Shipping costs and the price of collecting....

Bochiman

I haven't been collecting as long as some folks, but I was just looking at a few things (started doing the mail for collecting about 14 years ago, so my thoughts are just around that timeframe....)



When I started, collecting by mail (ebay, some dealers) wasn't too expensive. USPS rates weren't too bad and one could opt to "self-insure", not insure, or pay the seller for insurance (sometimes, not optional).



Sending to PCGS wasn't too bad. Join the collector's club, no "per submission" fee, prices were a bit less than today, and getting mail there, and back, wasn't too bad (pricewise). Could send in a few coins at once, or even some lesser value coins for fun.



Then, USPS raised rates...frequently...., PCGS added the per submission fee, prices went up....



Got to be a bit more expensive to send coins. No longer worth sending less than 8, or so, for me, at my levels (low level collector). Added to that were costs for labels and, now, costs for "oversize" or "too heavy" packaging to get it returned, etc.



Also, CAC came onto the scene and, sending items there can add up as well.





If one submitted a SINGLE coin, to PCGS, received it back, and sent it to CAC, then got it back, and did registered mail WITH insurance (private or USPS), one could have more in shipping/submission fees than one would expect ($50+). Heck, just sending a recent package (not including insurance since it was done using private insurance) cost $26 for registered flat rate priority (weight wise, came out cheaper using a flat rate box as it was many coins).



I do track things in a XLS for each coin....purchase cost/date/info and I also add any fees/shipping I have incurred in the cost of the coin. I do prorate it when I have more than 1 coin in any shipment, but it all adds up.





I know this isn't "new" to anyone, and it wasn't "new" to me either, but sitting here and looking at some recent receipts/fees, it just dawned on me how expensive "extras" can be to the actual coin.....

3keepSECRETif2rDEAD

This is all part of the collecting experience for me personally...I love packing up coins and shipping and receiving them...I enjoy collecting coins and after collecting for a good 5+ years, I honestly have no idea how dealers make any real money

oih82w8

I cane definitely relate, I just sent off 10 to CAC, registered, and that cost 33.00 in shipping (2-day priority my foot!).



Agreed that shipping back and forth to PCGS hurts the old pocket book. It's still cheaper than driving them there myself or airfare.



I also agree that receiving them back gives me that joyous feeling about getting something accomplished, although they usually come back with some sort of signature required (thankfully) and my post person delivers around 9 to 11 in the morning, when I am at work 20-something miles away, and I am greeted by the little missed delivery slip and I can pick it up tomorrow. That to me is another painful part...my coins are in town and I can't have them yet.

sparky64

Mildly depressing Bochiman but all true.



("Join the collector's club, no "per submission" fee")

How did it used to work?

BAJJERFAN

For most people, these extraneous costs like shipping, grading, etc. are costs one would hope to recover upon sale of the coin/s and of course for dealers it's mandatory. If you buy a coin for PCGS price guide [or close to it] from a Heritage auction, you'd need to get $10+ additional just to break even if you resold it.

ricko

There is no doubt that when fully engaging in this hobby (3rd and 4th party grading), shipping and insurance - it can get quite expensive... somewhat cheaper if one sticks to already slabbed coins and does not indulge in 4th party evaluation or sales. Cheers, RickO

291fifth

Try buying stamps. $1 for the stamp and $3.99 for the shipping. I'm sure that this kind of thing has accelerated the decline of stamp collecting. Many other low price collectibles are suffering the same fate.

Boosibri

Just start collecting more expensive coins to make the shipping charges seem di minimis

JCMhouston

I enjoy collecting coins and after collecting for a good 5+ years, I honestly have no idea how dealers make any real money

Wait until you sell them back some coins, then you'll see.



Not all dealers of course, but way too many. But back to the OP, I can't use PCGS any more, I collect mostly world coins and the prices have just gotten out of hand.

Shamika

I can't stand all the postage costs. It's made the collecting of low cost coins unaffordable. I've mentioned it several times that eBay has been a boon for the USPS.

LindeDad

Yeah that Free Shipping takes it's toll. A little like using the Express lanes.

Bochiman

Originally posted by: sparky64

Mildly depressing Bochiman but all true.



("Join the collector's club, no "per submission" fee")

How did it used to work?

"no per submission fee" meant that you paid per coin but not a few for each submission group. No "handling" fee, in other words.



You paid the price of each coin and you paid shipping.

Bochiman

Originally posted by: BAJJERFAN

For most people, these extraneous costs like shipping, grading, etc. are costs one would hope to recover upon sale of the coin/s and of course for dealers it's mandatory. If you buy a coin for PCGS price guide [or close to it] from a Heritage auction, you'd need to get $10+ additional just to break even if you resold it.

I agree.....one WOULD HOPE to recover the costs upon sale, however, looking at auction prices, one doesn't see those costs with the coins.



So, the prices don't always equate and, while they absolutely remain costs, they drive up the cost in a "hidden" way a lot of times.

BAJJERFAN

Originally posted by: Bochiman

Originally posted by: BAJJERFAN

For most people, these extraneous costs like shipping, grading, etc. are costs one would hope to recover upon sale of the coin/s and of course for dealers it's mandatory. If you buy a coin for PCGS price guide [or close to it] from a Heritage auction, you'd need to get $10+ additional just to break even if you resold it.

I agree.....one WOULD HOPE to recover the costs upon sale, however, looking at auction prices, one doesn't see those costs with the coins.



So, the prices don't always equate and, while they absolutely remain costs, they drive up the cost in a "hidden" way a lot of times.

As a collector, it's not the end of the world if I don't recover 100% of the cost of a coin. The worst are auctions where a $100 bid increment can really kill you if you really want the coin.

Lakesammman

The only part of it I really despise is waiting in line with a slip for items requiring signature......while nearly every customer ahead of me is unprepared for what ever they are shipping.

mustangmanbob

I had to ship, US Post Office, a 1965 Ford cast iron 4 barrel intake manifold to, IIRC, Slovakiaor Slovenia.

It was over $150 in postage.

Fortunately, I had $1000+ in stamps I had inherited, and I have been steadily using them up.

Each month, when I get my bill from ebay, my shipping costs (FedEx) is higher than the fees charges by ebay.

topstuf

I have finally adopted a much more philosophical attitude towards coins.



(P'raps because I ain't in the bizz no more)



but now I consider the coins I buy as "pleasantries" to enjoy as befits my new drudgery of retirement.



It mitigates the dilemma of resale and "cost" and drives me to be picky as all hell.

Purfrock

Originally posted by: Lakesammman
The only part of it I really despise is waiting in line with a slip for items requiring signature......while nearly every customer ahead of me is unprepared for what ever they are shipping.

I'm right there with you. I can't count the times this has happened to me. Add that to the fact that there might only be one person working the desk with 10 people in line and it can be extremely frustrating.