Reminder - Don't send coins "loose" in normal envelopes!
jonathanb
Posts: 3,808 ✭✭✭✭✭
I hope I'm preaching to the choir here. Just in case anyone needs to see some real examples, this is what happens (or what can happen) when you send coins loose in normal envelopes.
I received these two envelopes in the past few days from eBay purchases. In each case the seller just plopped the coin in a regular envelope and put a first class stamp on it. One of the sellers gave free shipping. The other one charged a dollar for shipping. FWIW, I blame eBay in part for encouraging sellers to list too-low shipping costs. I really wouldn't have minded paying two or three dollars for shipping if it meant that I got more than an empty envelope.
In the first case, unfortunately, an empty envelope is the only thing I received. There's a two-inch tear on the bottom of the envelope, and the medal that started off inside sure isn't there now:
In the second case, the envelope only had a half-inch tear, and the medal is still inside. Barely. This is also an excellent example that not everything is the result of funny business. If some post office employee was trying to get the coin out of the envelope, they wouldn't have stopped here. It would only take one more flick to get the medal out entirely. Something must have happened during an automated part of the mail processing. (You can also see the medal-sized dirt rings on the envelope, telling anyone who looks that there's something interesting inside.)
Ironically, both of these sellers reinforced the flap of the envelope with tape, when it was the edges of the envelope that clearly needed it more.
FYI
I received these two envelopes in the past few days from eBay purchases. In each case the seller just plopped the coin in a regular envelope and put a first class stamp on it. One of the sellers gave free shipping. The other one charged a dollar for shipping. FWIW, I blame eBay in part for encouraging sellers to list too-low shipping costs. I really wouldn't have minded paying two or three dollars for shipping if it meant that I got more than an empty envelope.
In the first case, unfortunately, an empty envelope is the only thing I received. There's a two-inch tear on the bottom of the envelope, and the medal that started off inside sure isn't there now:
In the second case, the envelope only had a half-inch tear, and the medal is still inside. Barely. This is also an excellent example that not everything is the result of funny business. If some post office employee was trying to get the coin out of the envelope, they wouldn't have stopped here. It would only take one more flick to get the medal out entirely. Something must have happened during an automated part of the mail processing. (You can also see the medal-sized dirt rings on the envelope, telling anyone who looks that there's something interesting inside.)
Ironically, both of these sellers reinforced the flap of the envelope with tape, when it was the edges of the envelope that clearly needed it more.
FYI
0
Comments
or could have been a contractors pocket knife - they even have a name for it
I can't remember what it is - kilting or something like that
I am glad that eBay/PAYPAL makes it easy for printing a packing slip now
so that flip/slab can be taped on a full page
Bummer that that one envelope arrived empty. What was the medal inside? Hope it wasn't particularly sought-after or valuable.
To support LordM's European Trip, click here!
Camelot
The results will look something like this:
BTW- don't try this indoors...
Your not sending a letter don't use a letter envelope.
I fully agree. And you KNOW if they are using a plain envelope, there is no delivery confirm or ins tag on it...which is a direct violation of Paypal shipping rules-any dispute by the buyer, and seller is all done...period. No wonder DSR's take a beating.
....enlightening info to say the least. it does, however, amaze me how little common sense some people have when
sending coins thru the mail. they must have a LOT more faith than I when it comes to careful postal service.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire