Time to make your Postal Packages Pregnant!
amwldcoin
Posts: 11,269 ✭✭✭✭✭
After years of no issues the Post Office is getting bad about running non-machinable mail through the sorting machines! I've had 2 slabs broken in the last couple of months after years of no issues shipping the same way. I guess I am going to increase the thickness of my shipments from a stiff 1/2 inch package to 2 inches! The last one was ripped to shreads and the slab was in multiple pieces. 
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What packing are you using when this happens?
I had that happen once. Just put FRAGILE on the package and they won't put thru the machine.
Slab inside bubble mailer inside cardboard inside a manila envelope with fragile stickers attached. On top of that our Post Offices have stopped supplying fragile markings of any kind trying to upsell their fragile handling surcharge which costs $9.98!
See above!
3/4" thick is what is required for the machinery to kick it out for hand canceling.
bob
I pay the extra postage to send as First Class Package/Thick Envelope... vs. just sending First Class and I have so far had no issues sending slabs in bubble mailers.
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 448
It's 1/4 inch!
Edit to add...1/4 inch is where the post office makes you pay non-machinable rate...don't know about any automation.
I am paying the same rate as you and my packaging is stronger than a bubble mailer alone!
Just use a padded or bubble envelope for mailing instead of the manila envelope. Wrap the slab in bubble wrap within the envelope and you will exceed the 3/4 inch minimum. It costs about $2.70 to ship a package up to 4 ounces that way, which should be more than enough weight for a slab.
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.
I use flat rate priority envelopes or small boxes 90% of the time. Its only a couple dollars more and comes with $50 insurance. I have yet to have one single problem with thousands of shipments.
I will just start using boxes if needed. That's a FU to the post office as the shipping is as you state!
Putting fragile on a package is useless.
I rip a 2 page sheet out of the center of an old magazine and rip it in half,,,,, wad them up and put 1 piece in the bubble mailer first, then the slab wrapped in the sales invoice wrapped with a rubber band then the other piece of wadded up paper.
Had a slab cracked once before doing this,,,,, never had one broken since. Package is about 1" thick after this.
I never ship without using at least a Priority Mail box. Sure, it cuts down on profit, but I would rather make a little less and have a happy client receive an undamaged coin than to make incrementally more over time only to have the sporadic client have a bad experience.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
All packages are placed in a bin that is then dumped on a huge machine that automatically sorts them. The machine cannot read so fragile pieces will still go through.
Retired USPS
This is good to know. What keeps them from going thru the machine??
Couldn't agree more
Maybe I should put this in better context. Not everything I sell is expensive. This happened to be a $20 certified Jefferson Nickel. Are you going to offer free shipping and spend almost $6 in this situation?
You should be able to ship for $2.61.
I have only shipped gold coins... and they go registered....That being said, I receive many coins, packaged in several different styles..... all have arrived safely. Well, except for one gold coin, that was stolen at the point of origin... and the seller made good on that one. Cheers, RickO
My case and point is you pay almost a $2 surcharge for non-machinable mail. It does include tracking which offsets some of the surcharge.The Post Office requires this if a package is non bendable or over 1/4 inch thick. When they go ahead and run it through the sorting machine they are ripping you off! You are not getting the service you paid for!
Not for a padded envelope. Just pack enough bubble around it to make it 3/4 of one inch and you're set to go. 1/4" applies to hard sided packages.
bob
What little I have shipped, I do not think you can beet the small priority box, JMO
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
I'd guess the least expensive coin on my site at any given time is about $75-$100 and these coins also are shipped in at least a Priority Mail box and I pay for the shipping as Certified Mail. Today, that costs me about $6-$7 for a single coin. It's just what I do, but I realize it doesn't make sense for everyone.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
At least you've CYA'd your azz in the event of a claim. Best bet is to make them thick enough and when taping on a label make sure the tape goes around the whole package at least twice.
Not to mention that Priority really IS faster, despite some people claiming it's not.
Thanks for the tip - sent out a pregnant package today!