Registered Mail - Need Advice

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Posted By: Colt McClelland

I am looking for advice on how to best track down a package that is apparently lost in the Registered Mail system (sent from PSA to me).

This is my second problem getting a package from PSA via registered mail. Last time it was never found (value was $500), and I got the insurance money. This time, it's been "in the mail" for three weeks, and I am getting nervous because the package is worth well over $5,000. It's insured for $5,000, but because one of the grades on the two cards I submitted was higher than expected it is probably worth closer to $6,500 total. Therefore, I really don't want the $5,000 of insurance coverage - I want the cards. Plus, these cards are not going to be easy to go out and replace.

Any advice on how to deal with the USPS on this or any experiences/lessons learned from anyone would be very much appreciated.

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Posted By: Keith O'Leary

The signature trail should tell them right where its at. I've had trouble in the past (one took 15 days), but when I called, they could always tell me who accepted it last.

I hope you get your cards Colt.

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Posted By: Richard

Colt - The post office computer system can track a registered or express package in more detail than what the public can see on usps.com.

I would go to your local post office and ask them to check the status (the last place the item was scanned) or call for an update. If the last scan was a place close by, it might be worth it to drive there and snoop around.

Good luck.

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Posted By: robert a

Can one of our resident postal carriers provide Colt with any insider tips?
I remember someone here saying that each carrier who signs for registered mail is directly responsible for lost items.

Colt, I hope you find your cards.

Robert

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Posted By: Colt McClelland

I don't have my package yet, but I am pretty sure it's not lost and am hoping to get it soon.

The first thing I did was call the local post office where the item was originally logged in at Newport Beach. Talked to a guy named Glenn who apparently handles all of the registered mail there (phone number is 949-640-4663). He said he handles about 300 items per day from Collectors Universe. Anyway, he was very helpful and told me that the item was shipped from Newport to LA, then LA to Kansas City (where I live). He gave me the phone number and name of the guy to call at the Kansas City post office, and also a "lock number" for the pouch the item was sent to Kansas City in.

I talked to the guy in Kansas City who told me that the pouch was never opened in Kansas City and mistakenly sent back to LA. He said this was probably because the pouch had two "lock number" labels on it - i.e. the current one for my shipment and the old one from a previous shipment of the same pouch that was probably never removed. As a result, someone failed to figure out the discrepency and just shipped it back to LA.

He then gave me the number of the woman in LA who handles the registered mail. I just spoke to her, and she said that they have figured out the problem, the pouch has been opened and resealed under a new lock number and should be going back out to Kansas City sometime soon.

So, it sounds like my cards are not lost after all and hopefully I will have them soon.

Hope this story helps provide some insight into the registered mail system. The bottom line is this - if you have a package that is lost, get on the phone with the local post offices involved in the shipment. They are very helpful, and they keep very detailed records of where the package is. They even had info on the Southwest flight number that the pouch went out on, the weight of the pouch, etc.

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Posted By: Josh K.

hopefully good news colt. how did you get the local numbers for the po? here, they only provide an 800 number in the phone book.

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Posted By: Anonymous

Colt,

by the time you get your cards they'll be worth $8000.

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Posted By: Rick McQuillan

Call the 800 ASK USPS number, explain the situation to the operator, and the operator will give you the number so you can call your local post office.

The other option is to call 800 ASK USPS, file a complaint and request a call back. The local Postmaster has to respond to your complaint within 24 hours.

Hope this helps.

Rick McQuillan
Postmaster
Lancaster, Wi

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Posted By: Anson

Registered Mail is some of the slowest available. The main reason is that it's locked in a safe when it's not in transit. So, even though you may use Priority mail to ship something, it will actually be slowed down by the registered mail service.

Be patient, USPS almost NEVER loses registered mail packages. But, they can take a while.