1. Can I ask collector colleagues – particularly from Canada – if they’re ever heard that the Austrian mail service will not accept coin shipments, in my case to Canada? 2. I’m also interested in hearing how fellow collectors who are away from home during the day receive their purchases. 3. Here’s my problem – I prefer purchases delivered to my work address with no more people than necessary knowing about my collecting habit. Courier companies bringing shipments from overseas prefer not to take payment at the door, even by credit card. Often just they look up our company address, assume I want the goods cleared and taxes paid by the company’s customs broker, and so create unwanted attention plus an accounting headache. 4. I’m pleased with many coin dealers who oblige by sending my purchases by international priority post. If required I pay Canada Post on delivery by credit card and get my merchandise. That’s the arrangement I requested from Naumann, located in Vienna. 5. But in conversation with their staff, they say that the Austrian postal system will not accept their shipments for Canada. But I cannot find any relevant restrictions on the Austrian Post site. I’ve even offered to take any risk of loss. I can’t figure out why Naumann cannot comply with my request, or whether the company just won’t. 6. I know that there are many competing coin dealers, but before considering closing my account I’d like to understand why there is a problem and if there is a way to address it without substantial cost. Any insight would be welcome. Thank you.
Usually by the local post, sometimes with tracking, sometimes not. I also have received a couple of coins via DHL courier when I'm buying more expensive coins. These seem to pass through customs flawlessly whereas the regular posts often are held at the International Mail Center in NY for 7-10 days before they are released for delivery.
I believe it's been posted that sending numismatic items through Canada Post is prohibited... not sure about that, but you certainly can't insure them registered mail https://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/PGregister-e.asp
I cannot think of any reason why the Austrians would not ship to Canada. As for Canada Post not shipping coins, they do it all the time but you cannot insure them.
I have never had a problem with getting my coins shipped from Austria. I have dealt with a number of sellers in Austria and have never before heard of any difficulties.
I did have a problem with Canada post on a follis of Severus II that took three weeks to arrive from Toronto to San Francisco.
Where i live (NL) its possible to deliver the package at a store. You have to bring ID to pick it up, and sign for it. Depends on the deliverer perhaps, i haven't tried it with all postal services. DHL, and Dutch post service works that way. FedEx you can pick up at a delivery center, which i not that far from where i live. Another possibility is to have it delivered at a persons' home you know very well and who is home at a certain point. Like relatives or good friends living close by. I dont know where you live, or the cicrumstances, so i dont know if these options may help you. About the Canadian-Austrian postal disconnection; i can't help you with that... But, do you know any one abroad? Have it delivered there and then have them send it to you from that country? Maybe that's a possible workaround for you..? In any case, good luck...
Thanks to everyone who responded. As I see it, other than tardiness no one on the forum experienced problems with the Austrian or Canadian postal systems. The comments from members here will be helpful when I call the vendor to see how / whether we can resolve my situation. Thanks again.
