Quote: "Ben-jamin"
Quote: "iiruig"
I ship only by regular mail abroad with stamps.
Just curious, how does this work? If I bring mail to the post office, they always ask what's in the envelope. I have to sign a customs document and pay over $20 for postage.
I think last year I mastered the shipping of coins abroad.:) In part thanks to this member - Abasurto.
1. You go here
https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#_c341 to see the prices.
2. You need to weigh your envelope to get the exact weight. The envelope should be a regular small one (for 1-3 oz.) or a large flat (for 6-16 oz.) (I never tried the bubble ones, but I think they would have returned it since they are too thick).
3. I buy stamps of lower values for under face value price. On eBay for $85 of $110 Face value or I have a contact person who can sell them even a bit cheaper because of eBay/PayPal fees.
4. Then I just put the necessary exact amount on the envelope, which is always kinda fun.
5. I drop the envelopes either at the drop-off box at a post office or, in most cases, next to my house. I have a slot at my mailboxes for "outgoing mail".
Tips:
- Use hard cardboard in a large flat envelope so that it keeps its flat shape and put your coins in one layer.
- Sometimes it is hard to fit all the stamps because they are of small value ($0.01-$0.25), so you need to first space them out and then apply. Takes some time, but it is fun too.
- When you look at the USPS table through that link, look at price groups 3-5 for European countries.
- Depending on weight, it makes sense to send 2-3 small envelopes instead of one large. Also, the large envelope with a cardboard inside adds quite a lot of weight, to begin with.
- Even though, it says that you can send 3.5 oz. in a small envelope, I would recommend sending not more than 3 oz. I had issues with domestic envelopes of 3-3.5 oz. weight that were sent to me.
Benefits:
- In this way of shipping you never go to a post office, you don't talk to anyone and you do not say/declare anything. You just send "documents". Sending currency is illegal, so it helps to avoid unnecessary problems/questions.
- It comes out not that expensive to ship the coins abroad.
- If you buy stamps under face value you end paying 25-30% less.
- So far, I have not had any problems with shipping internationally (I did not count exactly, but I think I have done 20-40 swaps like that). But I had problems with not receiving envelopes within the US.
- Shipping speed varies. I had several envelopes that arrived in 5-7 days to Germany, the Netherlands, Italy. Some around 2 weeks to Germany, Latvia, Slovakia, Romania, UK, France, etc. But I had envelopes that took 2-2.5 months to Portugal, Italy, Spain. From what I understand the more expensive shipping with tracking number may take the same amount of time.
Questions?
- Can you tell me the wight and the price you paid to send coins abroad when you went to the post office? Did it include the tracking number?
I tried to buy postage through PayPal and it only gave me an option with Priority Mail (which has a tracking number) for $49+ every time.
