My Ship Never Came In

I've been waiting three months...

...for a coin similar to this. I purchased this one yesterday. The detail is sharper on the one that has gone missing. This one is pretty good and the best part is that it doesn't have to go through U.S. Customs. I haven't given up on the other one. Maybe by Thanksgiving it will show up.

Herod Archelaus was a monster! The peaceful background has nothing to do with him!

 

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Did you try calling USPS customer service? I just got of the phone with them about a coin of mine and they were very polite and helpful with my case. As to if their efforts will produce meaningful results remains to be seen but my experience talking to them was good.

 

That's an exceptional prutah......and I hope you can quickly resolve your delivery issues.

 

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

 

Oh and when you do, and when you reach the automated main menu, make sure to say "service representative" (or similar I'd imagine) to speak to a live person. The menu doesn't give you that option but instead simply gives you automated options. Good luck!

 

I was wondering how things were going with your missing coin. At least it sounds like someone is on the case.

 

How long should one wait on customs? I'm waiting on a coin from Spain. Shipped Jan 24. Processed through US customs Feb 12. Expected arrival Feb 17. It's March 8 and no coin. Is there anything to do but wait? And wait how long?

P.S. I had a coin shipped from London on March 1. I got it yesterday. One week.

 

Personally, I've had items delayed at customs for 2-4 weeks but generally most whiz right through....Chicago seems to be the most problematic for me. If a item is delayed beyond 3-4 weeks you probably have a problem well beyond slow processing.

 

Deacon,

I'm in the same boat on a coin from Israel. I have contacted USPS several times by both phone and email and, while polite, I got the same exact prepackaged email reply that roughly translates to "sorry, customs stinks, have a good day" so I wouldn't bank on too much help from those guys.

Really great coin btw!

 

I had stuff sit in Customs for six weeks once...and that was I think the UK customs...and it wasn't a coin.

I guess that wasn't very helpful

I've only had three coins ever not arrive. Well one did but the package was opened with no coin in it. Hopefully the seller learned to seal those things shut with tape. The other two coins were going through regular USPS system and just never arrived.

Hopefully yours turns up and your problem becomes that you have two of the same.

 

I have had to wait 3 to 6 months. One seller even reshipped a replace item. Not the exact coin but of similar value.

 

Ew! Too long! At least it showed up

 

That's a really nice example, Deacon. One of these turned up in an uncleaned lot for me years ago. I didn't know (and still don't know) much about Judaean coins and it took my ages to figure out what it was.

 

That't a sweet Prutah Deacon.
I've had to wait a couple of months before. I think it has some to do with the country it's coming from, one European country it always comes in about 7 or 8 days but all other European countries 1 to 2 months. I even had one recently finally make it in just under three months.

 

I've noticed distinct differences in shipping and customs wait time depending on where the item is coming from. I bought a 17th century Dutch tile once and got it literally three days later and it came in a large box that was packed with insulation. I have also gotten quick coin shipments from the Netherlands. I have also gotten 2-3 day packages from Finland. And these were registered!

 

@Deacon Ray Your ship never came in because it was too busy trying to collide with a $2,000,000 home here in Florida.

I hope the missing coin appears, but the new one is very nice indeed.

 

I've had customs take as little as 12 hrs to as much as 3 months. Both of those are extremes and happen very rarely. Lately, customs clearance for Registered Mail items from Europe have been taking 1 or 2 days. The norm is anywhere from 1-5 days. Busy postal times (Nov. & Dec.) can take as many as 10 days or so to clear.

For Express International it's a different story and those packages should go through much faster.

 

That cruise ship movie is scary! That's a risky place to build a house—and the weather looks clear—imagine how dangerous it must be during the rain and fog!

 

I have read many countries experience mail theft in Europe, the middle east and the far east. The Islands of Indonesia as high as 50%. There they suggest you take it to the mainland rather than ship it out via a local post office. It maybe a month or longer before an honest dealer can make that trip himself. He isn't going to do it for just one or two coins. Both UPS and FedEx have a list of countries they will not do business in, pick up or delivery.

 

I've noticed a lot of dealers exclude Brazil. Is the Brazilian post that bad? Or does it have to do with their customs?