A Review of Bay Precious Metals Shipping Methods
MsMorrisine
Posts: 33,088 ✭✭✭✭✭
on the 100 RCM silver bar, they sent it UPS with a big, separately attached "Signature Required" sticker on it.
that's not as big a deal as the driver personally going into the post office and telling the clerk that it must be signed for because it is "a high dollar amount package." 
thanks for something BayPM: alerting everyone at UPS and the PO it is a high dollar package. Very Amateur. Even I know not to do that.
APMEX always sends their stuff in a plain package via the USPS mail system and their tracking simply uses the same signature required on it that every printed USPS label would have. I get gold from them this way and no one knows the difference.
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"Signature required" reminds the delivery person that a signature is required and helps protect the shipper. It appears on most USPS pre-printed labels when a signature is required. It only indicates that the end receiver must sign and does not require the driver to get a signature from the clerk when delivering to a PO box branch. It gets delivered to the PO box branch along with many other items and usually at the back/loading door.
As a receiver I do not concern myself with it because technically I have not received the package without giving my signature.
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
That is standard protocol for any UPS package that requires a signature.
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.
that's the first time I've seen such a sticker and I've recently received other high value boxes delivered by ups.
anyway, the bigger point is that the ups driver made a special trip inside and announced it was a high dollar package.
I'd prefer a "signature required" mention on the shipping label.
oh no. not this package. the ups driver made a special trip inside to deliver it and get a signature. it wasn't on the pallet they usually use to deliver in back. he made a point of getting that signature because it was a "high dollar value package." (the clerk at the po used those words.)
What did BPM say when you beyatched at/to them about it?
Was this shipped UPS Smart Post? I never heard of a package shipped via UPS Smart Post requiring the driver to walk in to the USPS looking for a clerk's signature. At least, I've never seen that noted on line with tracking when I've had packages from the US Mint arrive that way.
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.
Aren't all sig required and/or insured packages high dollar value? He didn't tell clerk anything clerk would not have known after receiving package.
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
Would $1600 qualify as a high dollar amount?
apparently $1600 does and all of the packages I get require a signature even if they are not high dollar amounts.
I've also had much, much higher package values delivered from the mint via ups without a word.
and this was regular ups, not dumbpost.
I'm thinking BPM is probably buying the ups insurance. how else would they know?
Let the shipper choose his way of shipping/packaging and let the delivery services choose their way of delivery. None of it matters until you sign for the package. At that point it's too late for any of it to make a difference.
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
Agreed with derryb.
The shipper is simply covering themselves by insuring and requiring a signature. Not sure you even have a valid complaint here. Are you suggesting they should ship without insurance and/or signature confirmation?
In addition, I don't believe bullion can even be insured via USPS unless it's shipped registered mail.
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.
oh no. not this package. the ups driver made a special trip inside to deliver it and get a signature. it wasn't on the pallet they usually use to deliver in back. he made a point of getting that signature because it was a "high dollar value package." (the clerk at the po used those words.)
Also, how is a clerk at the post office even involved in the delivery of a UPS package if it wasn't shipped via UPS Smart Post?
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.
Agree...It must have been mailed dumb post. Or is it possible that the buyer has a PO Box?
Apparently BPM sent it by UPS to a PO box. They required a signature regardless of where it was shipped to. The UPS guy delivered it at a receiving dock where most all deliveries go. He must have had to scrounge to find someone to sign for it. Most people can figure that if you have to sign for something it must have some value.
As far as I'm aware, UPS does not deliver to PO boxes at the USPS.
ETA from the UPS web site:
Can I use UPS to ship to a P.O. Box?
UPS will only accept shipments to a valid street address. We do not deliver to P.O. Boxes. If a shipper should use a P.O. Box address, the recipient´s telephone number must be included on the label. Your package that is addressed to a P.O. Box may be delayed, will not be covered by any UPS Service Guarantee, and will require an address correction charge. Additionally, Army Post Office (APO) and Fleet Post Office (FPO) addresses are not accepted.
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.
Both UPS and FedEx rely on the postal office for the back-end (hand off) of their cheaper two- to seven-day delivery options, Smartpost for FedEx and Surepost for UPS. In the OP's case maybe USPS left a notice at the house that they attempted to deliver a package that needed a signature which required the OP to go to the PO to get it. Just guessing since OP didn't indicate if a PO box was involved.
You can't really blame the seller for UPS handing off the package to USPS. That is a UPS decision once the shipment is in process and UPS determines it is more economical to let USPS finish the delivery.
Does the OP live out in the boonies?
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
Both UPS and FedEx rely on the postal office for the back-end (hand off) of their cheaper two- to seven-day delivery options, Smartpost for FedEx and Surepost for UPS.
That's what I had originally assumed but the OP stated the package was not shipped that way (via UPS Sure Post).
Not such a big deal in any case, but I just found it odd that a UPS driver would be in the PO to deliver a package shipped via UPS in the first place, when Sure Post was not the method of shipping.
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.
Musta bin one of those handoff situations then as I recall that UPS didn't deliver to PO boxes and I wrongly assumed that the shipment was to a PO box. Someone at my PO said that they get hundreds of those FEDEX/UPS handoff packages every day so I expect that there must be some that need signed for at handoff time.
Normally a sig is only required at final delivery. UPS most likely needs a PO sig in the event of a lost package so that UPS is off the hook. I wonder how an insurance claim would be filed?
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
My post office accepts ups packages to my PO box. It has to be addressed to the street address of the PO with my box number as the unit number. Been at least a year. It sometimes takes an extra day for delivery. Your PO may do the same.
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Here's a pic of a BPM UPS delivery I recently received. I don't see the need for the extra sig. required since it's already printed on the UPS label. It definitely stands out more.
I believe all Post Offices accept UPS packages to a PO box, as long as the physical address is indicated. It's been like that for a while.
Don't worry. The way metal drops, it won't be "high dollar " for long. Bwahahaha
it was plain ups not ups smart post and it was to my po box.
I've had multi-spouse gold orders come in without a special trip in for a signature. it went in on the dolly with all the othe boring boxes.
i'm not sure how the ups driver knew this 100ozsilver was a "high value package" other than if they knew the insurance value.
what should they do? whatever the mint does. one might suggest the mint self-insures, and that is possible, and to that I'd suggest private insurance would also avoid what many here say is a red flag - special labels on the outside of the boxes which indicate something special is inside.
Just had some coins delivered (no sig required) by UPS in a golf cart pulling a small trailer through the neighborhood.
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
probably earning a second living picking up golf balls for resale
Golf carts are the preferred mode of transport in many areas. Many are all tricked out
Knowledge is the enemy of fear