i was wondering what you ship your coins in and if you have any sort of method to your madness. I generally ship up to a quarter sized coin in a regular envelope (suspended in the middle of the envelope so it doesn’t catch the scanners at the bottom) if the value is under $10. If it’s over a quarter sized coin I’ll put it in a bubble mailer or if it is over $10 as well. When do you add a signature to your deliveries? Do you always use tracking? I went to the post office the other day with a half dollar in a bubble mailer and the gentleman behind the counter charged me for one first class stamp. Very surprised and pleased, in the past I’ve had to pay a little over a dollar for a bubble mailer with very little weight in it.
Buy bulk online, have a digital scale, envelopes and Bubble wrap. That’s really all you need. USPS has free tracking if you ship from home. Putting collectible coins thru the processing machine isn’t a great idea. If The PO catches the coin they’ll mark it non machine able and charge you more.
Don't use packing tape to hold down slabbed coins. A seller sent me one taped down to a piece of cardboard. The tape peeled the hologram sticker off the back. A simple solution is to wrap the slab in something, besides, tape. Check the USPS website for free shipping materials. I use quite a bit of the postal service's free items. They drop it right at your door. I don't sell coins through the mail so this money saving tip may not apply. I would say bubble mailers are the go to, along with the sticky corrugated mailer. Most of the coins I receive are shipped this way. Now, I do send new quarters to an acquaintance through the mail. I always use a regular envelope, with the coins in a 2x2, wrapped in a couple sheets of paper. Put a couple stamps on the envelope and it has made it every time.
I always use bubble envelopes for anything less than priority mail and always get tracking. I don't use insurance unless the recipient wants it and is willing to pay for it. If more than about $300 I will add signature confirmation. If more than about $1000 I will send registered but I have only done that a couple of times.
No coin should ever be mailed in a letter envelope. PERIOD!!! Letters go through high speed processing machines. Coins don't bend so it will not make it through the machine. You may have been "surprised and pleased" as you stated but the post office "gentleman" was WRONG. For lower price coins you could package them as you currently do but they should be mailed as a non-machineable letter. Yes it costs more but your coin is protected better. They should all be in a small padded envelope and mailed as a first class parcel. It costs a bit more but less can happen and you receive tracking. I tell you this as I am a retired postal employee and I've seen way too much.
I'm not saying this to be contrary, I'm just glad I have the ear of a postal employee now! So I have mailed approximately 40 lower cost coins in regular envelopes suspended in the middle of the envelope and every on of them has made the journey. Is this just an anomaly for me or have I just gotten lucky 40 times...?
Bubble mailer packaging, scale, and printer. You save time and money on gas to the USPS. You get a discount on shipping when using eBay or PayPal to ship. If you sell frequently enough, then these two pay for the printer over time. I'd use first class bubble mailers for "low" value coins, and a small flat rate box in a flat rate envelope (to save 50 cents) on priority shipping for "higher" value coins. Add in signature confirmation to first class if it's somewhere in between or for more peace of mind.
I am taking a gamble, I do know that however the cost of the coins that are being shipped that way do not warrant the postage you have to pay on ebay. I'll have to look up that non machinable stamp and see what that costs. Thanks for that information!
First Class 1 oz letter is now $.50 so a first class non-machineable should be .$71 or $.72. Not sure what they raised it to. Best wishes.
The mailpiece probably fit through the 1/4" slot in the letter piece template, so you got the 1 oz. letter rate - if it's thicker than 1/4" and/or you want tracking, it must be mailed as a First Class package = extra postage + tracking fee. The template is called USPS Notice 3-A and can be had for the asking from most large post offices or their BMEUs (bulk mail dept.) http://www.cod.edu/dept/staffservices/Forms/USPSletter_template.pdf
At minimum a bubble mailer. Add a stiffener to these in the firm of a Saf-t-mailer or cardboard sandwich. When using free USPS boxes, pack them so they are balanced as possible and silent when shaken. Do not use tape inside the package to hold bubble wrap or flips together. This will lead to using the same knife I use to open the box. Use a rubber band instead. Get some padded flat rate envelopes. You can fit 2 small flat rate boxes in one of these.
