Last week I shipped 25 coins worth over $17,000 to PCGS using USPS registered priority mail. I insured the package for $17,200 but I have heard horror stories from others when trying to collect from USPS for lost or stolen packages, so I have to say, even with the insurance, I felt nervous and uneasy. The fact that many of the coins I was shipping were absolute favorites of mine, unique and irreplaceable -- only served to increase my anxiety. Actually the whole process of handing a package to a postal clerk and being forced to say out loud that it's worth over $17,000 seems a bit nuts. (I wrote the insurance amount on the registered mail form, but you are still forced to say it again out loud.) Especially since the entire row of postal clerks can easily hear how much the package is worth. How hard would it be for a down-on-their-luck postal employee to quickly cut it open, remove the contents, then seal it up and send it on it's way. The clerk I was dealing with just threw my box in a big bin behind her (it wasn't locked up right way (which I always thought registered mail had to be)). In any case, I was told by the post office that it would be delivered last Friday (priority mail provides 2 day service, or so I was told). Of course it wasn't. Nor was it delivered the following day, on Saturday. Finally the package arrived and was signed for by PCGS on Monday morning, 2 delivery days past the promised date, and 6 days after I mailed it. Feeling a tiny bit better that at least my empty shipping box was delivered, I called PCGS later that day (Monday) and asked them if they could just verify that all 25 coins were in the box. All I wanted was a confirmation that all 25 coins were there and none were stolen on it's trek. The customer service rep said she couldn't do that, but the coins would be checked in within the next 24 to 48 hours (or by Wednesday morning at the latest). So Wednesday morning came and went and my order still was not checked in. Late Wednesday, I called PCGS again and the customer service rep thought it was extremely unusual that the coins still weren't checked in after 2 days -- so she said she would see what she could find out and get back to me. Thursday came and went ... no word ... no acknowledgment ... nothing in their online submission checker. There was just no record of my submission. On to today, Friday. By 3pm today, there was still no word and nothing in their online submission checker so I started calling again this time with a more forceful tone. My change of tone worked as they finally checked in my 25 coins late today. A full 5 days after they received my package. I will never ship another coin to PCGS -- it's just too nerve racking.
Thanks Vroomer. That's what I plan on doing from now on. I worry less about the shipping back as PCGS can testify the coins were in the box when they shipped. So USPS would have a much harder time wriggling off the hook. On the way there, USPS could claim they were either stolen by the recipient, or I never put them in the package to begin with.
Just for info Priorty Mail that is registered does not travel in the fast track there is no two day to anywhere. Also if you think everybody is out to steal your coins why send them anywhere? Oh by the way there is a major show this week they might be just a little short handed.
On the two day, I was only going by what the Post Office told me. They should just tell people 7 days or something then if it get's there in 5 you are happy. Why tell people 2 days, if you know you cant do that. Excellent point #2 ... So true. I am never mailing coins again. What they finally told me late today is because I didn't write the service level on the outside of my box, that had misplaced my box for a few days. I didnt see that instruction on the form anywhere (but maybe I just missed that).
WL, my friend...if you weren't so frantic everything would have gone smoothly. For both sides. Registered mail is a slug, by its very nature. Two weeks to go cross country isn't unusual. A week within State is normal. PCGS grades more than 5,000 coins a day. That's some volume. Sometimes it takes a few days for orders to be received, checked, sorted, inventoried, and posted. Imagine all the security and internal controls they have for the hundreds of millions of dollars in coins moving about the shop. If you're going to submit coins for grading at PCGS or NGC it is best to settle down, expect it to take 6-8 weeks, and not think about the matter again. Tell us how things work out when the grades come in. I'd love to see some pictures too. Lance.
I think you may have went a little overboard with PCGS. They received your package and that should be enough to make you feel confident your coins are safe. I wouldn't like to ship that much money worth of coins, but I'm sure dealers do it all the time so it's not as isolated as you may think. I would suggest video taping the packaging of the item and maybe having some kind of unique seal that would make it apparent if it was tampered with and you have proof that the contents were in there and pictures of the packaging for referance. I don't think that the post office would have any way to weasel out of it because PCGS had the package for a certain amount of time because that's how they run their business. They spend tons of money with USPS and they wouldn't want to lose that business either. They definately take opening of mail seriously and it is a federal offense so it's not like every worker is going to just steal an insured package and not be found out and charged. I wouldn't expect them to open every package as it arrives to verify contents because it could cause some problems as they are sitting waiting to be graded. It seems better to just leave the package as it is until it's ready to eliminate any liability of damage. If you wanted to have faster service, you should have mentioned it and paid extra for it. good luck.
Thanks for all the great advice. This was the first time i've ever mailed coins (with such HIGH value, to me anyway) anywhere. Ultimately I really wasn't comfortable with it and should have not done it. Live and learn
Registered mail is as safe as it gets. Often cheaper too, when you factor in insurance. I rarely use it anymore, though. Too dang slow. Even PCG stopped using it for all except the most expensive packages (over $100k). Your coins will be returned by Express Mail, fully insured. I can understand your nervousness. That's a lot of money and coins. Odds are very, very high they will ship without problem. Here's a tip on packaging coins. It came via a private insurance company who requires coins be shipped this way: Always package your coins in a small envelope, then inside a small box and finally in a large box (like those you can get free at the PO). If you think about it, it's pretty smart. Because mail thefts, when they do happen are almost always small packages or envelopes easily concealed in clothing, or packages that are quickly sliced open and contents slid out. I also use packing tape to keep things inside from shaking around. And often add a little weight or bulk to disguise things. Never put "coins" or "collectibles" in the address. I don't even say "PCGS", just "CU" (Coin Universe). It's easy to say don't worry but I understand it. I usually figure if it's outside my control then there's no sense sweating over it. Lance.
The first time I used a TPG it was PCGS and I went through some of the same agita you're going thru now. I too thought the Post Office would steal my coins; I checked USPS tracking every 30 minutes I think. Raising my blood pressure even more, the coins arrived in Newport Beach on a Friday evening, meaning delivery the next day would be impossible and my coins would sit in a Post Office bin over the weekend. I did not like that one bit. I also called PCGS a few times to confirm that the package arrived, and the first time was told that it wasn't there, even though tracking said it had been delivered. This made me sweat more because I used Delivery Confirmation instead of Sig. Confirmation and I had these visions of the delivery going awry because of that. Stupid, I know. It also took PCGS around 3 business days after delivery to send me a confirmation email, which seemed slow to me. Long story short, however: my coins were not stolen, PCGS handled them correctly and they gave me back what I deserved, which was a bunch of "genuine 92" holders.
I can understand and sympathize with your trepidation WingedLiberty. If I was sending such a high value package through the mail I'd be feeling real "antsy" when the package didn't arrive in the time that the clerk specified to you. Happy ending though. Now kick back and pour yourself a tall one........
Well, I work at a business where we ship ALL the time. I still don't have any coins worth grading really (Check my album, they are all there save for random silver dimes/quarters/halves that I have pulled out of circulation for my silver hoard.) but when I finally do get a coin worth grading, say a 1932D Washington Quarter or somesuch I will for sure ship it by UPS. They just seem so much more reliable than the post office. UPS never loses a package we send out, USPS will either lose it completely, or the package will arrive empty (or so the customer claims...)
The good thing about UPS is that they have "real time" tracking, so that you know when the package hits the door at the other end. The bad thing is they ain't gonna cover your hinney on insurance with collectable coins if, God forbid, the package does dissappear.
I thought UPS did insure packages? When you fill out the shipping label you have to enter what the contents is worth.
True. But their tarrif doesn't cover collectable coins. Check out the prohibited items on their website.
Personally, there's zero chance I would have mailed all those together. I would have broken up the shipments into several smaller ones so I'm not risking the whole ball of wax at once. IMO, that's just too risky and, if lost, collecting the insurance is tough.....I would have been nervous too.
