What would you do if someone send this to you?

mrearlygold · June 13, 2015 9:20AM

Received 2 boxes from an unknown person, no request ahead of time to send. One empty, the other contains 4 or 5 coins, junk to me. Junk I think to most dealers. Piece of paper folded mentioning "ms-68" something but sure as heck nothing like that here. Checked the address and it didn't come up with the zip code supplied. There is a return envelope, Invalid return address.

What would you do?

scotty1419 · June 13, 2015 9:51AM

If you dont have a valid address/name I'd do some brief online searching to see if you can find something. If the detail is so skim that you cant get anything with that, I'd sit on it for a couple months and see if anyone reaches out to you.

ms71 · June 13, 2015 9:52AM

Wow, that's a strange one. Sounds like an "I sent this valuable stuff" scam in the making. Via USPS? Tracked? If tracked, you can see the post office of origin on the USPS website. Sure doesn't sound like anything good can come of it.

topstuf · June 13, 2015 9:54AM

Got a return envelope? Use it.
Or...it's unsolicited. Do whatever you want.
Toss it, sell it, feed it to the fish.

Mark · June 13, 2015 9:56AM

What would I do? I'd probably post the entire scenario on the PCGS chat boards.

Unknown · June 13, 2015 9:58AM

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TopographicOceans · June 13, 2015 10:39AM

You and I share the same affliction regarding the tense of send and sent. I switch them quite a lot and spell checker doesn't catch it.

Anyway, I would first wonder how they got my address. But since you are a dealer, I would be concerned if someone was setting you up. Did you have to sign for them or is there a delivery confirmation?

Normally anyone that sends you anything in the mail that you didn't request, it is considered a gift. But if you advertise you buy and sell coins, somebody might claim they sent you $10,000 in rare coins.

I would take pictures and ship the items with signature confirmation to the address provided. If it is invalid, then it will be returned to you. If that happens then just spend them.

Coin Finder · June 13, 2015 10:47AM

nothing

mrearlygold · June 13, 2015 11:03AM

2 boxes, 1 empty, Invalid return address, a few junk coins and a note: "Tom I chose these specifically for you to fit even a ( unreadable ) enthusiasm High Grade like you asked"

Nothing ( for now ) is the right answer as there is only an invalid return address. What tomorrow brings may be interesting.

ms71 · June 13, 2015 11:15AM

Were they sent via a trackable means?

SoCalBigMark · June 13, 2015 11:38AM

Did you recently refuse to let someone cherrypick your proof sets?

YQQ · June 13, 2015 11:42AM

Call you local Police dept and make a report .. get their advise. at least you are on record if "something other" comes about.

Mission16 · June 13, 2015 11:52AM

I'd dispose of the material but whatever means suit you. Nothing there indicates any other action on your part.

LindeDad · June 13, 2015 12:02PM

Put it in the hall closet as unsolicited items received in the mail are gifts by law as I understand it.

mrearlygold · June 13, 2015 12:59PM

<< Were they sent via a trackable means? >>

Yes, priority mail

TopographicOceans · June 13, 2015 1:21PM

Well you are soliciting the public to send you coins on your web site. If they click on the instructions link, you do say they must contact you first.

US Rare Coin Investments will pay for the insurance on your material if you pay for and send the coins in a box via EXPRESS MAIL at the post office. Before you ship you must send an email to us to confirm our interest in what you wish to send! Please follow these instructions:

Since you are in business and deal with the public, you know what the public does, so if you can't contact them, you'll just have to hold on to them until they contact you.

Personally I would change your "buying pages" to just have a contact us form. Get their info along with a description of their coins.
Once they do that, then you can send them a link to your now hidden "how to ship" page instead of just posting instructions to everyone.

DollarAfterDollar · June 13, 2015 8:30PM

Wait for the call. Just put this persons property aside until then.

bronco2078 · June 13, 2015 9:02PM

<< 

<< Were they sent via a trackable means? >>

Yes, priority mail >>

The internal postal tracking has more information than what we can see. Perhaps a friend at the post office could suss out exactly where it came from.

Tomthecoinguy · June 13, 2015 9:10PM

<< What would I do? I'd probably post the entire scenario on the PCGS chat boards.

>>

Yes, title it why coin dealers drink and add a roman numeral.

roadrunner · June 13, 2015 10:44PM

When I only 20 I had received a package from Steve Ivy Rare Coin Co. that contained several choice unc seated Liberty better dates....worth about $5,000 total. It was totally unsolicited. The only thing I had done at that time was send a circ want list to some dealers on coins worth $10-$50 each. I certainly couldn't afford the flat headed MS63 1865-s dime they sent me....that coin wasn't even on my want list in any grade. I got suggestions from at at least 2 of my siblings to keep the package as being unsolicited it was a "gift." I had a feeling that wasn't gonna fly.

I contacted SIR Coin the following day and let them know they could have the coins back once I was pre-paid for return REG mail. Back then it was still $10-$20 for a REG package, extra money I didn't want to lose. SIR sent me a check and the coins went back.

TwoSides2aCoin · June 13, 2015 11:33PM

Junk

Call Haz-Mat ASAP.

ricko · June 14, 2015 1:43AM

I would photograph the boxes and contents, contact both the Post Office and the local PD.... then wait for a contact. The actions are insurance against a false claim. Cheers, RickO

coinbuf · June 14, 2015 2:17AM

<< I would photograph the boxes and contents, contact both the Post Office and the local PD.... then wait for a contact. The actions are insurance against a false claim. Cheers, RickO >>

What he said.

TopographicOceans · June 14, 2015 2:26AM

I'm not quite sure why this is a police matter?

OP: Hello, Officer - I advertise on the Internet that I buy coins and somebody send me some coins.
Police: Thanks for letting us know. We'll file a report and we'll get the detectives on this right away

Just call your insurance carrier and wait for the sender to contact you.
And review your practices about soliciting coins from the public.

Cougar1978 · June 14, 2015 3:17AM

There is not much I could do except set it aside until more information shows up, especially if no tracking.

I wonder if the person who sent it even knows who they sent it to.

Bottom Line: this appears to be unsolicited material unless its some response to an ad. Do you have any buy ads outstanding offering payment or same day check?

bestday · June 14, 2015 6:41AM

<< 

<< Were they sent via a trackable means? >>

Yes, priority mail >>

Set up for something.. just save the crap ,and label unsolicited ,, sending it back may open for claims of theft .. not all items returned

mrearlygold · June 17, 2015 7:58AM

<< 

<< 

<< Were they sent via a trackable means? >>

Yes, priority mail >>

Set up for something.. just save the crap ,and label unsolicited ,, sending it back may open for claims of theft .. not all items returned >>

That's what we thought.

Here's one of theMANY new emails from this person:

On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 12:15 PM, Robert xxxxx <robert@gmail.com> wrote:

Do you want me to sue You now? Or just keep this for future reference? Stating unability to send back a LARGE sum of money in a 1909 V.D.B s working die? If you don't know you received a package, What return address? I have my tracking receipt from USPS that IS stated.
On Tue, Jun 16, 2015 at 4:05 PM, Tom Pilitowski <tompilitowski@yahoo.com> wrote:

WE NEED YOUR CORRECT RETURN ADDRESS IN ORDER TO SHIP THESE BACK TO YOU.

cameonut2011 · June 17, 2015 8:08AM

Call the Postal Inspectors; it sounds like he is attempting to commit mail fraud.

cameonut2011 · June 17, 2015 8:10AM

<< Did you recently refuse to let someone cherrypick your proof sets? >>

cameonut2011 · June 17, 2015 8:11AM

<< Well you are soliciting the public to send you coins on your web site. If they click on the instructions link, you do say they must contact you first.

US Rare Coin Investments will pay for the insurance on your material if you pay for and send the coins in a box via EXPRESS MAIL at the post office. Before you ship you must send an email to us to confirm our interest in what you wish to send! Please follow these instructions:

Since you are in business and deal with the public, you know what the public does, so if you can't contact them, you'll just have to hold on to them until they contact you.

Personally I would change your "buying pages" to just have a contact us form. Get their info along with a description of their coins.
Once they do that, then you can send them a link to your now hidden "how to ship" page instead of just posting instructions to everyone. >>

I agree with the advice in the last couple of sentences.

Unknown · June 17, 2015 8:45AM

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coindeuce · June 17, 2015 9:22AM

<< I would photograph the boxes and contents, contact both the Post Office and the local PD.... then wait for a contact. The actions are insurance against a false claim. Cheers, RickO >>

+1. This is what I suspect.

coindeuce · June 17, 2015 9:34AM

<< Received 2 boxes from an unknown person, no request ahead of time to send. One empty, the other contains 4 or 5 coins, junk to me. Junk I think to most dealers. Piece of paper folded mentioning "ms-68" something but sure as heck nothing like that here. Checked the address and it didn't come up with the zip code supplied. There is a return envelope, Invalid return address.

What would you do? >>

I would adhere to my advertised policy, and refuse the package from the carrier/clerk.

winky · June 17, 2015 11:12AM

Set a bonfire and don't take any photos !!

What would you do if someone send this to you?

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