Best way to ship USPS Priority Mail or Registered Mail?

Topcoin

I recently sold some coins for over $1,000 dollars and wanted to know the best way to ship insured via USPS? I have been told registered mail is very slow as compared to Priority Mail. Pardon the oxymoron. I would like to call on the expertise of people in this forum for some input. All input is well appreciated.

Thank you.

RotatedRainbows

Registered is the safest way, best way to go with a package of that value. Also cheaper then insuring non registered package for that amount.

puritan9

You can ship BOTH priority and registered. It is the ONLY way I will send expensive coins. It might take a day longer than regular priority, but it is much faster than just regular registered. With the holidays you don't want it to get lost. I would insure it anyway. It is not worth taking a chance.

ziggy29

Registered is a a day or two slower, IMO, but it's the only way I'll send packages worth $500 or more.

Topcoin

I would also like to know if there are any packaging requirements for registered mail as I have never used this service?

Thanks all!

tydye

Registered mail. The requirements are that all seams be taped with a special paper tape. My office is nice enough to package mine up for me. Dont know if they all will

goose3

<< <i>You can ship BOTH priority and registered. It is the ONLY way I will send expensive coins. It might take a day longer than regular priority, but it is much faster than just regular registered. With the holidays you don't want it to get lost. I would insure it anyway. It is not worth taking a chance. >>




That is completely FALSE. Registered Priority is completely make believe. Sure, they'll let you pay for it but that package travels exactly the same as if you paid solely for registered. I believe once you hit a certain weight, they actually force you to pay for priority. I've said it numerous times and even had USPS personnel admit as much to me..PRIORITY MAIL IS A FARCE.

They prefer you to use a box and that brown tape with the string in it over all openings. I sometimes use and envelope with a safety mailer for one slab and tape the heck out of the envelope. I get no flack doing that.

sweetwilliet

<<<< << You can ship BOTH priority and registered. It is the ONLY way I will send expensive coins. It might take a day longer than regular priority, but it is much faster than just regular registered. With the holidays you don't want it to get lost. I would insure it anyway. It is not worth taking a chance. >>

That is completely FALSE. Registered Priority is completely make believe. Sure, they'll let you pay for it but that package travels exactly the same as if you paid solely for registered. I believe once you hit a certain weight, they actually force you to pay for priority. I've said it numerous times and even had USPS personnel admit as much to me..PRIORITY MAIL IS A FARCE.

They prefer you to use a box and that brown tape with the string in it over all openings. I sometimes use and envelope with a safety mailer for one slab and tape the heck out of the envelope. I get no flack doing that. >>>>

I was told the same thing by my postal worker, that priority mail registered is no different than just registered mail. However, I have found, at least anecdotally, that if it is sent in a priority mail box, it does seem to get there faster than if in a regular ole brown (or whatever) box.

Djord

<< <i>

<< <i>You can ship BOTH priority and registered. It is the ONLY way I will send expensive coins. It might take a day longer than regular priority, but it is much faster than just regular registered. With the holidays you don't want it to get lost. I would insure it anyway. It is not worth taking a chance. >>




That is completely FALSE. Registered Priority is completely make believe. Sure, they'll let you pay for it but that package travels exactly the same as if you paid solely for registered. I believe once you hit a certain weight, they actually force you to pay for priority. I've said it numerous times and even had USPS personnel admit as much to me..PRIORITY MAIL IS A FARCE.

They prefer you to use a box and that brown tape with the string in it over all openings. I sometimes use and envelope with a safety mailer for one slab and tape the heck out of the envelope. I get no flack doing that. >>



First class can not exceed 13 ounces, beyond that it automatically has to go priority.
Registered goes as fast if not faster using standard first class.
I always use the registered, again unless the weight is over which is rarely.

ldhair

As others have said, use reg Registered and use the brown paper tape.
They won't take the self stick kind that is slick feeling on the surface. The ink stamps rubs off.

With registered I think the first $25,000 of insurance is included in the price and you must declare the value when you mail it. It may be a waste of money but I also pay for the Green Return Receipt.

VamGuy

Registered mail can be shipped under 1st class rates up to 13 ounces. Anything over 13 ounces must go under the priority shipping rate. Registered mail moves at its own speed, whether it's 1st class or priority. I've had packages come from PCGS that took two weeks registered, and then just yesterday I had a package arrive from PCGS that was shipped just two days earlier. No rhyme, no reason, just reality.

Do not use clear shipping/packaging tape on any part of the package. Only brown, wax free shipping tape is allowed. All seams, seals, flaps must be covered & sealed with the tape.

The USPS does not allow bubble mailers to be shipped registered. When shipping a single coin, I place it in a bubble mailer, I then place the bubble mailer in a large manila envelope, fold it, seal it, and ship it. It weighs about 4 ounces and my customers appreciate the extra protection for their rare & valuable coin. I've had slabs shipped to me in plain white envelopes with nothing more than a cardboard safe-t-mailer protecting the now broken slab. This is the lazy & inconsiderate way to ship a single slab.... Laura.... of Legend.

puritan9

I know that PCGS sends it to me across the country in 2 to 3 days, that's priority registered.

Coxe

I get and send registered packages regularly. They go across the US in 3-5 days usually and depend mainly on endpoints. It is in transit pretty much like all other mail, just more protected and barcode scanned at each stop. It is safe. I have never had a single package lost of quite a number sent and received. The only problem is dealing with lines at the post office during holidays and tax deadline days. And the other posters are correct; the priority premium is nothing more than a weight tax and cuts no time off of the delivery.

airplanenut

<< <i>I know that PCGS sends it to me across the country in 2 to 3 days, that's priority registered. >>

That's just luck, not Priority. All registered packages are signed for by everyone who handles them, and they can't travel by air, since only USPS employees can handle them. Registered/Express will be no faster than Registered/First Class because of this. There's no reason to pay more than First Class ever unless:

1- Buyer requests it (and then they pay more)
2- Weight forces you to

Connecticoin

<< <i> I've had slabs shipped to me in plain white envelopes with nothing more than a cardboard safe-t-mailer protecting the now broken slab. This is the lazy & inconsiderate way to ship a single slab.... Laura.... of Legend. >>



Is that the way Legend's coins are shipped? Pretty shoddy, if it is true.

123cents

Registered is the way to go with expensive coins.

robertpr

I agree, use Registered. You have to use the paper tape, because all seams of a registered package are postmarked at the time of mailing for security purposes. The postmark will not work on regular tape as well as they would like, and I guess there are a few other reasons as well. But you can get a roll of this stuff which lasts forever for about $7 at Staples, do not get the self adhesive kind, get the water activated type. What you have to do is use a moist sponge to wet the tape then it will apply to the box. Wrap the whole box in the tape and write the address directly on the tape with a sharpee.

When you go to Staples (I am sure Office Depot and Office Max carry it as well) just go to the shipping supplies area. Here's what you're looking for:

VamGuy

<< <i>All registered packages are signed for by everyone who handles them, and they can't travel by air, since only USPS employees can handle them. >>

Jeremy, I respectfully disagree with this statement. My PCGS package was shipped from PCGS in California on December 7 and arrived in my PO Box in Florida the morning of December 9. 2 days cross country didn't happen by boat or ground vehicle. So that leaves teleportation or air travel. I'm banking on air travel.

Sandhawk

>>




I've never seen brown toilet paper before.....at least not on the roll

bestday

<< <i>

<< <i>You can ship BOTH priority and registered. It is the ONLY way I will send expensive coins. It might take a day longer than regular priority, but it is much faster than just regular registered. With the holidays you don't want it to get lost. I would insure it anyway. It is not worth taking a chance. >>




That is completely FALSE. Registered Priority is completely make believe. Sure, they'll let you pay for it but that package travels exactly the same as if you paid solely for registered. I believe once you hit a certain weight, they actually force you to pay for priority. I've said it numerous times and even had USPS personnel admit as much to me..PRIORITY MAIL IS A FARCE.

They prefer you to use a box and that brown tape with the string in it over all openings. I sometimes use and envelope with a safety mailer for one slab and tape the heck out of the envelope. I get no flack doing that. >>



Priority registered mails beats regular registered mail by 2 - 3 days ..Last one was a round trip to PCGS in the last week

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>Jeremy, I respectfully disagree with this statement. My PCGS package was shipped from PCGS in California on December 7 and arrived in my PO Box in Florida the morning of December 9. 2 days cross country didn't happen by boat or ground vehicle. So that leaves teleportation or air travel. I'm banking on air travel. >>



And you are absolutely 100% positive that it was sent on the 7th and not a couple days earlier? Are you going by what was on the package or what was said by email or on their website?

goose3

<< <i>Priority registered mails beats regular registered mail by 2 - 3 days ..Last one was a round trip to PCGS in the last week >>



While they can call it Priority Registered or even SUPER DUPER FAST EXPRESS REGISTERED....it is NO faster than Registered. It still travels the same as it would if it was just registered.

drwstr123

Listen-A Registered parcel is placed inside a canvas bag (marked Registered) and locked. It travels to it's sequenced destinstion points, unlocked and inventoried. The package can be marked Priority, Fragile, or Santa's Christmas Balls, unless you have X-ray vision, there's no way of knowing. Mike

robertpr

<< <i>

<< <i>Priority registered mails beats regular registered mail by 2 - 3 days ..Last one was a round trip to PCGS in the last week >>



While they can call it Priority Registered or even SUPER DUPER FAST EXPRESS REGISTERED....it is NO faster than Registered. It still travels the same as it would if it was just registered. >>



Hmm, what about global priority express zippy registered?

LindeDad

I beg to differ I was a Loamaster in the Air Force and we carried registed mail by air all the time. And terminal to terminal it can be a whole bag of reistered items handled as one item.

drwstr123

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>Priority registered mails beats regular registered mail by 2 - 3 days ..Last one was a round trip to PCGS in the last week >>



While they can call it Priority Registered or even SUPER DUPER FAST EXPRESS REGISTERED....it is NO faster than Registered. It still travels the same as it would if it was just registered. >>



Hmm, what about global priority express zippy registered? >>




That's another thread.

goose3

VamGuy

<< <i>

<< <i>Jeremy, I respectfully disagree with this statement. My PCGS package was shipped from PCGS in California on December 7 and arrived in my PO Box in Florida the morning of December 9. 2 days cross country didn't happen by boat or ground vehicle. So that leaves teleportation or air travel. I'm banking on air travel. >>



And you are absolutely 100% positive that it was sent on the 7th and not a couple days earlier? Are you going by what was on the package or what was said by email or on their website? >>



Relatively sure...

Kimchee

Does USPS charge an extra fee for obtaining & using one of their Priority Mail envelopes or boxes? I noticed the fee for sending the Priority Mail envelope is $4.05, and the Priority Mail box is $8.10. And they always want to put my already-sealed packages in their box.

If you send something via registered Mail do they use a USPS "registered mail" envelope?

claychaser

You can get really nice shipping boxes for free!

Go to USPS.com - and you have to hunt a little. They shipped me a carton of the priority large square boxes - three different sizes. The large flat rate box ships for $8.10 flat rate (insurance/registered is extra cost), and it holds 2 pcgs blue boxes with room to spare. You can fit a $50.00 bag of cents in it if you want and send it cross country for 8 bucks.

There is also a calculator on the site that allows you to chose the best cost option of regular insurance or registered. As the other posters noted, the hassle with registered is the gunky mucalage tape. But it does save money on shipping for higher value shipments.

Topcoin

Thanks everyone for your input..I believe for safety reasons I will ship registered mail. Have a great Day!

BAJJERFAN

I have had registered get here or there faster than expected sometimes. I agree with JK in that its more like dumb luck. I know here registered goes first to Des Moines and there is only one trip per day so if you get yours a goin after the stage has left, it sets a whole day a waitin fer the next stagecoach outta Dodge.

7over8

For some reason, REGISTERED FIRST CLASS takes 5 days coast to coast ( to PCGS) and PRIORITY REGISTERED takes 3 days to the same location. Consistently.

Why? Same locked pouch. Hmmm. Maybe the extra fee is extra motivation for the P.O. to deliver it to the actual street address a day or so sooner......rather than leave the package collective dust in the P.O.

coindeuce

<< <i>
With registered I think the first $25,000 of insurance is included in the price and you must declare the value when you mail it. It may be a waste of money but I also pay for the Green Return Receipt. >>


Almost Correct. Minimum declared value for merchandise sent by registered mail is $.01, and the registered fee is $8.45, which includes postal insurance for the actual declared value(up to $100 declared). Registry rates ascend in price based on declared value, as insurance is NOT optional, and is incorporated into the registry fee. Postage for the item is solely based on weight and Postal zone of destination, and is in addition to the registry fees. See page 33 of the linky added. U.S.P.S. postage rates
Just went through a big debate with the Mailing Requirements manager at the local GMF, since we thought our private insurance(Jeweller's Mutual) gave us the choice of opting out of Postal insurance, but got the 3rd degree for shipping merchandise with a zero declared value to save on registry rates. The U.S.P.S. has a captive audience, and they know it by their regulations which mandate accepting(paying for) indemnity with them

drwstr123

True, but you may use your third party insurer for value in excess of $25,000.