I would just like to have your opinion (would appreciate feedback from admins on this site responsible for swaps section). After 250 swaps I have gotten back a tracked letter for the first time in a plastic envelope from the German post office, which tells me that "they regret to inform me that the letter got ripped along the way to Costa Rica" so they had to send it back.
The coins were in this bubble wrap envelope covered by a lot of paper around it. It is quite annoying as this was a big swap. I will try to get now money back from the post office in order to compensate my swap partner (however I don't know if that will work as I stated on postal form for international shipping as content "documents", as the recipient from Costa Rica told me to do, so that the letter would not be endangered to be opened by thiefs)... Anyone got experiences with such a case and what best to do?! Really annoyed :(((
Getting any compensation from the German Post may be a pipe dream as mailing coins is not allowed by the UPU. Wish you success and let us know what happens as all of us who do any trading could benefit from what you find out.
You were lucky to even get the package back. You also didn't make clear if all the contents were missing. I was on the receiving end of something like this. My swap partner received my coins in Europe but I never received theirs. It tracked all the way through Europe and reached New York customs where it disappeared, never to be seen again by me or the sender. Customs has the right to open anything for inspection. I believe it was opened in NY and because it is illegal to mail coins, somebody decided to help themselves to them knowing that neither of us had recourse. Unfortunately this is the risk we all take and because my swap partner has a perfect history and it was not a terribly valuable swap, I did not request compensation and rated it as a completed swap. It was very disappointing however because one of the coins was very difficult to find in any condition and to this day, I'm still looking for one.
Thx for the first answers.. Well as said, 250 swaps with no real problems (2 untracked letters got lost), but that is the first tracked letter lost. Yes, indeed everything was taken out, quite a few hard to get ones which I also do not have again
As I wrote before, tracked letters doesn't garantee a safe delivery. It only confirms that a letter has been sent.
The delivery depends of a lots of unexpected factors and sometimes international import/export rules.
My advice is, little swaps and normal postage. Still works the best for me.
Already other times it has happened to me both ways: a package I sent was lost or a package that was sent to me was lost.
My experience from Costa Rica (swapping on another website) has been that by international agreement (UPU), for all mail with tracking number, the country where the loss happened will give a refund in money which will be given to you Stephan through your post office.
That money will be enough to buy in a numismatic store all the coins you sent
(or at least the ones you don't have anymore) and to pay a new shipment to Costa Rica.
So I have done and other people have done with me.
Ask for it at your post office.
I am looking for coins (no bank notes) ESPECIALLY MONETARY UNITS from all the countries. The coins that say ONE: like ONE dollar, ONE peso, ONE dirham, ONE pound, etc. Any one from any country.
Our mailing office write: "The item transporter's liability is restricted by law (Postal Act, Universal Postal Convention or Act on Road Transport Contracts). The maximum sum of compensation is the maximum compensation determined by weight in the applicable legislation, even in cases where the damage suffered is more extensive. Registered letter maximum compensation is 30 eur."
If the delivery by registered mail cost 17.10 eur within EU countries and the maximum compensation is 30 eur, why should I use registered mail.
It's happened to me. Letter with tracking number got to my door step. I wasn't home and had to go to the post office to pick up.....never to be seen again. Sender got paid enough for the coins 25 euros I think and transferred the money to me. But said the German post wasn't even looking for the letter so his post office said. How does a letter get lost from my house back to the post office?
Quote: "Smetsys"Hi together,
I would just like to have your opinion (would appreciate feedback from admins on this site responsible for swaps section). After 250 swaps I have gotten back a tracked letter for the first time in a plastic envelope from the German post office, which tells me that "they regret to inform me that the letter got ripped along the way to Costa Rica" so they had to send it back.
The coins were in this bubble wrap envelope covered by a lot of paper around it. It is quite annoying as this was a big swap. I will try to get now money back from the post office in order to compensate my swap partner (however I don't know if that will work as I stated on postal form for international shipping as content "documents", as the recipient from Costa Rica told me to do, so that the letter would not be endangered to be opened by thiefs)... Anyone got experiences with such a case and what best to do?! Really annoyed :(((
Thx already for your help,
Stephan
you can claim for a registered letter to €25 in Europe. With the cost of actual postage you paid you will only get less than €20 for what you have lost. Registered letters are pointless! Sending packages costs more but has a much higher insurance value.
New rules that came in world wide, prohibits goods from being sent in registered letters, only documents.
you can still claim the €25, just say collectible documents.
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Small Flat Odd-Shaped Items in Envelopes at Automation Letter Prices
UPDATED January 2017
PS-328 (201.3.10)
This Customer Support Ruling (CSR) describes the preparation of letter-size automation compatible envelopes that contain coins, tokens, or similar small flat odd-shaped items. This ruling does not pertain to items thicker than a U.S. nickel.
Subject to Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) standards for automation, small flat odd-shaped items are permitted in automation-compatible letter-size envelopes when they are firmly affixed to a component in the mailpiece and wrapped within the contents so that the contour of the mailpiece is streamlined.
In addition, small flat odd-shaped items prepared in envelopes may be mailed at automation letter prices if the item is firmly affixed to one of the components and the mailpiece is prepared under the following conditions:
Sufficient additional material such as letters, response cards, envelopes, or advertising matter is included in the envelope to ensure that the mailpiece is streamlined for automated processing.
When a closed-panel window envelope is used and the item is visible through the window, a second wrapping may be used to cover the item. This second covering is in addition to the window panel material and may be made of cellophane or a similar see-through substance. The mailpiece must have sufficient additional contents that the entire mailpiece remains streamlined for automation processing.
The effect of including additional material or coverings to streamline the mailpiece meets the intent of wrapping the item within the contents. Small flat odd-shaped items cannot be placed in a position that would obscure the address or barcode.
When any envelope contains loose coins, tokens or similar small flat odd-shaped items that are not affixed to a component within or if the inclusion of such items results in the mailpiece not being streamlined, the mailpiece does not qualify for automation letter prices. It may be mailed, but is subject to the nonmachinable surcharge for First-Class Mail letters or the nonmachinable prices for USPS Marketing Mail letters.
(signed)
Sharon Daniel
Manager
Mailing Standards
Headquarters, US Postal Service
Washington, DC 20260-3436
Quote: "Dejan"Customer Support Ruling
Small Flat Odd-Shaped Items in Envelopes at Automation Letter Prices
UPDATED January 2017
PS-328 (201.3.10)
This Customer Support Ruling (CSR) describes the preparation of letter-size automation compatible envelopes that contain coins, tokens, or similar small flat odd-shaped items. This ruling does not pertain to items thicker than a U.S. nickel.
Subject to Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) standards for automation, small flat odd-shaped items are permitted in automation-compatible letter-size envelopes when they are firmly affixed to a component in the mailpiece and wrapped within the contents so that the contour of the mailpiece is streamlined.
In addition, small flat odd-shaped items prepared in envelopes may be mailed at automation letter prices if the item is firmly affixed to one of the components and the mailpiece is prepared under the following conditions:
Sufficient additional material such as letters, response cards, envelopes, or advertising matter is included in the envelope to ensure that the mailpiece is streamlined for automated processing.
When a closed-panel window envelope is used and the item is visible through the window, a second wrapping may be used to cover the item. This second covering is in addition to the window panel material and may be made of cellophane or a similar see-through substance. The mailpiece must have sufficient additional contents that the entire mailpiece remains streamlined for automation processing.
The effect of including additional material or coverings to streamline the mailpiece meets the intent of wrapping the item within the contents. Small flat odd-shaped items cannot be placed in a position that would obscure the address or barcode.
When any envelope contains loose coins, tokens or similar small flat odd-shaped items that are not affixed to a component within or if the inclusion of such items results in the mailpiece not being streamlined, the mailpiece does not qualify for automation letter prices. It may be mailed, but is subject to the nonmachinable surcharge for First-Class Mail letters or the nonmachinable prices for USPS Marketing Mail letters.
(signed)
Sharon Daniel
Manager
Mailing Standards
Headquarters, US Postal Service
Washington, DC 20260-3436
I want to point out that this only applies to US domestic mail. It's also three years old, and may no longer agree with more recent UPU regulations separating documents from parcels.
