OT - Help for those that ship via the United States Postal Service and general coin shipping tips
jessewvu
Posts: 5,065 ✭✭✭✭✭
For those that ship a lot with the USPS, you will find some good gouge below:
Phone number for ordering free boxes: 1-800-610-8734 keypad que: 1-1-say "no"-2 (you need to set up an account before you place an order)
Click the link to view available items and order FREE items online Link to USPS Package site
Free USPS Priority mail boxes and tape:
my top 6 most useful items:
- Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box - Perfect for graded coins w/ sufficient padding and will fit about 80% of all US Mint items
- Priority Mail Large Video Box (O-1096L) - Perfect for MOST US Mint items that are just a bit too big for a small flat rate box
- Dual-Use Express Mail/Priority Mail Flat Rate Box-1 - New item from the USPS. Depending on how you fold the box, you can use it for Priority OR Express Mail
- Dual-Use Express Mail/Priority Mail Flat Rate Box-2 - New item from the USPS. Depending on how you fold the box, you can use it for Priority OR Express Mail
- Express Mail Outside Pressure Sensitive Label - Great to use to make sure your packages are taped on all sides
- Priority Mail Sticker - Works great to cover gaps in the medium flat rate boxes, cut in half and work great to cover sides of small flat rate boxes
- Priority Mail ShoeBox - Absolutely perfect for 25th Anniversary 5 coin set boxes
- Priority Mail DVD Box - Awesome for US Mint sets
New dual-use boxes. And they even have new express mail flat rate boxes that are deep!!!
Dual-Use Express Mail/Priority Mail Flat Rate
General tips:
TAPE TAPE TAPE! Tape that box like it's being shipped to a prison! Not really... Don't be the guy that ships a box with so much tape it takes a bandsaw to open the package but do put enough tape on the box to prevent tampering.
ALL USPS Priority mail boxes need tape on all sides. The tape strip that comes on the boxes is NOT enough to ensure your package stays sealed during transit. I tape all my small flat rate and large video boxes on 3 sides because you CAN pry the edge of the smaller priority mail boxes open with a knife or other small blunt object with almost no sign of the package being opened.
If you print your shipping labels on label paper (print and stick), tape an edge to your box w/ tape because they can be removed with little effort.
If you use eBay to print your labels, try to cover up the "eBay" and "PayPal" logos, that's another great use for the Priority Mail sticker. Nothing says steal me like eBay and PayPal logos on a package...
If you use a box, wrap that coin up! Don't use newspaper because the ink rubs off and looks a mess. Bubble wrap is pretty cheap and shows the buyer you care a little about the way they get the item they paid for.
If you are shipping multiple slabbed coins, DO NOT stack them directly on top of each other such that there is no room for bubble wrap. If you stack the PCGS slabs 4-5 wide (thick) and throw them in a small flat rate box, all the pressure is going into the slabs and they WILL crack. Use a bigger box if needed.
Put an invoice in your package so people know who sent them the item, they may be getting several packages a day for all you know. This is important if you actually take time to pack your coins well.
I hope that wasn't a soap box. I've learned most of these tips the hard way over the years and wish someone would have given me a heads up. I hope you can find some value here.
Phone number for ordering free boxes: 1-800-610-8734 keypad que: 1-1-say "no"-2 (you need to set up an account before you place an order)
Click the link to view available items and order FREE items online Link to USPS Package site
Free USPS Priority mail boxes and tape:
my top 6 most useful items:
- Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box - Perfect for graded coins w/ sufficient padding and will fit about 80% of all US Mint items
- Priority Mail Large Video Box (O-1096L) - Perfect for MOST US Mint items that are just a bit too big for a small flat rate box
- Dual-Use Express Mail/Priority Mail Flat Rate Box-1 - New item from the USPS. Depending on how you fold the box, you can use it for Priority OR Express Mail
- Dual-Use Express Mail/Priority Mail Flat Rate Box-2 - New item from the USPS. Depending on how you fold the box, you can use it for Priority OR Express Mail
- Express Mail Outside Pressure Sensitive Label - Great to use to make sure your packages are taped on all sides
- Priority Mail Sticker - Works great to cover gaps in the medium flat rate boxes, cut in half and work great to cover sides of small flat rate boxes
- Priority Mail ShoeBox - Absolutely perfect for 25th Anniversary 5 coin set boxes
- Priority Mail DVD Box - Awesome for US Mint sets
New dual-use boxes. And they even have new express mail flat rate boxes that are deep!!!
Dual-Use Express Mail/Priority Mail Flat Rate
General tips:
TAPE TAPE TAPE! Tape that box like it's being shipped to a prison! Not really... Don't be the guy that ships a box with so much tape it takes a bandsaw to open the package but do put enough tape on the box to prevent tampering.
ALL USPS Priority mail boxes need tape on all sides. The tape strip that comes on the boxes is NOT enough to ensure your package stays sealed during transit. I tape all my small flat rate and large video boxes on 3 sides because you CAN pry the edge of the smaller priority mail boxes open with a knife or other small blunt object with almost no sign of the package being opened.
If you print your shipping labels on label paper (print and stick), tape an edge to your box w/ tape because they can be removed with little effort.
If you use eBay to print your labels, try to cover up the "eBay" and "PayPal" logos, that's another great use for the Priority Mail sticker. Nothing says steal me like eBay and PayPal logos on a package...
If you use a box, wrap that coin up! Don't use newspaper because the ink rubs off and looks a mess. Bubble wrap is pretty cheap and shows the buyer you care a little about the way they get the item they paid for.
If you are shipping multiple slabbed coins, DO NOT stack them directly on top of each other such that there is no room for bubble wrap. If you stack the PCGS slabs 4-5 wide (thick) and throw them in a small flat rate box, all the pressure is going into the slabs and they WILL crack. Use a bigger box if needed.
Put an invoice in your package so people know who sent them the item, they may be getting several packages a day for all you know. This is important if you actually take time to pack your coins well.
I hope that wasn't a soap box. I've learned most of these tips the hard way over the years and wish someone would have given me a heads up. I hope you can find some value here.
0
Comments
there are a few there i am going to check out for sure, so thank you for that BUT:
90% of my coins, a lot of times multiple coins go into a small padded envelope under 3oz. a few under 5oz. first class and arrives 2-3 days virtually every time and cost less than .25 each
small flat rate usually takes care of everything else for $5 unless it is too valuable and then registered or overnight.
i will probably use some of the new ones you mentioned for non-coin items, which will be gr8, so thanks again!
looks like i'll be ordering some more boxes!
edited to add: i just made a new folder and bookmark just for this
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Just wanted to add that I like to use old auction catalogs for filling the empty spots in boxes.
If I'm selling a classic commemorative, I'll tear out 5-10 pages of classic commems from the catalog and bunch them up in the box where needed. It's a nice way to recycle the catalogs and more fun for the buyer to get something cool to look at vs. bubble wrap or newspaper. Plus, the auction catalog printing won't rub off or bleed onto the coins like newsprint may.
I also use pages of auction catalogs to wrap up individual slabs to keep them from getting damaged/scratched in transit. I usually double or triple wrap (2-3 pages of catalog) each slab and that seems to work well.
Also, while I normally don't recommend shipping any coins in flat rate envelopes since most items will fit in a small flat rate box for about the same price and be much better protected... if you must use an envelope, get the Priority Mail Flat Rate Padded Envelopes for free from the post office following the instructions in the OP. Saves you the money of buying bubble mailer or bubble wrap and you can slide most Dansco albums into these envelopes and they fit perfectly.
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 448
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
There are some new features that I wasn't aware of.
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
I don't know if that is enough to keep the PO from playing soccer with the packages but have never had any complaints.
I hope you dont try to send this MEDIA MAIL, because they CAN OPEN and
inspect media mail AND mint sets are not media. !!!
While I really enjoy the security and protection that a small flat rate priority mail box offers, I hate the fact that PayPal requires signature confirmation which adds $2.10 to the mailing costs. Throw insurance on there and the prices add up rather quickly.
As for Jesse's tips: Most are common sense. I can't recall the number of times I've received multiple mailings on the same day that did not have a packing slip of some type.
Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes are cheaper than Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Boxes when postage is purchased inline.
Did I say I hate the fact that PayPal requires signature confirmation for seller protection?
Packing peanuts can be had for $8.00 for a large garbage bag full at most shipping supply location such as Private PO Boxes. (Quantity sellers)
Sometimes, Express Mail, while more expensive, can be your friend.
Unless your selling slabbed coins that give you a nice profit margin, mailing costs can and often do eat your lunch since padded envelopes aren't cheap, good packing material and tape, in most cases, isn't free.
The name is LEE!
Link to seller on eBay selling shipping supplies
In case the link dont work copy and paste below
http://www.ebay.com/itm/320748802579?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
<< <i> Below is a link to the guy I buy all my packing items from... >>
don't mean to get political on ya, but i wouldn't buy those poly mailers if someone threatened to burn me alive. horrible for the landfills/environment.
also those poly surfaces seem to attract a lot dirt after being reused.
i recommend the mailers the post office offer as they are Cradle to Cradle
the ones i've used for the past 3 years. - not from this particular seller
I was just showing people how to save a few bucks since places like staples sell 3 of them for 2.50+
<< <i>I was just showing people how to save a few bucks since places like staples sell 3 of them for 2.50+ >>
and for that point you did a good job. i usually buy 100-500 at a time for pennies on the dollar and the savings are amazing.
takes over a year to use up a box most of the time lol, but sure is nice to have them at my disposal for such a nominal cost.
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edited to add:
well done for being eco-friendly. it is easy and makes sense
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When shipping with a signature confirmation, cut the top off of a signature confirmation label (they are pink, free, and are what are normally used for sig conf packages) and put it above the e-signature confirmation text on your printed label. There is usually just enough space below the buyers address and the next block of text.
I have had several packages left in mailboxes without a signature because the only indication that a package needs signed for is in black text where delivery confirmation usually is.
i used to ship directly from the local PO but now i just print everything from ebay/paypal.
about the only exceptions are registered, overnight and items paid for with stamps
i got all of those signature, delivery, return receipt slips from the PO but now they are collecting dust ><
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I've got one to add: If you are shipping something valued at slightly over $200, insurance $100 to $200 is $2.90 and for $200 to $300 insurance is $4.85.
So if you are sending a package worth $225 you will pay $2.90 for the first $200 and $1.95 for the last $25. I suggest you insure it for $200 and self-insure the rest of it. If, over time, you send 100 such packages, you avoid $195 in extra insurance, and if one or two get lost you lose $25 to $50, so you come out way ahead.
BTW, I don't think a thread about shipping coins is OT!
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
<< <i>BTW, I don't think a thread about shipping coins is OT! >>
i concur, and there have been A LOT of them here, just in my short stint
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