I recently won a Heritage auction. When the package came it was just placed in the mailbox with my other mail. No signature was required. What's worse was the envelope was torn and had "USPS Resealed" stamped on it. As this was a $1,000 coin I was a little nervous about the outcome, but everything was in order. I don't see anything on the Heritage site that addresses shipping insurance or signatures. I just assumed that as with all other expensive shipments it would be insured and require a signature. I had previously won a Great Collections auction which required a signature. Was this some kind of screw-up by Heritage or USPS or me, or is no signature typical for Heritage?
Typical. Always made me nervous, but in the end it's Heritage's responsibility to deliver the coin and they have done so.
Never had one ripped open or resealed, but yeah it is a little disconcerting at first. Then again I have never had an issue with this one or others.
One of the many reasons I do not like Heritage Auctions. And starting on all auctions that close after July 31st their BP goes up to 17.5%.
It's typical with them. They have their own private insurance so they don't used postal insurance or have their packages marked in such a way to draw attention to them.
With no proof that something was delivered, I'm concerned about what a hassle it might be if a coin I buy from them in the future really was lost in the mail. I can't imagine it would be as easy as just giving your money back if you said you never received it. Seems they'd be getting ripped off a lot if it were that easy. I certainly don't want to get caught in a "you paid, we sent it, now it's your problem" scenario. I think I'm going to hold off buying anything from Heritage unless I find out that any problems really are hassle-free. $1,000+ is just too much to risk.
Heritage makes me crazy, they are slower than a glacier to ship. Earlier this month, I won a large comic lot worth $600, they shipped it FedEx, signature required. We kept missing the driver and after 5 days had to go to the terminal and find it in a truck, because it was going back to Heritage, "undelivered" the next day. At the exact same time, I had won over $3k in coins, they shipped that to me Priority mail in a crappy mailer, which the mailman left at my front door. I am confused. Stacks used to have the best shipping, everything was shipped Certified/insured/signature required, in nice tight box or mailer. Since joining with Bowers, the shipping dept. has gone downhill, not as bad as Heritage, but not the high standard they once were.
What are you risking? They are responsible for d3elivery to you. If they don't, you will be reimbursed. And, yes, Heritage uses delivery confirmation.
Suit yourself, but as one who has had hundreds of shipments from Heritage, with more than a few worth well in excess of $1000, never once did I ever have a problem. And don't know of anybody that ever did. You have to realize something, Heritage sells roughly one billion dollars worth of coins a year, every year. If something in their system didn't work, you can bet they'd change it.
I get all my mail at a UPS Store box. No problems in many years and probably over $1 million in shipments incoming/outgoing.
