HOW I SPENHT MY SUMMER VACATION
HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION
Well not really but it sure feels like this episode took all summer. This blog is likely going to be a rant so fair warning. I am going to try to keep this short. Sometime in the beginning of September I bought a nice, raw POW chit. It was so nice I decided to send it into PMG for grading and slabbing. This is not an easy decision as PMG charges more than the chit cost me. I felt it was worth it for this chit and off it went, USPS Priority.
The chit got there no problem and was logged in on September 20. PMG is quite a bit faster than NGC so they had it done and shipped back to me on October 19. All well and good UNTIL it reached San Bernardino post office on October 27. That is slow but common as it is returned by USPS Registered mail.. That means it is locked up at each location and logged in and out. The safest way to ship, they say.
Well, as of today, December 3, it is still there. Lost, never to be seen again? No problem you say. It is Registered Mail and though I might not get it the USPS will help me. Well other than my local Postmaster no one at the USPS gives a sh.., fig. I mean the San Bernardino post office won't even reply to my Postmaster's inquiries. No one. It is as if it never happened. I did learn one thing. Not only did the post office lose my item they LOST THE ENTIRE BAG OF MAIL IT WAS IN! That's right. They lost a whole bag of precious Registered Mail. Oh well. Easy come, easy go!
I contacted PMG and they did what they do to start a claim. I contacted Numismatic Crime and learned they are so backed up they don't know when they will get it up but they will. O.K. cool. This should surely knock it loose. Nope. No matter how angry I get or how many calls I make it sits somewhere.
PMG finally contacted me a couple of days ago and informed me the time has passed for me getting it and they need some info to file a loss claim. So I send them what they need. It is mostly proof of what I paid and what I am in the chit. They will only pay you what you are in your item. Does NOT matter what you say it is worth on the submission form. Two days later I was informed that PMG filed the Loss form with USPS and we will see.
I couldn't hold this mess any longer. I wanted to let you all know about listing the value of your coin or currency. Only what you can prove with papers. More papers. I had to get this off my chest. I don't feel any better though. I don't want the money, I want my POW chit. I put up a picture below to show what I am talking about. It is from PMG. This is all I have. The human incompetence is baffling to me. Sorry everyone but this had to be said. Consider this as a warning. Registered Mail means nothing. We mean nothing to the post office, anything you send in be prepared to document. Have a great day!
P.S. It was STOLEN. My opinion. Here is the PMG certificate number to watch out for: 2020714-001 It is a grade 66EPQ NYU-32-1-5.
P.P.S. I guess I need to point this out for some: THIS IS NOT A COIN. I DID NOT OVERESTIMATE IT'S VALUE. REGISTERED MAIL IS DEAMED THE MOST SECURE WAY OF SHIPPING. I DIDN'T SEND IT REGISTERED, PMG DID. THANKS FOR READING.
SOURCES: My personal experiences
Comments
Anakin104
Level 4
I feel bad for you. You buy a numismatic treasure and send it to get it graded and it gets stolen. In my collection most of my coins and bills aren't PMG worthy.
Mike
Level 7
Getting something stolen is not COOL!.My Lord. Read the blog.
Mike
Level 7
By the way our site has a crime center. Under community. I looked threw the first few pages. Priority mail was the most stolen package. Yea there safe!
Long Beard
Level 5
Yikes! I feel for you. We are so alike in the value of what we collect.
Longstrider
Level 6
I live in the High Desert in CA. The Mojave Desert. Not a lot of folks out here. We do have our own Post Office. A satellite office. Well there are so many little thieves out here the lobby and PO Boxes are only open from 8-4 on weekdays and 11:30-1:45 on Saturday. You can't do any window business that long but it doesn't matter for this tale. There is a big mail box in the breezeway. It's not outside and not in the lobby. One of those big mail boxes that used to be on every corner. Well, last year it was stolen. Yep. Some animals on two legs went in and unscrewed it from the floor and took it. It was found out in the desert a few days later. Pried open and all the mail they didn't want thrown around. The crooks are everywhere. Don't tell me there is a "safe, better" way to mail. Same goes for the other carriers. Thank You!
Mike
Level 7
Read the blog. It's not a coin. That's why we write them so you can learn. Priorty is not the way to go either. They all get robbed. Because the truck driver does not lock the door on delivery. Fed Ex truck was robbed they found all types of packages opened in the woods. There lazy. And I hope I really do this doesn't happen to anyone. Spend 200.00 on a coin and have it robbed. It's not the cost it's the item. Searching for it. Finding it buying it. Sending it away. Then have it stolen. See how you would feel. Besides your paying 26.00 registered mail. Safe. Nothing is safe
Longstrider
Level 6
Thanks Mike. It can get maddening.
I. R. Bama
Level 5
Wow, so sorry about all of that.... I remember when you got it and it led me to do research on the local pow camp. We had mostly German soldiers
thatcoinguy
Level 5
Cool!
thatcoinguy
Level 5
OMG! I guess I didn’t add enough context. I meant cool that you got a POW chit! ðŸ¤
Kepi
Level 6
Not Cool!
Longstrider
Level 6
Cool??? No it's not cool at all. Geez! Get a clue. I hope this cool deal never happens to you.
CheerioCoins
Level 5
It’s a real bummer about the coin. I don’t grade my coins. If I want a coin graded I will buy it graded.
Kepi
Level 6
Thanks... But this isn't a coin. You need to read the blog and look at the photos. Just an observation. ; )
AC Coin$🌎
Level 6
Look for the tracking station punches . never and never write down the origin nor the House ID .
Big Nub Numismatics
Level 5
I've had my coins in PCGS for about 4 months now and counting-It is astounding to me that the PO won't reimburse the stated value- I guess put down you paid a lot more for everything than you did. Usually;;y Priority is the best way to go nowadays. Even then you run some risk. Hope it gets back to you someday!
Longstrider
Level 6
Your guess would be wrong. I put down exactly what I was Into this chit. Good luck at PCGS. I believe they return Registered Mail as well.
Golfer
Level 5
It's a shame this happens. Unfortunately it's a sign of worse things to come. This type of thing will only get worse. Crime is going up and societal behavior is worsening.
Kepi
Level 6
This really sucks... Believe me I know. Makes you think twice before sending something wonderful from your collection in to get graded. And why is the USPS above even an explanation... Oh yeah... That's right they are the government. Sorry Longstrider, you deserve better treatment than this. ; )
CoinCollector7777
Level 5
Wow. Sorry about the coin.
CoinCollector7777
Level 5
Oh. I didn't know what it was, so I just assumed it was a coin.
Longstrider
Level 6
It's not a coin. It's a POW chit like I say repeatedly in my blog. Did you not see the photos? I do appreciate the sentiment though.
Mike
Level 7
This whole thing stinks. Lost I doubt it. Stolen is a better way to say it. You can lose an item but a whole bag. That bag has been opened and gone. There covering up for someone. They see registers mail they know it's important. I'm sorry my friend. Like you said the money is not the issue. It's the item. And it can't be replaced. I don't no what to say but I feel your anger. I'm so sorry. Mike
AC Coin$🌎
Level 6
I am sorry about this incident , and I feel deeply . I feel the same about my collection . I have my doubts about the mail process . I feel like it happened to me . Sentimental value is the most . You have grounds for a lawsuit .