A little nervous with the USPS going forward

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by yanks87

I'm a small fish collector, but apparently I have a whale of a card that I am thinking about selling with the values increasing every time one hits the market. One of the things that has held me back from selling it is the shipping. I have never shipped anything valued over $10k, let alone a single card. Is there a preferred method for shipping something like this? I almost feel like buying a plane ticket and hand delivering it, if and when I decide to sell it.

I had a card delivered last month for just under 10. It was sent with insurance from Chicago and the package was $60.00. It was a bagged box with signature confirmation, next day. They just left it in my mailbox and I got it fine. I routinely have multiple gold coins delivered from APMEX and nothing has ever been lost. Still, it can be worrisome.

As my buddy Tom Petty would say, "Most things I worry bout', never happen anyway".

[Ronnie73]

I understand not trusting the post office but like others have said, the number of successful packages compared to lost items is huge. I'm currently dealing with a lost package also right now. It shows that it was delivered to my P.O. Box but never got it. $75 value. I also had another package disappear along the way to me last year. $120 value. It sucks but I try to forget but I can't. To top things off, a couple days ago I had a package totally destroyed and had like black tar all over it like it was ran over with a forklift. Even with the hole in the package, somehow the contents were still inside and safe. It was a coin but if it was a card, it would have been damaged. Currently I'm extra nervous about getting all my packages and it sucks because I shouldn't have anxiety using the post office.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by ctownboy

Seven, I still don't see why you are only dealing with eBay and not also having the postal inspector look into the matter. It seems a crime has been committed somewhere and you are likely to get further with the USPS than you are with eBay.

David

David, just as an update, I called the USPIS and spoke to someone they opened a case for me. This has been a big help thank you again.

Originally Posted by Ronnie73

I understand not trusting the post office but like others have said, the number of successful packages compared to lost items is huge. I'm currently dealing with a lost package also right now. It shows that it was delivered to my P.O. Box but never got it. $75 value. I also had another package disappear along the way to me last year. $120 value. It sucks but I try to forget but I can't. To top things off, a couple days ago I had a package totally destroyed and had like black tar all over it like it was ran over with a forklift. Even with the hole in the package, somehow the contents were still inside and safe. It was a coin but if it was a card, it would have been damaged. Currently I'm extra nervous about getting all my packages and it sucks because I shouldn't have anxiety using the post office.

I commented this in the other thread concerning someone having their package get lost in shipping through USPS, I think it's the perfect storm at the moment, with the USPS being pretty mismanaged, combine the fact that the Coronavirus has probably increased ordering and put even more of a strain on them. Rough situation all around. I don't think I would be as angry or as distrusting if it was something of lower value in my case.

[bmattioli]

Since 1984 that includes Overseas shipping while in the Military I've had Zero packages lost or misdirected. The odds I would say are extremely low. They, USPS do a great job in my opinion.. Go the registered mail route if concerned as suggested..

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

It was exactly because of this thread that I made sure I stayed home from work when the mailman was due to deliver a pretty expensive card the other day.

It was sent with signature required, but sure enough when I got to the door my mailman was already leaving it on my porch...and to make it worse it started pouring rain about an hour later. If I had not made a point of being home, I would have had a very pricey card sitting outside in the rain for hours.

I definitely understand WHY they aren’t having people sign. And I care about the safety of our mail delivery people. But I feel like they should just hold those items at the post office until the recepient can come sign.

[Jewish-collector]

Everyone has a different idea about "high value", expensive", "valuable", etc,.. Since I'm a low end buyer, $100 is an expensive card to me. Others, that's pocket change.

Sometimes you just gotta say WTF and send it registered mail.

[lowpopper]

I sent 4 priority flat rate packages all to the same
place 2 weeks ago. Two of them are still in transit.
The tracking updates every 3 or 4 days to say where
they are. Very nerve racking.

[bigfanNY]

Originally Posted by thatkidfromjerrymaguire

It was exactly because of this thread that I made sure I stayed home from work when the mailman was due to deliver a pretty expensive card the other day.

It was sent with signature required, but sure enough when I got to the door my mailman was already leaving it on my porch...and to make it worse it started pouring rain about an hour later. If I had not made a point of being home, I would have had a very pricey card sitting outside in the rain for hours.

I definitely understand WHY they aren’t having people sign. And I care about the safety of our mail delivery people. But I feel like they should just hold those items at the post office until the recepient can come sign.

I had the same issue twice.So I asked Mailman and he said with Covid and no contact Mailman has some discretion. He knows me well and knows I am retired and get my mail soon after it is delivered.
Like Ted Z I only ship via Priority mail 3 day and Overnight if card is over 5k. ( only used 3 or 4 times).I have not had any issues shipping this way. And stats show that Priority boxes are safer than First class packages.
Sorry you had an issue and hope it works itself out.
J

[seanofjapan]

I used to sell used video games internationally (from Japan) and about 80% of the stuff I sent to the US was without tracking and every single one of them reached their destination. So the USPS is pretty reliable compared to other countries (sending stuff to Mexico without registration in contrast was just asking for a package to go missing).

That said, right now the US is one of the few countries I can't ship stuff to because the postal system there for some reason just isn't capable of handling international mail. I can send stuff to Canada no problem. I can even send stuff to Mexico no problem. But the US is basically closed to international mail (at least from Japan), which is weird.