I recently sent about 100 packages to all parts of the country. It has been reported to me by two different recipients that the stiff cardboard envelopes enclosing their items was carefully torn open and the contents removed. Both packages were sent to addresses in Pennsylvania. No other locations around the country have reported anything like this to me. It is obviously suspicious. I tracked both and found that they have only one thing in common that is not shared by all the other packages: the USPS Jersey City NJ Distribution Center. The contents of both shipments was identical. Both were sent with Signature Confirmation (but no insurance). Each order had five items: "1945" (Broken Sword) Peace over-strike "1979-P" (Large) Eisenhower copper-nickel clad over-strike "1979-P" (Large) Eisenhower 40% silver clad over-strike "1979-P" (small) Eisenhower copper-nickel clad over-strike (on Susan B Anthony $) "1979-P" (small) Eisenhower brass-alloy over-strike (on Sacagawea/President $) Please be aware of this and report any suspicious activity.
Oh man! That totally sucks. They were nice coins also. Probably some Meth or Crack addict. Sumbritches!! I know the packaging. It sucks. I ordered a few videos and luckily, I got them safely. Well. Hopefully they're covered by insurance. ??
Are or aren't packages covered for some amount?? I guess not!! Maybe get Insurance next time? I hate to say that because I hate extra warranties and extra postage but sometimes it's necessary.
I'm dealing with several missing coin shipments that I've sent out right now. One package with about $50 in British pennies was never scanned in (I dropped it in a blue mail collection box) so I probably can't even collect the insurance because I can't prove I sent it. Two or three others just vanished from the local mail sorting facility (Palatine or Carol Stream, IL). Those I will at least be able to get the insurance on (eBay send labels). Every year around Christmas a few things get lost unfortunately.
I think there is a standard $100 coverage on all USPS packages, but I have heard that this is hard to get. Even harder when the package was signed for (one of the two was "refused" and the other recipient didn't notice the tampering until later). For higher-value shipments I always use USPS Registered Mail. For mid-value shipments such as these, I self insure them. By that I mean that sometimes I have an out-of-pocket loss but the total losses are (hopefully) less than the total of what it would cost to insure them all. Plus, not having to put insurance on them saves a little time when preparing and shipping the items.
Have you considered changing your packaging. Those large envelopes with all those stamps are easy to spot.
You said they don't have anything in common except the Jersey City distribution center, but you said they both were going to addresses in Pennsylvania. That seems like something else in common. I drive up to PA not infrequently for business, and I've got to say, it's not what it used to be say even 20 years ago.
I have a lot of stamps to use. So I will likely continue the same way. But I will now tape all the edges of the stiff cardboard flats that I use. Shipments that are higher value and/or contain any gold will continue to be sent via Registered Mail.
I looked at the detailed tracking for both packages. Both went through the Jersey City Distribution center. After leaving there, they do not share any of the same locations.
You are right. When I mail packages with lots of old stamps for postage I find the receiver telling me they have been tampered with. Sad.
Unfortunately I think it's only the priority or flat rate boxes that have the $100 insurance coverage.
IME the inspector tells you to fill out the form on the usps website. Nothing has ever come of that for me. I also stopped bothering with the local staff. They don't care and some of them are the ones doing the thieving. We had one usps employee here caught with over 18,000 pieces of mail in a storage locker near his apartment. He was going through them methodically, extracting anything of value and discarding the rest in the dumpster. This was just one caught at a single location. "Ground Advantage" also carries $100, but you must have a scan record. I didn't, on two recent shipments of considerable value, and got burned badly. Was overwhelmed with tasks one day so left one in my mailbox for pickup. Just didn't have time to go wait in line that day. The other? The post office was closed that morning (they do this without warning) so I put it in the mail slot inside (all our outside collection boxes have been removed because of theft). Both Vanished. Finally, even when you have a scan, you have to prove value. And the USPS does not accept ebay transaction information to determine value.
Yes I've definitely heard about trying to collect being rough but it's good to know that they don't even accept ebay transaction receipts! Be prepared just in case will be my motto going forward!
My experience was different. I shipped an eBay order with ground advantage and the package got the item stolen from inside. I used the eBay sales page as proof of value and got a check for the amount. I was surprised honestly.
I wish I knew what you did differently! In my case I got a printed note saying "Insufficient Evidence to Establish Value"... and I had submitted a copy of the ebay transaction. Maybe it's up to the individual clerk reviewing the claim?