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how would you mail some gold
greatnortherncoin
Posts: 412
would you use the post office ? would you put insurance on it ? any sure way to make sure it gets where it going ?
dont send sheep to kill a wolf...
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For a regular numismatic item that happens to be gold, well the USPS in my opinion is perfectly fine. Delivery confirmation gives some detail and confirms the item was received. Regarding insurance, well of course! I believe insuring over $200 requires a signature too.
If you're mailing a gold brick, I'd go Flat Rate Prio mail and Registered Insured (yes, you can do both).
If a few coins, Registered Insured should do.
BTW a price comparsion of shipping the same coin registered and Express.
Sent it to PCGS cost Registered insured for $1500 was $17.09 time enroute six days.
Sent Express to Colorado insured for $1500 was $23.25 time enroute one day.
Used the Flat rate express envelope. And did not have to fool with the brown tape. Did put a extra layer of clear tape on the flap though.
<< <i>USPS Registered Mail with insurance. Recipient must also sign for the package. >>
+1
Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. - Bastiat
<< <i>USPS Registered Mail with insurance. >>
Aren't registered packages automatically insured? The postal clerk requires a declared value and the cost of registered shipping varies with that declared value.
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
<< <i>Aren't registered packages automatically insured? The postal clerk requires a declared value and the cost of registered shipping varies with that declared value. >>
No. Ins is extra, but cheaper per $100 than regular insured mail.
<< <i>
<< <i>Aren't registered packages automatically insured? The postal clerk requires a declared value and the cost of registered shipping varies with that declared value. >>
No. Ins is extra, but cheaper per $100 than regular insured mail. >>
The insurance is now included in the registered fee, but you have to declare the value so that they can properly calculate the fee.
<< <i>i just sent 2 usps express flat rate envelope insured at 1500 and 1700 and it came to $47 and change. the 2 buyers had the coin in 24 hours. it also provides online signature confirmation which paypal requires. it will be cheaper first class or priority i think. >>
If I was sending 2 ounces of gold at my expense, I would use the most economical and secure way which is registered. If time is of the essence, I would expect the buyer to pick up the extra fee for faster delivery.
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<< <i>Aren't registered packages automatically insured? The postal clerk requires a declared value and the cost of registered shipping varies with that declared value. >>
No. Ins is extra, but cheaper per $100 than regular insured mail. >>
The insurance is now included in the registered fee, but you have to declare the value so that they can properly calculate the fee. >>
Thanks. That's what I thought. It makes no sense to ask for declared value if insurance isn't already included in the rate scale for the various value ranges.
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
I sent out two gold coins today by Express (overnight) Mail, insured for 5K, for $43.65. I like it better than registered.
<< <i>USPS Registered Mail with insurance. Recipient must also sign for the package. >>
And make sure they stamp every tape fold. For some reason, some of the clerks don't do this.
Fed Express, UPS, USPS Express have different limitations on the types of items sent. Some will not cover bullion, cash (coins?) or other "negotiable instruments".
I only use USPS Registered for this reason. AND it's slow, but SAFE.
<< <i>I hate to admit it...but I have sent out nearly 15K coins express mail NOT insured. Those flat rate envelopes are never out of sight or usps hands for very long between scans. Maybe Im too trusting...but they have never let me down. >>
WOW, I can't sleep If I mail 15K without insurance, too much risk to take. I always use insurance. For high value mail in US I use registered and insurance. For international I use express and insurance. I am going to mail 1K coins tomorrow. I will use priority with insuance for about $23.
<< <i>I hate to admit it...but I have sent out nearly 15K coins express mail NOT insured. Those flat rate envelopes are never out of sight or usps hands for very long between scans. Maybe Im too trusting...but they have never let me down. >>
BAD as in BIG ASS DUMB IMO.
Are you a frequent or infrequent shipper?
If frequent, consider a third party insurer or toss any insurance fees you collect into a coffee can [my idea of self-insured btw] and pay any losses out of that. If infrequent, then just buy what the USPS offers. Unless one is rich or dumb, one should always CYA against financial loss when shipping expensive items.
Are you more interested in speed of delivery or security of delivery? If you are shipping a readily replaceable item you mite prefer express mail. If the coin is not easily replaced or you can't tolerate a loss, then use registered mail.
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
<< <i> Aren't registered packages automatically insured? The postal clerk requires a declared value and the cost of registered shipping varies with that declared value. >>
No. Ins is extra, but cheaper per $100 than regular insured mail. >>
The insurance is now included in the registered fee, but you have to declare the value so that they can properly calculate the fee. >>
Thanks. That's what I thought. It makes no sense to ask for declared value if insurance isn't already included in the rate scale for the various value ranges.>> >>
Really? I've flat out asked if insurance was included with registered mail and was told by the clerk, "No, you have to add it." Are they double charging people for insurance?
My employer lost a $2.8 million payment because they were cheap as s on postage. The best 10 bucks they *ever* could have spent, would have been to use express or registered.
<< <i>Any guesses as to how much $$$$ the USPS is making on insurance? In other words, what % of what they take in for insurance is payed out for claims? >>
Not sure why it matters. If one is an infrequent shipper, just suck it up and buy the USPS product. I don't know what the TPIs charge for their coverage packages, but to me it makes little sense to buy third party coverage policy for say $500 when yer only doing $40 worth of business a year.
<< <i>
<< <i> Aren't registered packages automatically insured? The postal clerk requires a declared value and the cost of registered shipping varies with that declared value. >>
No. Ins is extra, but cheaper per $100 than regular insured mail. >>
The insurance is now included in the registered fee, but you have to declare the value so that they can properly calculate the fee. >>
Thanks. That's what I thought. It makes no sense to ask for declared value if insurance isn't already included in the rate scale for the various value ranges.>> >>
Really? I've flat out asked if insurance was included with registered mail and was told by the clerk, "No, you have to add it." Are they double charging people for insurance? >>
Really!! It says right on the form that Domestic Insurance up to $25,000 is included based on declared value, thus a $5,000 coin will cost more to send that a $3,000 coin. Insurance is not separated out and itemized separately.
Here is the POOP ON IT from the USPS website. Note that there is an option for no value. I assume this mite be something like a document that has no commercial value.
<< <i>
<< <i>Any guesses as to how much $$$$ the USPS is making on insurance? In other words, what % of what they take in for insurance is payed out for claims? >>
Not sure why it matters. If one is an infrequent shipper, just suck it up and buy the USPS product. I don't know what the TPIs charge for their coverage packages, but to me it makes little sense to buy third party coverage policy for say $500 when yer only doing $40 worth of business a year. >>
If a seller mails several hundred packages a year and the USPS only pays out 50% of what it takes in for insurance, it may make statistical sense to self insure since you will be money ahead over the long haul.
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
<< <i><< Aren't registered packages automatically insured? The postal clerk requires a declared value and the cost of registered shipping varies with that declared value. >>
No. Ins is extra, but cheaper per $100 than regular insured mail. >>
The insurance is now included in the registered fee, but you have to declare the value so that they can properly calculate the fee. >>
Thanks. That's what I thought. It makes no sense to ask for declared value if insurance isn't already included in the rate scale for the various value ranges.>> >>
Really? I've flat out asked if insurance was included with registered mail and was told by the clerk, "No, you have to add it." Are they double charging people for insurance? >>
Really!! It says right on the form that Domestic Insurance up to $25,000 is included based on declared value, thus a $5,000 coin will cost more to send that a $3,000 coin. >>
Well, that makes sense, but I'll be interested to hear what the clerk says next time I ask about it...
<< <i>
<< <i><< Aren't registered packages automatically insured? The postal clerk requires a declared value and the cost of registered shipping varies with that declared value. >>
No. Ins is extra, but cheaper per $100 than regular insured mail. >>
The insurance is now included in the registered fee, but you have to declare the value so that they can properly calculate the fee. >>
Thanks. That's what I thought. It makes no sense to ask for declared value if insurance isn't already included in the rate scale for the various value ranges.>> >>
Really? I've flat out asked if insurance was included with registered mail and was told by the clerk, "No, you have to add it." Are they double charging people for insurance? >>
Really!! It says right on the form that Domestic Insurance up to $25,000 is included based on declared value, thus a $5,000 coin will cost more to send that a $3,000 coin. >>
Well, that makes sense, but I'll be interested to hear what the clerk says next time I ask about it... >>
Like I said, it says that right on the form next to the space where you enter declared value. The clerk inputs your figure for value and the computer figgers up the fee.
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<< <i>
<< <i>Any guesses as to how much $$$$ the USPS is making on insurance? In other words, what % of what they take in for insurance is payed out for claims? >>
Not sure why it matters. If one is an infrequent shipper, just suck it up and buy the USPS product. I don't know what the TPIs charge for their coverage packages, but to me it makes little sense to buy third party coverage policy for say $500 when yer only doing $40 worth of business a year. >>
If a seller mails several hundred packages a year and the USPS only pays out 50% of what it takes in for insurance, it may make statistical sense to self insure since you will be money ahead over the long haul. >>
Agreed which is why I posted earlier to assess one's own situation and go from there.
<< <i>If it's more money than I care to lose, I use Registered. The 5 bucks difference for flat rate this or insured that is nothing.
My employer lost a $2.8 million payment because they were cheap as s on postage. The best 10 bucks they *ever* could have spent, would have been to use express or registered. >>
I'm a cheaparse too
<< <i>thanks .... sending a 1oz gold, from chicago to cal. >>
Registered insured is the cheapest and safest at about $20. Make sure your buyer knows registered could take 7-10 days and be sure to send him the tracking number (ends in US). Another dollar or two and you can send overnight in the flat rate cardboard express envelope.
Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. - Bastiat
<< <i>Any guesses as to how much $$$$ the USPS is making on insurance? In other words, what % of what they take in for insurance is payed out for claims? >>
They are the government. Why would it matter to them if they are coming out ahead? Besides, someone would have to keep records and crunch numbers.
Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. - Bastiat
<< <i>thanks .... sending a 1oz gold, from chicago to cal. >>
I've shipped a bunch of those (or similar size/value) within the lower 48 via USPS Priority Insured Flat Rate Envelope. Never one problem. Express Insured Flat Rate Envelope is slightly cheaper starting at about $1300 insured value, FWIW.
I always securely tape all of the seams, and never include the postage value on the label.
Check out my current listings: https://ebay.com/sch/khunt/m.html?_ipg=200&_sop=12&_rdc=1
<< <i>USPS Registered Mail with insurance. Recipient must also sign for the package. >>
Agreed. I did this a couple years ago with an '85 quarter eagle I had ANACS authenticate / grade. Worked fine for me.
all PO employees here are friends
no worries.
check PM for mailing address
<< <i>would you use the post office ? would you put insurance on it ? any sure way to make sure it gets where it going ? >>
First Class with a couple forever stamps should do the trick!!
Seriously, if you are going to insure, go registered or express. Express with insurance is actually cheaper then priority with insurance once the value exceeds the 1500ish range. Registered is even cheaper, but slow!!