Why is shipping coins to Canada such an ordeal?

braddick · March 12, 2010 2:39PM

I generally don't ship to Canada.
A couple of years ago I sold a series of Lusitania medals on eBay and one of the better ones went to a Canadian bidder. It was a hassle and when the dust settled I vowed not to ship there again. Well, fast forward to recently when I sold a couple of PCGS slabbed Canadian coins. I opened the bidding up to allow Canadian bidders after a pleading email requesting I do. One of the coins was won by a bidder in Ontario. Concern number one: besides the series of numbers mixed with letters in their 'zip codes' and whatnot I had the option of either shipping first class or Priority international. The first class was somewhat inexpensive but you can't insure the package. You can with Priority but then that's close to $20.

Concern number two: on top of that I had to write, "medal disk" on the customs form as there is an issue sending numismatic items such as U.S. coins through the mail(?). The postal clerk was kind and civil, but very detailed in all of this and I was in no position to doubt her.

So, first class it went and I'm just waiting for the email stating the "coin never arrived". Perhaps I'm being pessimistic, but I dislike the grief and that little worry in the back of my mind caused by sending a coin out uninsured.
-Is there a better way to ship coins to Canada? How do you do it? I'm talking about coins valued at about $200. or less.

mrpotatoheadd · March 12, 2010 3:35PM

I've shipped hundreds of packages to Canada over the years, with no hassles and no losses. Their addresses aren't any more difficult to deal with than US addresses, even with the letters in the zip code. I use U-PIC to insure packages, so first class shipping isn't a problem. I declare the contents as "processed planchets" on the customs form, and nobody at the post office has ever even looked twice. The only thing that might be considered a hassle is that you can't drop the packages in a mailbox- you have to take them to the counter- but aside from that, it's not much different than mailing packages to US addresses.

WTCG · March 12, 2010 3:53PM

The Canadian postal system is reliable but mail moves much slower than it does in the U.S. Even using standard first class service, the package will most likely arrive at its destination in Ontario although it may take a while to do so. Insured or not, I'll bet that the coins will eventually arrive safe and sound. It's not like you're sending coins through the Italian postal system.

The Canadian six-digit postal codes are similar to the system used in the United Kingdom and are more location specific than the U.S. zip codes tend to be. Just remember to use all capital letters when writing out the destination address.

CaptHenway · March 12, 2010 9:47PM

OT, but when my wife and I were in Maui several years ago we visited a nice botanical garden that had a gift shop. By the cash register was a professionally printed sign that declared "WE SHIP ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!" Below that somebody had written in magic marker (angrily, you could tell) "EXCEPT CANADA!"

boucharda · March 12, 2010 9:47PM

Am I the only one who is made to declare the value of the item on the front of the package???? I have this issue with announcing "$185 item inside...Please steal me"

How do you get around that green customs declaration sticker????

TwoSides2aCoin · March 12, 2010 10:38PM

Short answer is in the title of their anthem.

Oh Canada

TigerGirl1398 · March 13, 2010 1:03AM

<< <i>I've shipped hundreds of packages to Canada over the years, with no hassles and no losses. Their addresses aren't any more difficult to deal with than US addresses, even with the letters in the zip code. I use U-PIC to insure packages, so first class shipping isn't a problem. I declare the contents as "processed planchets" on the customs form, and nobody at the post office has ever even looked twice. The only thing that might be considered a hassle is that you can't drop the packages in a mailbox- you have to take them to the counter- but aside from that, it's not much different than mailing packages to US addresses.

>>

<< <i>The only thing that might be considered a hassle is that you can't drop the packages in a mailbox >>

I do all the time. My own mailbox, that is.

golddustin · March 13, 2010 1:25AM

I have also shipped dozens of numismatic items to Canada. I only ran into a problem at one post office, with a particular clerk - so I don't go there anymore. He quoted the 'book' about sending money out of the country thru the usps - if it is over $20 it must go priority, as I recall. Of the other 5 or 6 locations that I ship from, I have absolutely no problems, whether I mark the customs form as numismatic items, collectibles, medal tokens, charms, or whatever.
The Canadian postal service IS slow, and from what I am told by the folks up north, they have come to expect that, and usually attribute it to a backup at customs. But I have never had anything pilfered, and every item has arrived eventually. I even sent a $1,400 coin uninsured via USPS 1st class int'l.....it took about a month to get to the buyer, but he got it.

TomB · March 13, 2010 1:28AM

I've shipped two coins to Canada. One was to a board member and he received it promptly while another was to an ebay member who did not receive the coin for many months. I chalked up the ebay shipment as lost, but 6-8 months after shipping the piece it arrived at its destination with ripped packaging and sealed in a plastic outer bag. There was also a letter of apology from the Canadian postal system. The coin was fine and the ebay member let me know he received it and paid me for the item.

Justacommeman · March 13, 2010 1:31AM

9/11 changed a lot of things as well. Things used to move a lot easier between countries. I've lived on the US/Cando border a good portion of my life. It used to be a cakewalk going in and out of Canada. Now its a passport a hassle and up to two hours to cross the bridge or tunnel. Lot's of people have shied away from crossing the border and only do it out of necessity...........sad. MJ

AUandAG · March 13, 2010 2:20AM

My understand of Canadian Postal Code says Canadian currency (coins too) do not have to be declared.
Only foreign needs the customs form.

Perhaps things have changed recently as I have not shipped to Canada for a couple of years.

bob

devious · March 13, 2010 2:20AM

I suppose, I used to ship 30-150 # analog synthesizers/keyboards around the world. Not a single one was ever lost in over 50 shipments. Even a 6k dollar keyboard made it to the museum it was intended for in Italy without going missing. Ah! The USPS system has worked wonders to and from Canada, and elsewhere in the world.

I admit though, I've never sent anything of numismatic relationship through the post to anywhere but the United States. I get jittery thinking about the idea of such a small package of high value going missing in the post. I suppose you could always disguise it as a keyboard and package it in a very large box

and add some pebbles to the mix for weight. HeeHee!!!

SaorAlba · March 13, 2010 4:52AM

<< <i>The Canadian postal system is reliable but mail moves much slower than it does in the U.S. Even using standard first class service, the package will most likely arrive at its destination in Ontario although it may take a while to do so. Insured or not, I'll bet that the coins will eventually arrive safe and sound. It's not like you're sending coins through the Italian postal system.

>>

Stories of six weeks waiting are not uncommon with Canada, they are honest blokes - but they take the snail part of mail very seriously.

Why is shipping coins to Canada such an ordeal?

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