Our USPS is at there best.....

ormandh · January 20, 2009 4:40AM

I sent this coin to Poland before Christmas and it arrived today in a mangled mess. I have already given the buyer his $ back.

I am surprised that they did not return to sender?!!???

edited to add: There is only one stop after it leaves my PO before ending at JFK.

Anyhow here are the scans the buyer sent me this morning.

ASUtodd · January 20, 2009 5:29AM

Things happen... My dad worked at the Post Office for over 40 years as a accountant and claims clerk. He handled this type stuff everyday... I worked there for 2 years before I realized that I did not want to retire there!

StubbyMcNumbthumbs · January 20, 2009 8:33AM

Were the contents damaged? If there was only a coin or two inside, they should still be OK.

I've received packages like that, but was lucky enough to find the contents were still safe inside the mangled mess.

Bummer.

BS · January 20, 2009 8:50AM

You're not supposed to mail coins in a regular envelope.

ormandh · January 20, 2009 8:50AM

Nope the coin was gone. -Dan

ormandh · January 20, 2009 8:59AM

<< You're not supposed to mail coins in a regular envelope. >>

How do you figure? That is why they make safety mailers.

Now, I normally don't send them in envelopes. I usually send everything in a jiffylite #00 with a safety mailer. For this coin, I sent it in this envelope because it was a very light, smaller coin( smaller and

thinner than a US dime) and I thought it would be okay.

BS · January 20, 2009 9:18AM

<< 

<< You're not supposed to mail coins in a regular envelope. >>

How do you figure? That is why they make safety mailers.

Now, I normally don't send them in envelopes. I usually send everything in a jiffylite #00 with a safety mailer. For this coin, I sent it in this envelope because it was a very light, smaller coin( smaller and

thinner than a US dime) and I thought it would be okay. >>

Many times the hard object will cause the sorting machine to jam.

intence · January 20, 2009 10:44AM

ouch coin gone?

ive had success 99% of the time with usps. except one thing one of my items got damaged during shipping and they did not take responsibility.

mrpotatoheadd · January 20, 2009 10:52AM

<< Many times the hard object will cause the sorting machine to jam. >>

Sender paid the nonmachinable fee ($1.14 total vs. $0.94 for a regular letter) for that envelope. Unfortunately, the post office won't accept responsibility for damaging it.

BS · January 20, 2009 11:12AM

.

mrpotatoheadd · January 20, 2009 11:16AM

<< Coin was going to Poland, $1.14 was probably just postage. >>

Yes- as noted, postage for a nonmachinable envelope up to 1 ounce is $1.14. If it was a regular letter, it would have been just 94 cents.

adamlaneus · January 20, 2009 11:25AM

Well, it probably did more than $1.14 of damage to whatever postal machine ate it. So at least you have that to console yourself with.

Sorry. Any loss of a coin in the mail is to be mourned.

ormandh · January 20, 2009 12:23PM

Well, I am not sure how it happened, but I will probably just put it in a bubble mailer for now on. How do you guys send low value coins to other countries

without spending an arm and a leg and ensuring that it gets there? -Dan

mrpotatoheadd · January 20, 2009 12:36PM

<< Well, I am not sure how it happened, but I will probably just put it in a bubble mailer for now on. How do you guys send low value coins to other countries

without spending an arm and a leg and ensuring that it gets there? -Dan >>

#000 bubble mailer sent international first class. 1 oz. ships for $1.20, 2 oz. for $2.00 + $1.25/$100 insurance through U-PIC if needed. At least, that's what I do...

ormandh · January 20, 2009 1:04PM

You know what pisses me off? I have tried every way to get insurance and they will not do it.... without it being in the double digits.

What is U-PIC?

mrpotatoheadd · January 20, 2009 1:59PM

U-PIC

theboz11 · January 20, 2009 9:02PM

Always have the envelope stamped "fragile", so it does not go through the machine.

ASUtodd · January 20, 2009 11:50PM

Any envelope that isn't properly marked will be ran through the automated machines. You need to put that it is fragile or that you have pictures inside, also put "Do Not Bend". I would suggest that in the future you use a cardboard type package for deliver as opposed to an envelope. USPS is very good with delivering stuff and I have had very little problem. Once thing you also have to take into account is that once that envelope hits customs all bets are off as to weather it makes it where it is going or not.
Todd

ASUtodd · January 21, 2009 12:25AM

Oh and Dan... thanks for the add on Facebook!!!

ajaan · January 21, 2009 2:58AM

Fortunately that doesn't happen too often. It just sucks when it happens to you.

My pet peeve with the PO is Registered Mail. It is so damn slow. Package mailed 1/12 from PCGS and still isn't here. That's 9 days and counting. I know Registered Mail is slower but why? Don't give me this 'it has to be signed for all the way' reason. How friggin' long does it take someone to sign for something? C'mon, we're paying a lot extra for the servive, shouldn't the PO delivery it in a timely fashion. Regular First Class mail takes about 3 days to go from CA to WNY. They both go by air don't they?. Is Registered Mail intentially slow so that people will pay the extra to have the item shipped Express Mail and the PO makes even more money? And guess what, Postal Rates are going up in Spring. Oh! Wonderful.

Our USPS is at there best.....

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