Canadian-USA Xpress Post - priority mail - steal me please!

roadrunner

Just received an ebay coin from a Canadian seller. I was afraid I was not gonna see my money or coin again. It's like I'm living on borrowed time waiting for my first bad seller to stiff me.

What was interesting was the package itself. Plastered all over the front of it was the package value - $800 and the word "COIN."
Gee, thanks for anonymity. The seller under-insured the package and then was good enough to tell everyone what was in it.

Good news though, he didn't say "1 ounce gold coin - $800."



roadrunner

WTCG

Were the stickers placed on the package by the seller, Canadian postal service, or by customs officials of one or both countries? If it was the latter then there isn't really anything you or the seller could have done about it.

FLBuffaloHunter

It is a Federal offense to misrepresent the contents or value of a package on a customs form. Same goes for marking an item a 'gift' when it is not.

StampAlarm

I've had to put coin and the value on the customs for coins I've sent overseas. Freaked me out,
but that's just what you have to do. Doesn't sound like this seller did anything
but what is required.



Jerry

roadrunner

The seller wrote in the addresses and the contents/value. Even if required why not something a little less obvious than COIN? How about "numismatic item," "plastic slab," "1 ounce round," or something like that? Even the word "Coin" does not uniquely identify what it was but it's the key word that gets people excited.
"Gold" would have been worse though.

roadrunner

StampAlarm

I agree with you roadrunner. It screams steal me. I was hoping
someone with more international shipping experience would answer.

But I know when I sent my last packagae to Australia I had a Silver Eagle. U.S. of course there's a spot for the weight 1 oz, a $2 bill U.S.
and one numismatic book 100 Greatest Coins.

I wrote it like that because the p.o. people said to. Scared me too.

I think I'll ask later on the World Coin side. I think they deal with this
more.



Jerry

roadrunner

For all the hassle involved, I'll keep Canadian sellers off my list.
It's easier that way. And if you have to go after a deadbeat seller what do you do? Send out the ebay police to beat up a Mountie?

roadrunner

Stork

I've sent or received packages with a few funny ways to replace the word coin on the customs forms:

Obsolete metal round
Stamped Planchet
Numismatic Token

here is a
darkside thread with a few other ideas

I still haven't tried the 'group of protons, neutrons and electrons' or 'processed planchet' ones yet.

WTCG

<< <i>The seller wrote in the addresses and the contents/value. Even if required why not something a little less obvious than COIN? How about "numismatic item," "plastic slab," "1 ounce round," or something like that? Even the word "Coin" does not uniquely identify what it was but it's the key word that gets people excited.
"Gold" would have been worse though.

roadrunner >>



Once in a while I receive shipments from the British Royal Mint in Cardiff and on their customs-excise forms they declare the contents as "trading alloy" or "metallic items" and it seems to work without hassle every time.

tmot99

With the tokens/medals that I collect, I've had items described as "souvenirs".