Ebay people, what do you do and why?

Don't waste your money. Coins and bullion are specifically listed in the terms and conditions as not being covered by USPS insurance. Although the clerks will happily sell you insurance for your coins, even when you tell them you are insuring coins, the insurance will not pay if there are lost or stolen.

Same thing goes for FeeBay's seller insurance.

The best thing you can do is put signature confirmation on the package so you can at least prove it made it into their hands. Or, if you sell coins as a business, you should be able to purchase business insurance that will cover coins in the event of a loss.

 

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Not if you use tracking and delivery confirmation. If you use signature confirmation, you can get a copy of the signed delivery slip via email. You can still use the green card if you don't use tracking.

 

Do you have a link to the USPS stating as much? I believe you have confused homeowners insurance coverage with postal insurance. I have in the past had insured coins lost in the mail and USPS paid-off on the insurance. Was an enormous hassle and took nearly 2 months but I got paid. And that was on an insured package sent 1st class mail, not registered mail.

 

I never ship coins. I ship numismatic merchandise or numismatic collectibles.
And no USPS employee has ever asked me what, specifically, was in my package before accepting it. They only ask if it contains any prohibited items. I always answer truthfully, "no".

 

Unless they have changed something just recently collectible coins are specifically COVERED under the USPS insurance They specifically are NOT covered under UPS or FedEx insurance. If the postal clerk tries to tell you you can't insure collectible coins quote the manual (Domestic Mailing Manual, DMM) to them. If you can file a claim for the numismatic value than they obviously must be insurable.

DMM 609 filing claims for loss or damage
4.1 payable claims
g. Fair market value of stamps and coins of philatelic or numismatic value, as determined by a recognized stamp or coin dealer or current coin and stamp collectors newsletters and trade papers.



Bullion is covered under USPS insurance but only up to a maximum of $15

DMM 609 4.1 o. Except for Registered Mail, the maximum indemnity for negotiable items (defined as instruments that can be converted to cash without resort to forgery), currency, or bullion, is $15.00.

 

I have been asked what it was when the padded envelope was very light as if perhaps empty, yet insured for $500+ dollars for a coin like a gold Russian 10 Rouble. To be sure it's none of their business, and it is always without exception women clerks who ask, and my standard answer is always that it is a watch bezel. Most of them don't know what that is, and then state the requirement of proof of value prior to being able to make a claim on the insurance. With the possible exception of telling a postal clerk you are mailing cash, I can't think of dumber thing to say than admit there is a coin in the package. Of course sometimes you have no choice when shipping international since customs decelerations are involved. Which makes registered mail a necessity since even if the coin can't be insured for more than $40 at least the clerk knows the Postal Inspector will be involved if the package vanishes.

 

Don't tell eBay that. They covered it for me.

 

I found in the postal manual where negotiable instruments that can be converted to cash without forgery are limited to $15 insurance coverage regardless of loss when sent insured without registration. This includes currency and bullion (specifically, bullion was stated in the regulation). Nothing about rare coins per se. Since I send mostly obsolete denominated rare world coins, I should think I would be covered. Amazing how many specific regulations there are. In case you ever want to mail a chicken, be sure to read the fine print in the USPS Manual first:

j. Death of baby poultry caused by shipment to points where delivery could not be made within 72 hours from the time of hatching, unless it is determined that transportation was in place to achieve the 72-hour target. k. Death of honeybees, crickets, and harmless live animals not the fault of the USPS (mailability of these insects and animals is subject to 601.9.0, Perishables).

 

You almost found the part about the rare coins, see my previous post. DMM 609 4.1 g.

 

"Fair market value of stamps and coins of philatelic or numismatic value, as determined by a recognized stamp or coin dealer or current coin and stamp collectors newsletters and trade papers."

Sounds good to me, but I assume a copy of the ebay auction along with a paypal payment receipt would be adequate to establish value. I sure hope so anyway, since catalog values alone are in no way an accurate statement of value in many instances.

 

Agreed!

 

Right, ebay shipping is one of the best services they offer. I bought a cheap Brother label printer and it's REALLY easy with that.

 

Don't knock it until you try it. I do a fairly large volume on ebay and using their postage saves me well over a $1 per package. This grossly offsets the 5 cents per label it costs me to print on my label printer. I would also add that my $30 Brother label printer works perfectly EVERY time.....zero frustation.....especially when compared to going to the PO to ship.

 

Will have to give it a try. Once the label is affixed, can I drop it in any mailbox I want?

 

If it's over 16 ounces, no. It has to be handled by a postal employee. Thank Dept of Homeland Security for that one. You route carrier will pick it up from your home. USPS website has a feature for you to ask for pick up.

 

I drop my packages off at my local post office because it is pretty close to my home and there is plenty of parking. However, it has been closed since Hurricane Sandy hit and I don't know if it will ever open again. I might start using the feature to have "at home pick up" if it doesn't open by summer.

 

Home pickup...,, Is it any wonder the USPS lost 16 billion over the past year? Can't see how they do that without losing a boat-load of dough.

 

I have not been to the PO in forever. I put my mail out and the postal worker picks it up as she delivers the mail. Probably costs them less than using a clerk at the PO.

 

They have to come to your door anyway. How much could it cost them for the carrier to walk away with your package as opposed to empty handed?

 

To be fair they lost money because of reduction in shipment of first class mail, salary and benefits and legislative mandate over how USPS operates (having to maintain Post offices in rural areas and shipment costs).