baley,
In answer to your questions: I am new to Coin Collecting and my grading skills are very weak. I got this coin for $1 and thought I would test my grading skills at this time. I have no high expectations for this coin. My limited grading skills say this coin is AU50 to MS62. I just received "Coin Grading and CD" yesterday from PCGS. Over time as my skills develop I hope to "Cherrypick" like many others here do but right now I just wanted to send this coin in to see how it does. Who's to say what this coins value will be 10, 20, 30 years down the road? I sure don't know. I'm sure it will be more in a PCGS Slab though based on everything I've read on this site so far. Thanks for the questions, Lee.

ziggy29

<< <i>I'm sure it will be more in a PCGS Slab though based on everything I've read on this site so far. >>

Well, if I may be pedantic and anal, the coin will NOT be worth more or have a higher value. It's the same coin either way.

However, it's likely that people will be more comfortable buying the PCGS coin closer to the "book value" of the stated grade than some unknown schmuck on eBay merely stating their (possibly biased and inflated) opinion of the coin's condition.

CarsonCityGold

Another point that I didn't know until recently. PCGS logs in your shipment on arrival both by the invoice number on the PCGS form you've included and also by the "registered number" on arrrival. I had a shipment that no one could find until a customer service rep asked me the registered number. They were able to pull it up by the registered number and discovered that they had transposed 1 didget in the invoice number. Later, CCG

paigowjohnny

<< <i>i did the same thing. Just stuffed it all into a bigger envelope. >>



Me too....

For most though...I just send first class insured. No problemo

ms70

I am equal distance between my hometown post office & the post office from the next closest town.

My hometown post office has this jerk that must have no life other than reading the USPS rules & regs. I've caught him being wrong but he
will insist he is right & the bosses there seem to think he's up on all this stuff so they side with him. I once got snagged on the registered
mail/bubble wrap thing & he refused to accept it. I just went to the other post office & they sent it registered without a word. Since then I
have complied with their rule on this but on that particular day I wasn't about to repack the item.

Next time you get hassled just go to another P.O. They can be totally different.

ms70

<< <i>Another question is why submit a $100 coin to PCGS in the first place? >>



What's the difference? There's plenty of coins that are worth 1 cent in PCGS slabs. It's a hobby.

BillJones

Yep. Some Post Offices are easier to work with than others. Some know where your registered package is while others have to turn the place upsidedown to find it.

Some Post Offices get my business; others I avoid like the plague.

Barry

<< <i>

<< <i>Another question is why submit a $100 coin to PCGS in the first place? >>



What's the difference? There's plenty of coins that are worth 1 cent in PCGS slabs. It's a hobby. >>


The difference is I'd rather spend my hobby money on coins than on plastic.

ms70 - I've had the same experience with different post offices. My local one is usually excellent, no hassles. I happened to be near another P.O. and had a Flat Rate Prio Mail envelope to mail (stuffed to the gills with an auction catalog.) The clerk (or is that jerk) wouldn't accept it saying only one piece of tape is permitted on the mailer. I asked for his supervisor and he gleefully replied he was the supervisor. So, I walked out, took it to my regular P.O. the next day and no problem mailing it.

K6AZ

<< <i>The Post Office is a pain in the butt.

There are some postal clerks who think run the company. They set up their own rules and are constantly complaining about this and that. They complained about safety mailers for Registered Mail, even when the envelope was cover with brown paper tape. Then when I got boxes, like they asked, they complained that the boxes were too small. Part of their game is "revenue enhancement." Get the package as big and heavy as possilble so that they can charge more.

I HATE Mr. Zippy. He's got no zip, and he's a pain in the butt. >>



The PO I use the most is like that. I have always used boxes for registered mail, and about a year ago the clerk tried to tell me I didn't tape it right. I cover the entire area of the box with reinforced kraft tape! I resolved this by asking for a supervisor who set the clerk straight.

WACoinGuy

<< <i>This is great information for me. This should be added to the "Required Reading" file for all newbies like me. I appreciate everyones input. Lee




<< <i>Another question is why submit a $100 to PCGS in the first place?

an even better question, is why submit a $20 coin? >>




Barry and Baley,
In answer to your questions: I am new to Coin Collecting and my grading skills are very weak. I got this coin for $1 and thought I would test my grading skills at this time. I have no high expectations for this coin. My limited grading skills say this coin is AU50 to MS62. I just received "Coin Grading and CD" yesterday from PCGS. Over time as my skills develop I hope to "Cherrypick" like many others here do but right now I just wanted to send this coin in to see how it does. Who's to say what this coins value will be 10, 20, 30 years down the road? I sure don't know. I'm sure it will be more in a PCGS Slab though based on everything I've read on this site so far. Thanks for the questions, Lee. >>



Take some digital pictures of the coins and post them up here. You'll get a variety of opinions on the grade, but you'll also get a lot of useful comments (as opposed to just getting the coin back in a slab with a grade or a no grade without explanation). And best of all, it's free.

Smitty79

<< <i>Another question is why submit a $100 to PCGS in the first place?

an even better question, is why submit a $20 coin? >>



Cause not everyones collection consists of $5000 coins. I agree completely with ms70. It's not always about the monetary value.



<< <i>The difference is I'd rather spend my hobby money on coins than on plastic. >>



You seem to forget that when submiting coins to PCGS, you are getting a professional grading opinion and piece of mind, not just plastic. If it were a matter of just plastic, anyone can put thier coins in plastic with Whitman plastic 2x2's for 50 cents a pop. JMO

Barry

Smitty said :Cause not everyones collection consists of $5000 coins. I agree completely with ms70. It's not always about the monetary value.

I'm not belittling anyone's collection. My point was if your coins are only worth $20, I don't believe it is cost effective to spend $30 for a grading opinion/holder.

You seem to forget that when submiting coins to PCGS, you are getting a professional grading opinion and piece of mind, not just plastic.

What kind of piece of mind are you getting? Are you concerned that your coin is counterfeit? Again, I'm not belittling your collection, but counterfeiters go after expensive/rare coins, not coins worth $20. As already mentioned above, post pics of your coins here, and you'll get many grading opinions with explanations. Not just a label on a holder which you then may have to second guess the reasoning behind it.

Smitty79

<< <i>What kind of piece of mind are you getting? Are you concerned that your coin is counterfeit? Again, I'm not belittling your collection, but counterfeiters go after expensive/rare coins, not coins worth $20. As already mentioned above, post pics of your coins here, and you'll get many grading opinions with explanations. Not just a label on a holder which you then may have to second guess the reasoning behind it. >>



Piece of mind of not only authentication, but a reputable name behind the grade, not just "It's an MS-67 cause Joe Shmoe said so.". Furthermore, There are other reasons for slabbing besides resale and cost effectiveness. Call me a noob, call me ignorant but that's just the way I see it. To each his own.

Bikingnut

I've never had that problem before. I've also sent coins to PCGS insured without registering the package. I think they want it registered as a way of tracking it if something happens on route.

wayneherndon

Some POs allow it and others don't. For those that don't, they will still allow it if it is wrapped in brown tape. The tape has to be paper based, not plastic based. I'm sure they have some type of weird logic for all of this but over the years I've learned to just deal and not try to understand.

WH

granddad

I never have any problems at the post office. I always use the same clerk. She has 2 young children that she watches for coins to put into their collections. In my payment I always include a roll of wheaties, a couple of IHC, buffs,mercs. 4-5 circ. Ikes and so on. She buys them out of her drawer for her children. Even threw in a FE on a couple of big shipments. She happily packages everything for me and there is never a problem.

Have a Great Day!
louis

relayer

You should write a letter to them saying you'll be leaving the postal system.

darktone

<< <i>I usually send in my coins to PCGS via USPS Priority insured, not Registered. >>

NEVER send anything valuable Priority insured! This type of mail can be out-sourced to non-postal employees and thier is no one held accountable if it is lost. A small package with a high postage tag is like asking one of these workers to steal it. The Newport Beach Postal thefts of 2001-2002 where at least a hundred PCGS submissions were stolen should be a warning that this not a legit way to send packages of over a few hundred dollars. If you think cool it's insured! think again- most of us that lost packages had a hard time recouping losses and some only got pennies on the dollar of the insured value and some never got anything. Do a search in the old threads to find more info. mike

mr1931S

haven't read posts other than the OP so if I'm merely repeating what another has already said...my apologies...

Post office regulations require that "envelope type"registered mail be puncture proof. Bubble mailers are not puncture proof. That is why it was refused for mailing.

wayneherndon

Here's a funny one.

Volume wise, we are probably in the top 1% of our PO's customers. They know all of us well and love to chat and say hello. When one of us comes, they tell us whether we have packages even before we get to the PO box to pull out the pink slips. Frequently, when they see us come in, they pull the packages and have them ready when our turn in line comes. Yet, they still insist on seeing a driver's license before releasing a package. This happens 6 days a week 52 weeks a year. They see us more than most of their family members and yet always ask for photo ID because, well, that's the rule.

WH

MICHAELDIXON

Wayne, I want to see your photo id also!

wayneherndon

MD, I see you next week. I'll make sure you won't forget me....

mr1931S

"The tape has to be paper based, not plastic based."

The reason for this is so that their stamping ink will not stick to plastic based tape. The ink could easily be rubbed off. They will (or should) stamp all over the paper based registered package. If the package is opened by a postal employee while in transit to the recipient it will be evident to postal authorities because one or more of the stamps would have to be broken to get into the package. It's a security measure.

mintluster

unbelievable

ldhair

<< <i>The reason for this is so that their stamping ink will not stick to plastic based tape. The ink could easily be rubbed off. They will (or should) stamp all over the paper based registered package. If the package is opened by a postal employee while in transit to the recipient it will be evident to postal authorities because one or more of the stamps would have to be broken to get into the package. It's a security measure. >>


Very true. There are reasons for the pile of rules.
They don't like self stick paper tape either.
They want a box with paper tape covering every seam in the box.

Dog97

Yeah I've had that problem. If a problem can be had you can bet I've had it. It's the PO regs though.
The clerk told me to do what Longacre said and all was well.
Usually I use a Safe-T-Mailer in a #10 envelope & Register it.

sliderider

<<Another question is why submit a $100 coin to PCGS in the first place?>>


Modern registries.