I've sent my fair share of coins in for grading and never though twice about it but now I'm a little nervous because I'm sending some pretty valuable coins. I don't know how I feel going into a post office and insuring a package for thousands of dollars. Just seems you have to have a lot of trust in the postal worker not to steal your package.
Well, you're sending it Registered, so there's a specific record of every human being who handles it during transit, a complete chain of custody. You are sending it Registered, right? And you're preparing the package/label at home so nobody even knows how much it's insured for, right?
Research the prescribed methodology for packaging Registered Mail - paper tape only, all seams and corners covered, etc. - and register an account with USPS so you can create shipping labels online via their website. I haven't filled out paperwork, or paid money to insure/ship, at a Post Office in ten years. No disclosing contents, no announcing publicly an insured value, no nothing. Hand the package over, watch them scan it into the computer in front of you, walk away with a receipt proving you did it. The numbers will still be in their computer system, but someone will have to actually fixate on your specific package and do the research in their system - leaving a trail via their login - to find out how much it's worth.
The post office will tape up the package over the tape you use for registered mail anyways to ensure it's correct. I've never had a single problem with expensive registered mail shipments except for speed of transit sometimes which can be quite slow. Depending on how many thousands of dollars you're talking you could also consider another private courier service. When I used to deal with very high dollar jewelry shipments at work both sending and receiving we utilized mostly Fed Ex and never had a problem in the 3+ years I dealt with that area.
Actually forgot about that. In fact I think we were insured through my companies insurance and not Fed Ex itself on our shipments also.
As Blissskr has mentioned about speed...Each (USPS) destination stop requires a signature of the person handing off the package. This slows the delivery process but it will get there. ANACS always send me an email when the package arrives which is a little peace of mind. So be patient, but by all means do send registered. You can also track the package at USPS.com and check off the box at the right of the tracking page that allows you to get regular email updates in your in box.
Registered mail is very safe. Although USPS will let you pay for priority and other supposedly faster shipping rates, it's a waste for registered mail. It travels at its own speed regardless because of the need for signatures at each hand-off and need for security during transit. The address must be written on the box itself and not on labels or tape. All seams and edges must be sealed with approved tape, which is different from the usual plastic shipping tape. Traditionally, it has been paper tape that has to be wetted before application. This type of tape is required because the receiving clerk must stamp all seams and edges, and most plastic tapes will not retain the ink. Lately, I've been using Intertape 9341 Kraft Paper Flatback Carton Sealing Tape, available from Amazon. It requires no wetting and is acceptable to USPS (a postal employee told me about it). Always take extra tape to the post office with you. The clerk may spot a seam or edge you forgot to tape. Don't count on the post office to have tape. Cal
But since the thief would have to sign for the package in order to get his hands on it, they know who stole it. No one is going to hand off a registered package to someone else without getting them to sign for it because THEY are the ones held responsible if the person they give it to steals it. Theirs was the last signature in the chain. Oh and once the value that you are shipping exceeds $1,000, Registered is also CHEAPER than insured mail, but has the same coverage and can be covered for higher amounts. Insured mail used to max out at $5,000. Registered mail can be covered to $50,000. Why? because it is so much more secure. Insured packages get lost or stolen fairly regularly, Registered mail maybe five or so packages a year if that many. And the private insurance firms recognize this as well. They have different rates depending on how you plan on shipping, and their rates for Registered mail are much lower than for other methods. Once again because of the safety factor.
Relax. The Hope Diamond was shipped registered mail. It's that safe. http://postalmuseumblog.si.edu/2012/11/delivering-the-hope-diamond.html
