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Get ready for a US Post Office Rant.

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  • Desert MoonDesert Moon Posts: 5,990 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I tape clear tape over the bar code every time. Never had an issue with tracking, always shows up.

    Best, SH
    My online coin store - https://desertmoonnm.com/
  • amwldcoinamwldcoin Posts: 11,269 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: bigjpst

    Originally posted by: grote15

    I was also told by my local post office NOT to tape over the bar code on the label as it may cause problems with scanning.




    Says it when you print your labels on eBay as well. I usually run a piece of tape over my return address and delivery address and leave barcode uncovered. That way if it gets torn at least the package will end up in one of those two places. Hopefullyimage




    Same here.



    whoever said a package is $1.99 is behind the times or has a secret discount. The minimum now on ebay or paypal is $2.60.



    The threshold for an insured package to require a signature is now $600. I don't know if a signature is still required or if ebay and paypal have not updated their software, but USPS insurance purchased through ebay still prints out signature tracking on $300 or more.



  • TopographicOceansTopographicOceans Posts: 6,535 ✭✭✭✭
    I like the USPS and think they do an excellent job based on the amount of mail in the system.

    Sometimes a first class parcel can get in with non first class packages.
    Those go by truck and can sit parked at a post office along the way for days.

    When that happens it can take 3 weeks to arrive.
  • DavideoDavideo Posts: 1,363 ✭✭✭✭
    As someone who ships thousands of USPS packages a year, it is not all that rare for a package to just disappear in a black hole for a while and then pop out after a few days and continue along its way. I've found if it has been a week with no movement/status updates then there is a good chance it is gone. Until then I don't sweat it as probably at least 95% that "black hole" do pop out and get delivered.
  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,736 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: planonit
    I sold 2 Dahlonega coins on this forum (I won't disclose the member's name because maybe he does not want people to know).

    Shipped Friday. Fine. Sunday night/Monday morning around midnight it leaves Las Vegas to its destination (California). Expected delivery: Monday the 26th.

    Nope.

    Gone.

    Had 3 different people give me 3 different answers.

    Lady #1: That is not good. Let me open up an investigation claim for you. They will call you tomorrow almost certainly or maybe Thursday to find out what happened (As you can imagine it is Wednesday and no call). She says it is not good but not too panic as it might of just been not scanned at its destination and be there tomorrow and the new schedule delivery from her computer screen is Wednesday (Nope. No idea where she got that. Nobody else had this information).


    Lady #2: She went and found a picture of it where it was scanned in the Las Vegas facility. Looks good. No problems so not rerouted or anything. She says probably just very slow transit issues because apparently it takes 3 days to get from Vegas to California.

    Man #3: Nope there is a problem. The USPS barcode had an issue and that is what happened. It was shuffled away and that is cause for delay.

    Bonus #4 Lady after Man #3 told me it was a common barcode issue: I don't see that anywhere and while that MIGHT be the problem it is probably not so not sure why Man #3 said that.

    I will never use USPS again. These guys are just terrible.


    Did you send it registered mail?
  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,736 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: Wabbit2313
    You do have something to look forward to. In a couple days there will be a thread about you being a scammer! image


    imageimageimage
  • Update: It is APPARENTLY in California! Took 3 days and still not delivered but apparently has moved.

    I won't be off pins and needles until the buyer has them in his hands and they are in perfect shape.
    I have plans....sometimes
  • mariner67mariner67 Posts: 2,746 ✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: planonit
    Update: It is APPARENTLY in California! Took 3 days and still not delivered but apparently has moved.

    I won't be off pins and needles until the buyer has them in his hands and they are in perfect shape.


    Did you insure it?
    Successful trades/buys/sells with gdavis70, adriana, wondercoin, Weiss, nibanny, IrishMike, commoncents05, pf70collector, kyleknap, barefootjuan, coindeuce, WhiteTornado, Nefprollc, ajw, JamesM, PCcoins, slinc, coindudeonebay,beernuts, and many more
  • Originally posted by: mariner67
    Originally posted by: planonit
    Update: It is APPARENTLY in California! Took 3 days and still not delivered but apparently has moved.

    I won't be off pins and needles until the buyer has them in his hands and they are in perfect shape.


    Did you insure it?



    Yes. After I had UPS (Not USPS) "lose" a package I am super scared of this stuff. Luckily the UPS packaged turned up in a delivery truck (or they say) weeks later.

    I hope I never, ever have to file a claim with USPS. I would assume (with how insanely awful my experience working with them on this was) it would be awful.
    I have plans....sometimes
  • AUandAGAUandAG Posts: 24,932 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I've only had to file a claim once, and it was easy as pie. No hassles and no

    issues.



    bobimage
    Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com
  • Originally posted by: AUandAG
    I've only had to file a claim once, and it was easy as pie. No hassles and no
    issues.

    bobimage


    Around 1999 I had to file a USPS claim and it was like dealing with Laurel & Hardy. I had purchased a roll of Morgan Dollars via Ebay for around $185. The seller shipped it with USPS insurance. In those days, everything was off the Ebay system without Ebay protections. It fell to me to file the insurance claim and recover the loss. Seller gave me the tracking number and insurance claim number or whatever was done with shipping. Went to the post office and they verified that the package was lost and not delivered. They had me file a claim. The next week I went back to check the status of the claim and they couldn't find it in their system. So they had me file the claim again. This repeated itself over the next several weeks until I had filed the claim 5 times. Finally I received payment from the USPS for $185. Then about 2 weeks later I received a letter from the USPS that they were working on my claim but needed me to resubmit some of the information for them. Since I had already been paid, I just ignored this request.
    I love the 3 P's: PB&J, PBR and PCGS.
  • Update:

    Package arrived. Apparently coins are good but buyer says not packaged well. Not sure yet how it arrived but when that thing left me it was in great shape and well packaged I don't let anybody package coins besides me.

    Guy #3 was actually spot on. He told me it had a barcode issue and that is why it was stuck int he Las Vegas facility. 2 other people told me that was false (Well one just said it is probably false). I can't imagine they repackaged my stuff and did not tell me right??

    As long as they got their damage free I guess I should be happy but this was an incredibly annoying experience.


    Guy #3 should be our hero of the month on this forum.
    I have plans....sometimes
  • sparky64sparky64 Posts: 7,044 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It's funny how things are often delivered shortly after the lost packages posts.



    Glad it worked out.

    "If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"

    My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress

  • Originally posted by: sparky64
    It's funny how things are often delivered shortly after the lost packages posts.

    Glad it worked out.


    Thanks.

    Don't worry because after all this the buyer (after the coins arriving) has now taken to blaming me for the packaging, delay, and insurance.


    Universe adding one extra little annoyance to a pain in the rear end experience.
    I have plans....sometimes
  • BAJJERFANBAJJERFAN Posts: 31,305 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: planonit

    Originally posted by: sparky64

    It's funny how things are often delivered shortly after the lost packages posts.



    Glad it worked out.




    Thanks.



    Don't worry because after all this the buyer (after the coins arriving) has now taken to blaming me for the packaging, delay, and insurance.





    Universe adding one extra little annoyance to a pain in the rear end experience.




    Does the tracking number give you a date accepted and a date delivered? If not, you can get that info from the PO and let that board member know who was responsible.
    theknowitalltroll;
  • Originally posted by: BAJJERFAN
    Originally posted by: planonit
    Originally posted by: sparky64
    It's funny how things are often delivered shortly after the lost packages posts.

    Glad it worked out.


    Thanks.

    Don't worry because after all this the buyer (after the coins arriving) has now taken to blaming me for the packaging, delay, and insurance.


    Universe adding one extra little annoyance to a pain in the rear end experience.


    Does the tracking number give you a date accepted and a date delivered? If not, you can get that info from the PO and let that board member know who was responsible.


    It does. It is a long story and the board member I think just got frustrated with the process. I got really ticked when he kind of laid into me.. He says it was poorly packaged (I believe him but it was not when it left my hands). I also failed to ship on the day I said because I was traveling and told a person (who I trust) to ship and they did not so when I came back a few days later I was not happy. I threw in a AU/AU Peace dollar I had as a late payment and I went to the Post Office that was open till 7 so it was shipped ASAP.

    I have cooled down and while I don't appreciate what he said he got the coins and they were in one piece so it is what it is. At the end of the day I got the money and he got the coins.

    I have plans....sometimes
  • CascadeChrisCascadeChris Posts: 2,529 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Why didn't you send it registered?
    The more you VAM..
  • And it sounds like you communicated well with him and put in a lot of effort to find the status. I wish a lot more sellers were like you. Sounds like your buyer has some personal issues.
    I love the 3 P's: PB&J, PBR and PCGS.
  • Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 8,773 ✭✭✭✭✭
    In over 25 years of shipping thru USPS only one loss and insurance paid. It was a $120 coin.

    It took USPS about 4-6 weeks to perform their investigation and authorize the insurance payment.

    Big ticket coins I sell at shows only (payment required in cash or gold coins at melt or slabbed coins behind bid), my ebay store is mainly for lower inventory cost high markup items.

    Investor
  • Originally posted by: TigersFan2
    And it sounds like you communicated well with him and put in a lot of effort to find the status. I wish a lot more sellers were like you. Sounds like your buyer has some personal issues.


    I try and see his stand point. I have to admit he was actually very easy to work with. He made an offer, I told him I had a higher one, he came back and matched it and said he would mail a check. I accepted and he mailed it that day.

    He banked with a small bank and my bank (Chase) held it for 15 days and I told him and he understood and I actually just decided to ship before the hold cleared.

    I have no reason to believe hs is lying but he says the coins were only in white envelopes inside the USPS package. I did put them in white envelopes but put them in small padded brown slips (ones with bubble wrap). I have a hard time believing the package "barcode" was soo damage they had to open the package, take the coins out of the brown envelopes and resubmit. I mean would they do that? And even if they would WHY? Then again weird stuff happens. I am like 99.9% sure I did that. I always do. As long a they arrived unharmed all in all it is good.

    Anyway it is what it is. I told him that he can still use me as a reference. In terms of being a "buyer" he was fine, no complaints.

    I have plans....sometimes
  • georgiacop50georgiacop50 Posts: 2,909 ✭✭✭✭
    How did this stupid thread get this far?
  • Originally posted by: georgiacop50
    How did this stupid thread get this far?



    It is my incredible charisma. My words just oooozzzzeee off the screen and people are drawn in.

    Are you not under my spell as you read this???
    I have plans....sometimes
  • CascadeChrisCascadeChris Posts: 2,529 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Ask him to send you pictures of how it was packaged. Hopefully he still has it Or its near the top of the trash.
    The more you VAM..
  • blu62vetteblu62vette Posts: 11,945 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: planonit
    Originally posted by: TigersFan2
    And it sounds like you communicated well with him and put in a lot of effort to find the status. I wish a lot more sellers were like you. Sounds like your buyer has some personal issues.


    I try and see his stand point. I have to admit he was actually very easy to work with. He made an offer, I told him I had a higher one, he came back and matched it and said he would mail a check. I accepted and he mailed it that day.

    He banked with a small bank and my bank (Chase) held it for 15 days and I told him and he understood and I actually just decided to ship before the hold cleared.

    I have no reason to believe hs is lying but he says the coins were only in white envelopes inside the USPS package. I did put them in white envelopes but put them in small padded brown slips (ones with bubble wrap). I have a hard time believing the package "barcode" was soo damage they had to open the package, take the coins out of the brown envelopes and resubmit. I mean would they do that? And even if they would WHY? Then again weird stuff happens. I am like 99.9% sure I did that. I always do. As long a they arrived unharmed all in all it is good.

    Anyway it is what it is. I told him that he can still use me as a reference. In terms of being a "buyer" he was fine, no complaints.



    Want me to help? This came to my shared PO box, though I was not the buyer. It was in my box today. Just sitting there, no signature, no insurance no nothing. Just a priority envelope with with coins wrapped in white envelopes, I could feel all the edges of the holders in the packages, it was packed like it was not even coins. The way it was packed so poor I just a assumed the slabs were cracked, yes that bad. The barcode had a line through it from a pen, maybe that caused issues.

    I doubt it was repacked. If they did that they have to put a notice in with the package. Bottom line, whomever shipped for you, don't let them do it again.
    http://www.bluccphotos.com" target="new">BluCC Photos Shows for onsite imaging: Nov Baltimore, FUN, Long Beach http://www.facebook.com/bluccphotos" target="new">BluCC on Facebook
  • Originally posted by: blu62vette
    Originally posted by: planonit
    Originally posted by: TigersFan2
    And it sounds like you communicated well with him and put in a lot of effort to find the status. I wish a lot more sellers were like you. Sounds like your buyer has some personal issues.


    I try and see his stand point. I have to admit he was actually very easy to work with. He made an offer, I told him I had a higher one, he came back and matched it and said he would mail a check. I accepted and he mailed it that day.

    He banked with a small bank and my bank (Chase) held it for 15 days and I told him and he understood and I actually just decided to ship before the hold cleared.

    I have no reason to believe hs is lying but he says the coins were only in white envelopes inside the USPS package. I did put them in white envelopes but put them in small padded brown slips (ones with bubble wrap). I have a hard time believing the package "barcode" was soo damage they had to open the package, take the coins out of the brown envelopes and resubmit. I mean would they do that? And even if they would WHY? Then again weird stuff happens. I am like 99.9% sure I did that. I always do. As long a they arrived unharmed all in all it is good.

    Anyway it is what it is. I told him that he can still use me as a reference. In terms of being a "buyer" he was fine, no complaints.



    Want me to help? This came to my shared PO box, though I was not the buyer. It was in my box today. Just sitting there, no signature, no insurance no nothing. Just a priority envelope with with coins wrapped in white envelopes, I could feel all the edges of the holders in the packages, it was packed like it was not even coins. The way it was packed so poor I just a assumed the slabs were cracked, yes that bad. The barcode had a line through it from a pen, maybe that caused issues.

    I doubt it was repacked. If they did that they have to put a notice in with the package. Bottom line, whomever shipped for you, don't let them do it again.



    Again I totally believe you but I am the one who packed it and while I am naturally doubting myself I am sure I packed it the way I said. I might of been in a rush but I am not stupid.

    Also, as I stated to the buyer: I have private insurance that does cover if it is lost in the mail. Now it does carry a deductible so if I sell or ship anything of lesser value I buy it from the shipper obviously but in this case it was a large deal so I took none out.

    As I explained.


    I have plans....sometimes
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,827 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Interesting twist to this saga...I suppose there are always different sides to the complete story.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • TopographicOceansTopographicOceans Posts: 6,535 ✭✭✭✭
    About 8 years ago I bought two PCGS gold coins on eBay.
    I had a pink notice in my box and the clerk hands me an empty padded envelope.

    I see the back has been ripped open and coins were gone.

    This was back in the day before eBay labels and it had a black insurance label with high postage on it - which is a sign to the postal thieves there is something small and valuable inside.

    I got paid in full in about 2 weeks.

    So eBay labels have helped a lot I think since you don't have to show the postage amount, but it does say INSURED.

    Putting that black insurance label on a small package is like Christmas to a thief.


  • blu62vetteblu62vette Posts: 11,945 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Your private insurance works with no signature? Most require double boxing and signature. Please post who that is with, would be useful to know.
    http://www.bluccphotos.com" target="new">BluCC Photos Shows for onsite imaging: Nov Baltimore, FUN, Long Beach http://www.facebook.com/bluccphotos" target="new">BluCC on Facebook
  • Originally posted by: blu62vette
    Your private insurance works with no signature? Most require double boxing and signature. Please post who that is with, would be useful to know.


    Luckily "knock on wood" I have never had to use it but I acquire it through my homeowner's insurance which is with State Farm but the policy may be bundled. I have had conversations in the past and explicitly asked if I would be covered if a shipment were stolen on my porch or lost in the mail and the answer is yes. Now it is a $500 (May be $600) deductible.

    I got it because years ago I was buying from guys who shipped me a ton of stuff long distance and it always made me nervous I would buy something and it be lost and have to try and figure it out who is on the hook because the seller may get angry with me or maybe think (for example) I lied about it getting stolen or something.


    Now I can't testify for the poor condition of the package but at the end of the day if those coins are lost or damaged: it is me who is on the hook. Not the buyer.

    Also, not that I am a Saint but I was in constant communication with the buyer, offered my cell number, when I did not ship when I said I would I dropped everything and went to the P.O open late and shipped it at like 6:30 at night, and threw in a free Peace Dollar for failing to ship the day I said, and then went online to find the buyer's phone number so I could tell them immediately that it was shipped because it seems he only checked email every day or two.

    I spent a ton of time on the phone dealing with USPS when the package did not arrive Monday, I opened up a case file and even emailed the buyer the case number so if he wanted to call he could give them that number as well, etc.

    So like I told the buyer: I found the mud slinging against me really off putting.
    I have plans....sometimes
  • I'm confused. Is Blu62vette the buyer?
    I love the 3 P's: PB&J, PBR and PCGS.
  • Originally posted by: TigersFan2
    I'm confused. Is Blu62vette the buyer?


    No.
    I have plans....sometimes
  • koynekwestkoynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You would never want to ship high value coins any other way than registered. Tho I don't ship a whole lot of high value coins any more I've shipped things like this since the mid seventies with never a problem. Just make sure you package them well.
  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,736 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: planonit
    Originally posted by: georgiacop50
    How did this stupid thread get this far?



    It is my incredible charisma. My words just oooozzzzeee off the screen and people are drawn in.

    Are you not under my spell as you read this???


    image

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