One thing to note is when mailing un graded coins get a written list of a coin dealer friend. The list on the dealer's letterhead should include the coin, the type, the value (approx) and approx grade. The post office was trying to make a case that each of my coins should be valued at the lowest grade of the date and type. Silver value. Even though I have been a collector for too many years to state they claimed I was not an experienced professional with the skills to do my own grading. Hence they last offer was for just the silver value.
ICG e mailed me a copy of letter they got. I have not gotten one yet? In the private message center anyone who would like to see the letter e mail me your address and I will forward. Thx Darrow
I would be very interested to read your writeup on the best way to ship coins... obviously not registere mail...
It's great news to read here! I told you they might just show up out of the blue one day. Like I said, sometimes there's some funny stuff that goes on when a package goes missing. For it to get back on track can take days, weeks, or even months. I'd say the safest way for people to go would be to wait for a show to come nearby them where the TPGs will be there and grading. Make a day of it. Turn the stuff over, pay the money, pick it up tomorrow. That is, if you have important and/or higher dollar stuff and want the safest option possible. Then you're done. No risk. PCGS and NGC were very busy at the ANA WF last week. Many people took advantage of the on-site grading. Understandably. Also a good reason to go to a bigger show.
I have dropped off items at the Santa Clara Show and then had them mailed back. You were very correct that it would show up! Thx DC
I had a similar experience with a registered USPS mail package on an item I bought on ebay last December. It was mailed Dec 3rd -- and when it didn't show up the week after Christmas -- I was thinking it was lost. It finally showed up at my house, after a month, in early January. One thing I hate about registered mail is you cannot track the package online, it only shows when it was scanned in and when it was delivered. So you never really know where the package is. I personally think it's better to ship anything really rare and precious overnight USPS Express, since the package doesn't spend so much time sitting around, however your insurance is limited to $5,000 on that. (With registered mail you can insure up to $25,000 I think -- although it sounds like collecting insurance from USPS is problematic). All this is making me think Fed Ex might be better than USPS. I don't recall ever hearing about a lost Fed Ex package.
Oh they lose stuff. They're not infallible [they do make mistakes] but they are quite reliable and the tracking is on target. The secret to successfully shipping with carriers such as FDX ad UPS is to make sure that the package, and it's contents, are packed correctly so the clumsey baggage handlers don't destroy it. Take that from a former baggage handler.....
FedEx DOES lose packages. Oh and they DON'T insure coins, collectible or otherwise. Or Stamps, bullion, diamonds etc. Basically anything small and very valuable.
baggage handler....did you work for United Airlines ? I'm a former " Mail handler" for the USPS. The postal service has never lost a parcel since Ben Franklin invented mail ! However on occasion things do get " misdirected" ! Please use correct terminology, Sir ! signed Clifford Claven
I disagree with that statement. I use to be a private mail contractor for the post office, I wont give the name but,,,,,,,,,while working as a contractor(semi driver) ive seen loads of mail where trucks have left loading docks with loads unsecured, and bmc, apc's, or cages of mail rolling out the backs of trucsk. Wind grabbing envelopes, and not a soul running after the mail. Ive been on sicssor lifts and have found mail and magizines from 1979 that were never delivered. I once witness a truck that left the downtown post office of chicago that lost 2 apc that happened to land on a grated bridge that goes over the river. Im sure some mail ended up in the river. So as far as saying the post office doesnt looooooossseeeee mail , I whole heartly disagree.
tongue in cheek, man ! They don't lose mail, when they do lose mail....it is "misdirected" I won't turn this into a thread about postal jargon and postcons, bmcs and so forth. My humor must have escaped you....lost mail = misdirected....get it ? miserable place to work, even if you are driver for a sub-contractor, most people don't know that the mail moves mainly on graveyard shift.... enough postal BS for me.
Any time you mail a package, make sure there is a piece of paper in the package with your address and the recipient's address on it! That way, if the package handlers destroy the box or rip the label off, the "mystery package investigator" (or whatever they're called ) people can find out where it goes. I realize that the OP's package would have had submission forms in it with the addresses, but this is just a tip for everyone else.
Yes, this way when somebody honest steals your parcel, they can return it to you....if they later suffer from " theif's remorse synddome "....aka TRS