Question on Postal Clerk Inquiry

Today I was shipping a Commemorative half dollar to a grading service in a brown mailer. The private usps facility clerk asked what I was shipping, I said it was a collectible; she probed further about exactly what it was, I said "it was none of your business". This is a private usps facility, not staffed by usps employees. I have never heard a usps employee want to know precisely what I was shipping. Was I over-reacting, or is it appropriate to be a little miffed by nosey shipping workers?

 

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interesting--here in the uk we have had to give a full explanation of the contents for some time--the reason given is that anything with a battery (mobile phone etc )could cause an explosion and bring down an aircraft,i don't much like it,i think that it is a bit over the top

 

I had that happen once. When I asked the clerk what difference it was she said "It's a coin, isn't it?" I didn't mind so much, but there were about 20 other people in the PO that heard her.

 

When I am dealing directly with usps employees, I know I am usually dealing with real professionals. There are a bunch of these small usps shipping facilities in variety stores, etc.. Sometimes I find them less than professional.

 

Years ago Frank Robinson came up with a brilliant solution which I use. He labels all coin shipments, "metal stampings". Not much more boring and unstealable than that, and perfectly correct description at the same time.

 

That or "machine parts" but then they are going to want to charge an elevated rate.

 

I bothers me too. There's only one employee that asks that in my town, though. It is an uncomfortable feeling because it feels like she's being nosey AND it makes me feel like the chance for those in earshot to steal it goes up. But it's a federal crime, & comes with a significant sentence, which I still believe is a nice deterrent.

 

They have to confirm there is nothing hazardous, perishable, etc in the package. And, I guess to someone nuclear warhead's are considered collectable. I would simply answer the clerk along the lines of "it's not hazardous or perishable. It is a collector's item made of the same medal's found in change and jewelry".

 

Add to that - If a Postal Employee were caught stealing, the penalty (even if you were shipping a common circulated 1990's cent) would be so harsh the chance's of them stealing it would be almost zero. That said, I don't think I would ever tell them I am mailing 40 ounces of gold... but, I would have no problem telling them I am mailing gold. However, I believe, according to very old Postal regulations you can only mail money via registered mail. However, though your coins are money, they are also collectable's and the one time I had someone question me on it at the Post Office, they shut up immediately when I pointed out the difference.

 

I always name my shipments "Numismatic Tokens".

I never get questioned. Always use a word people can't pronounce, or that they think they 'should' know, and you'll never have questions. If they ask, just say, "You mean, you've NEVER heard of NUMISMATIC TOKENS before?!"

If the buyer will pay for it, I DO like to send coins by Registered Mail. That means (at least for the USPS) that your item will be under lock-and-key the whole time, and if it's not, it's been signed-out to a USPS employee until they hand it to the recipient and get his/her signature. That's how it's been explained to me at the post office.

 

Maybe she was just curious, or maybe she collects herself and was wondering what it was?

"None of your business" sounds rude.

 

Yeah, registered mail should be solid. Anyone accepting parcels is supposed to ask about the contents (hazardous, perishable, or fragile are key words, and certain answers are supposed to elicit further questions).

My understanding is that there are three category descriptions one might conceivably use for coins, and the difference is significant for the declared value (how much insurance is provided). "Money" would mean that the declared value is the legal tender value; probably don't want to use this for collector items. "Precious metals" would cover your bullion items; declared value is the current market price of the metal. But you probably want to go with "merchandise," with a vague further description as suggested above. This allows you to specify your market value, up to $25,000.

 

Thats a good idea

 

They have a list of prohibited items on display next to my PO counter. This tells you what you cannot send.
Therefore, assuming people can read the sign in front of their faces, it is rude for them to ask whats in it.........its simply none of their business.
If they say, 'I'm just interested ...thats all', ask them if they take a bath with their partner or whether they bathe alone and give the same reason as them for your enquiry....they will soon get on with their job and shut up.

 

It doesn't matter what it "sounds" like; if I were to ask you a bunch of impertinent questions would you be considered rude to say "none of your business"? If they ask is anything hazardous, liquid or perishable inside, that is standard practice and I doubt anyone has ever answered "yes" who has an ounce of sense. At any rate the commemorative inside had something to do with the saying "a sucker is born every minute", maybe I should have told her so. I don't care who the "authority" is that asks impertinent questions, cops, postal workers, government agents, you have a right not to answer. Like I said, I never get nosiness from the real postal employee.

 

"Anything liquid, perishable, fragile, or potentially hazardous.
"? Says the postman accepting the package.
"None of the above" says I.
He then proceeds totake the package and put in the outgoing bag. That is how it has been every time for the past 3 years. I think it is professional and any further questions would be easily considered nosy and rude. Unless he asks something like "how about them hawks?" Or "how has your day been going?".

 

Oh. Now you've got me interested...

How exactly do you get private insurance for parcels? I thought USPS insurance for USPS-handled items was the only way.

This is the kind of thing that could help me out the next time I ship a pricey item.

 

Registered Mail is not infallible. Of the three packages of mine the USPS lost last year, one was Registered.