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OMG the USPS Regulary Steals Packages Containing Coins or Paper Money

I'm sure everyone knows this, but until you see it for yourself, it's hard to believe the thieves the USPS employs who after passing the package through the x-ray, see what it is and if it is money takes the contents.  I've had (3) items arrive at the buyer's address with a USPS "sorry your package was damaged" note on it as if to just taunt you.  In all three cases, it was either coins or paper money.  Clearly, this is not a coincidence.  Apparently, UPS should be used for anything like this if not for all packages even if the cost is higher.  Sending anything of value through USPS is like going to Mexico to have a kidney taken out.

Message 1 of 29
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28 REPLIES 28

Re: OMG the USPS Regulary Steals Packages Containing Coins or Paper Money

The only thing I have to say is that your analogy stinks. 

Grandma

Message 16 of 29
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Re: OMG the USPS Regulary Steals Packages Containing Coins or Paper Money


@greatpricesyep wrote:

I'm sure everyone knows this, but until you see it for yourself, it's hard to believe the thieves the USPS employs who after passing the package through the x-ray, see what it is and if it is money takes the contents.


The USPS is X-raying all their packages?

Message 17 of 29
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Re: OMG the USPS Regulary Steals Packages Containing Coins or Paper Money

I've sent quite a few coins to the US. Never had problems with the postal service, only with buyers.

Message 18 of 29
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Re: OMG the USPS Regulary Steals Packages Containing Coins or Paper Money

No. Each processing center has one x-ray machine that they use when the contents of a parcel is suspected of containing something dangerous or hazardous. The postal inspector or floor supervisor at that processing center are the only persons allowed to use the machine. All packages processed are photographed but not x-rayed.

Message 19 of 29
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Re: OMG the USPS Regulary Steals Packages Containing Coins or Paper Money


@wrong66 wrote:

No. Each processing center has one x-ray machine that they use when the contents of a parcel is suspected of containing something dangerous or hazardous. The postal inspector or floor supervisor at that processing center are the only persons allowed to use the machine. All packages processed are photographed but not x-rayed.


A lot of these elaborate theft fantasies just dont scale. The USPS isnt going to have some guy sitting at an Xray machine to examine every single package to see whats in it AND then decide to somehow sidetrack it and steal the contents AND somehow get away with it in the middle of an entire sorting office. 

 

Its way more likely that no one other than the buyer is suspect here - making fake claims of thefts - especially in the case of high scam areas - and collectible coins are definitely up there. If the OP is hearing about packages actually marked by USPS as arriving damaged or empty then the answer may be to better disguise the package as something generic and not something that probably has coins in it - but I would say its more likely that the buyer got the package just fine and is filing a claim anyway since there is little to no burden of proof required.

Message 20 of 29
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Re: OMG the USPS Regulary Steals Packages Containing Coins or Paper Money


@greatpricesyep wrote:

I'm sure everyone knows this, but until you see it for yourself, it's hard to believe the thieves the USPS employs who after passing the package through the x-ray, see what it is and if it is money takes the contents.  I've had (3) items arrive at the buyer's address with a USPS "sorry your package was damaged" note on it as if to just taunt you.  In all three cases, it was either coins or paper money.  Clearly, this is not a coincidence.  Apparently, UPS should be used for anything like this if not for all packages even if the cost is higher.  Sending anything of value through USPS is like going to Mexico to have a kidney taken out.


Yeah, that didn't happen, but good story

Message 21 of 29
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Re: OMG the USPS Regulary Steals Packages Containing Coins or Paper Money


@femmefan1946 wrote:

If your customers are receiving damaged parcels with missing contents, have you considered that you might be the problem?

How are you packaging that the damage is occurring?
Are you using tough poly envelopes? Are you sandwiching contents between thin sheets of card? Are you shipping in a coin holder in a kraft envelope?

 

Are all those "damaged" envelopes passing through the same terminals?

 

 


Of course they haven't, because it's easier to blame someone else

Message 22 of 29
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Re: OMG the USPS Regulary Steals Packages Containing Coins or Paper Money

I assuming your shipping international. Not a good idea!

 

USPS does a great job and if you have an issue, you can file a claim with them. They have great people who work in security, fraud,  & theft.

 

 

Message 23 of 29
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Re: OMG the USPS Regulary Steals Packages Containing Coins or Paper Money

Mental health does certainly come into postal thefts. Most of the cases I have seen reported run to carriers who got behind, put some items aside for the next day, which was just as busy, put some aside for later delivery.... ;and when the inspectors arrive the back bedroom is full of envelopes past the windowsills.

 

I have several different accounts and several different address labels. They all have the same address.  Perhaps changing the design of your address labels? For example, since you are selling coins and paper money, use a design that would "read " as feminine and flakey-- perhaps flowers and a Live Laugh Love motto as well as the address. Or one that 'reads" grandparent /child with Tommy the Tank Engine.

Move to a generic box- about the size of a chocolate box.

Change the post office or post box you ship from.  If these are arriving damaged and with USPS markings, the theft is close to home, not a thousand miles away.

 

And of course, Cookie Jar Insurance. Adding a small amount, less than a dime, to your asking price or shipping price to cover a self-insurance premium. All those virtual dimes go in a Virtual Cookie Jar to cover losses of any kind, including return shipping labels, damage or loss in transit, flakey buyers and that time you sent the $50 bill instead of the $25 bill.

Message 24 of 29
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Re: OMG the USPS Regulary Steals Packages Containing Coins or Paper Money

Three possibilities here (in no particular order) if in fact the OP is losing as much as they claim.....

 

1 - The OP's buyers are mostly thieves and liars

 

2 - The packaging the OP uses highlights to a casual viewer that the contents are worth stealing

 

3 - If these thefts occur with a variety of ship to locations the thefts must be happening very close to the location of deposit with USPS (ie: the OP's carrier if they do the pickup, a USPS counter employee if the OP uses a retail counter). In other cases no human actually handles packages until the local delivery Post Office so if the thefts are widespread it must mean that all the carriers doing deliveries of the OP's packages are thieves. While there are obviously a few dishonest amongst the 500,000 employees the OP seems to have incredibly bad luck.

 

 

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
Message 25 of 29
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Re: OMG the USPS Regulary Steals Packages Containing Coins or Paper Money


@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

I assuming your shipping international. Not a good idea!

 

USPS does a great job and if you have an issue, you can file a claim with them. They have great people who work in security, fraud,  & theft.


No you cannot file a claim through the inspector general who investigates allegations of theft.  You still need insurance to file a claim.

Message 26 of 29
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Re: OMG the USPS Regulary Steals Packages Containing Coins or Paper Money

Correction: The truck drivers handle packages constantly, all day long. I know this because I was a Postal Service Contract Route Driver for 10 years, delivering from the processing center to the various post offices. Sometimes at 2 am., where you let yourself into a locked station with a truck full of mail and unload on their dock and bring it inside the station. Nobody else is around for several hours. If a truck driver wanted to steal mail, and some did, he could literally "shop" for packages that looked interesting or valuable. 

Message 27 of 29
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Re: OMG the USPS Regulary Steals Packages Containing Coins or Paper Money

http://pe.usps,com/text/CSR/PS-328.htm

The coins could be shaking out of their envelopes during sorting.

 

 Tape the card to the inside of a fold over greeting card so there's no movement of the coin. Put the card in the envelope it came in.  You can mail it like that but for better protection put the envelope in a padded envelope.  

Message 28 of 29
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Re: OMG the USPS Regulary Steals Packages Containing Coins or Paper Money


@fab_finds4u wrote:

http://pe.usps,com/text/CSR/PS-328.htm

The coins could be shaking out of their envelopes during sorting.

 

 Tape the card to the inside of a fold over greeting card so there's no movement of the coin. Put the card in the envelope it came in.  You can mail it like that but for better protection put the envelope in a padded envelope.  


It was a padded envelope and well secured.  It for sure was ripped open by a human who realized it was heavy and something valuable possibly.

Message 29 of 29
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