Shipping a Large Collection - Who to use?

I'm getting ready to ship my US Early Commemoratives collection to an auction house.
That's about 130 slabbed coins with a Greysheet value of $30,000.
Weight not known.

I think I can pack them okay but insurance is my main concern.

Who would you recommend for shipping and insurance?
USPS is my first thought, but ...?

 

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As I understand it, UPS is about to go on strike... I would certainly avoid shipping via UPS right now.

 

How far are you from the recipient?

Maybe it's better to simply fly or drive them there yourself? I would not trust any shipping companies right now.

 

This will be across the country (Maryland to California).

 

What auction house are you sending it to?

For something worth $30K, I'd be very cautious.

 

Call the auction house and ask for their recommendation.

If your package is inside their norms (and I would be very careful about being the largest collection Bob's Garage and COin AUction has ever handled), they should have a good solid idea of the best ways to ship.

 

Then fly.

Is the round trip flight cheaper and 'safer' than shipping cost+100% replacement insurance?

Perhaps you're not 'able' to fly. If that's the case, then I recommend paying for as much replacement insurance on shipping that you can get.

Good luck.

 

Also, remember while $30k might be large to you, it's small to the big auction houses.

Although for THIS kind of money, you can fly on a private jet...

https://www.greysheet.com/news/stor...ions-top-bidder-for-three-historic-rare-coins
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rel...-2-million-by-greatcollections-301649197.html

 

mailing anything off nowadays is a risky gamble no matter what you try the odds are never in your favor of your package or mail not getting got,dropped off at the wrong address or whatever

advice: understand as when you mail that off the crooks will know exactly what is inside as their eyes and ears will let them know and the risks of your package getting got go up

 

FUN Show starts this week. If the CA. Auctioneer is who I am thinking of (or any Numismatic Auctioneer of national awareness) they will have a rep. there.

Maryland to FL. is very reasonable. I just looked up what is available RT and found $77 and a $109, from BWI leaving tomorrow with next day open return. Or drive. There area couple of collector carpools leaving D.C/Balt. are to drive down to FUN.

I would also think that the Auction House would use their shipping account for such an assignment. In fact, I would insist, for 30K.

 

The auction house is Great Collections (GC).
Their insurance only covers the items when they arrive at their place of business.
USPS looks like they only cover up to $5000.
And it looks like the UPS strike won't happen until 1 August so I still have a large window.
I haven't found the insurance info for Fedex so I don't know about them.

I think I'll give GC a call and see what they suggest.

 

I would second the Hugh Wood recommendation. They are by far the least expensive insurance company in the hobby. One caveat is that you must be an ANA member.

 

@Silverpop

That's just not generally true. The USPS handles 23.8 million packages a day.
https://facts.usps.com/one-day/ only a tiny tiny fraction have problems. Five or six nines have no problems. Now if you are the one of a few hundred per day.. that sucks.

I wouldn't put a package in the blue collection box
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us...ail-theft-crimes-against-carriers-2023-05-12/

And there have certainly been targeted thefts of packages addressed to / from the TPGs and Auction Houses and Bullion sellers.

Honestly, though, the biggest problem beyond blue box thefts is stealing checks then washing off the pay too and amount and rewriting them for larger amounts.

By the time grannie finds out the check ahe wrote to the church for $25 for the potluck has been modified to be $250 and deposited into somebody else's account and withdrawn as cash or transfered overseas... the crooks are long gone and Grannie has to fight with the bank.

 

I like the Hugh Wood deal. I have always wondered about this and now I know. I too thought about driving or flying. Thanks fo rall the info, may come in handy someday.

 

Love HWI, fortunately you don't have to use registered , you can use priority or priority express and not have to wait eons for delivery.

Ian should be able to provide you a single use label and deduct the amount out of your net, or he might not charge you. With my insurance through Hugh Wood, I can ship up to 50k and it cost me 11$ to send in a small flat rate box with signature. GC uses Lloyds of London but like I said id be surprised if he couldn't provide a label thats covered under his policy.

 

I'm with DDan.

 

Even if it cost me more I believe I would fly just because of the sleep I'd lose while it was in transit.

 

Interesting dilemma. Anytime that you let something get out of your hand, you take a chance. I haven't shipped anything that large, so I don't know the best way. I like the idea of flying or maybe Amtrack. Best of luck on your decision. Please let us know how you went.

 

we will see what happens hope for the best but expect the worse