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DesertTumbleweed402
Penny Pincher Member
USA
196 Posts |
 Posted - 05/06/2009 : 14:25:11
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This is partly the post office's fault as well as Apmex's fault. After ordering my coins from Apmex for the first time, they shipped on April 30th. Today, being May 6th I was a little worried as to why they hadn't showed up. I called Apmex and talked to Susan Noel who I must say was extremely helpful and prompt in her response. She sent me the tracking numbers via e-mail and was very friendly about it. Fine.
Well, according to the tracking nubmers, the packages arrived at the postal facility on MAY 2nd. I drove to the post office and talked to an employee there who said they left me a pink slip in my mailbox on May 2nd because "no one was home". Um, my family was home all day on the 2nd and there was nothing left in the mailbox. On top of that, I was charged for shipping AND INSURANCE when I ordered. When the postal employee scanned the packages, he asked me if I had been charged for insurance as there was an "insured" label on the package and that it was coming up in the computer as not being insured. I told him yes to which he responded that the packages "were not insured and that the total shipping on the label should have been such and such..."
My question is what should I do? I have not opened the coins yet (which I am going to do after typing this), but one of the packages was badly beaten up. I am expecting some kind of compensation given I was charged a good amount for "insurance" and that both packages were NOT insured.
Any ideas? All responses are welcome!
Thanks!
- Chris
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I enjoy taking long walks off short piers. |
Edited by - DesertTumbleweed402 on 05/06/2009 14:25:40 |
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CoinHunter53562
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1805 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 14:30:08
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APMEX may use a 3rd party insurer or may insure it themselves depending on the value.
Bulliondirect insures shipments through an agreement with Lloyds of London so APMEX may do something similar.
As long as you get your coins safely, then there should be nothing to worry about or complain about. |
My hobby: collecting real money 1 copper cent or nickel at a time.
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DesertTumbleweed402
Penny Pincher Member
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 15:02:39
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| Yeah, I understand that, CoinHunter, but the fact that I was charged for insurance and never got the insurance is what makes me unhappy. |
I enjoy taking long walks off short piers. |
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natsb88
Administrator
USA
1850 Posts |
 Posted - 05/06/2009 : 15:24:04
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quote:
Originally posted by DesertTumbleweed402
Yeah, I understand that, CoinHunter, but the fact that I was charged for insurance and never got the insurance is what makes me unhappy.
Again, they may not purchase insurance from the USPS. If they purchase insurance from Lloyd's or another third party, it will not show up as insured through the USPS, even though it is insured. The only way to insure bullion through the USPS is with Registered Mail, which starts at $10 + postage + insurance.
Also, where does it say "insurance charge" or the like on the APMEX invoice? They have flat shipping rates based on the order total. They don't break it down into postage, handling, insurance, etc. If your shipping cost is high, it's probably due to using a credit card. They add ~3% to the order total to cover the credit card fees, and tack it on the shipping charge.
Not leaving a pink slip was definitely the fault of the USPS, not APMEX. I guess I'm just lucky to have honest and diligent postal workers in my area 
APMEX and BullionDirect both package their shipments very well. I received a package that looked like it had a pretty rough ride, but there was absolutely no damage to the products inside. |
Nate
The Copper Cave
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DesertTumbleweed402
Penny Pincher Member
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 15:30:03
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I talked to the postal employee and he told me the regular postal delivery man (who is VERY good with his job, I must say) has been on vacation for the past week. So it was the sub for him that was supposed to deliver the package.
On the invoice in the box it said, "Shipping/Ins." and then gave the additional amount in addition to the price for the coins.
- Chris |
I enjoy taking long walks off short piers. |
Edited by - DesertTumbleweed402 on 05/06/2009 15:30:54 |
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moboman
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
2555 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 16:03:17
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APMEX always has packed the items well for me. But they dont even have anything but delivery confirmation for some reason. No signature, no nothing. They just get left in the hallway.
If I were you I'd complain about all the extra time you've wasted going to the post office and dealing with this. Maybe APMEX will have some sympathy if you spent a lot with them as it is your first order. |
"99% of all lawyers give the rest of them a bad name"
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CoinHunter53562
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1805 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 16:03:42
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quote:
Originally posted by DesertTumbleweed402
Yeah, I understand that, CoinHunter, but the fact that I was charged for insurance and never got the insurance is what makes me unhappy.
You're assuming that because it wasnt insured through the post office that you were charged for insurance and didnt get it. That may or may not be the case. I think you are taking what the postal clerk said as the final word, without considering the other insurance options that may have been used.
If they used a postal label saying "insured" then it might have been a keying error by their shipping department. If they used a rubber stamp that says "insured" then it was likely a case where they used a 3rd party insurance company or self insured it.
If during the checkout process, you specifically ordered USPS insurance versus insurance, then you would have a right to be upset about paying for something that you didnt get. But I am 99.9% sure that APMEX insured it the way I said they did.
FWIW, I sell on EBay and self insure alot of my shipments. That means that I am willing to take the risk and will cover any damages or losses if the post office screws up. Whether it's covered by me or by the post office, if someone pays the $1.70 for insurance it is covered. Does that make sense?
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My hobby: collecting real money 1 copper cent or nickel at a time.
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natsb88
Administrator
USA
1850 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 16:06:37
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quote:
Originally posted by moboman
APMEX always has packed the items well for me. But they dont even have anything but delivery confirmation for some reason. No signature, no nothing. They just get left in the hallway.
I haven't ordered from them in a few months, but I had several orders last summer, fall, and winter, and all of them came with signature confirmation. They were not very large orders either. |
Nate
The Copper Cave
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Mikep2020
Penny Collector Member
USA
402 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 16:09:03
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| I have to sign for all my Apmex packages |
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Neckro
1000+ Penny Miser Member
Saudi Arabia
2080 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 16:42:59
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| Everytime I order from them I don't have to sign for anything. =/ And yeah, APmex might insure their products through a 3rd person insurance company outside of USPS |
Trolling is an art. |
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CoinHunter53562
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1805 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 16:45:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Mikep2020
I have to sign for all my Apmex packages
Same here...I think all of mine have come registered mail. So I have to sign whether it's when the postman comes to the door or when I pick the package up at the post office. |
My hobby: collecting real money 1 copper cent or nickel at a time.
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DesertTumbleweed402
Penny Pincher Member
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 16:53:33
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It was a USPS insured sticker that had a barcode on it.
Edit: There was no "insured" stamp, just a sticker. |
I enjoy taking long walks off short piers. |
Edited by - DesertTumbleweed402 on 05/06/2009 16:54:28 |
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DesertTumbleweed402
Penny Pincher Member
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 20:23:33
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| Thanks for your help, everyone! I really appreciate everything everyone contributed. |
I enjoy taking long walks off short piers. |
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ME CO
Penny Pincher Member
USA
199 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2009 : 07:27:55
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Glad you got your package. I had to endure the whole 30 day wait BS last year- what a nightmare. I don't know whats worse, bendin over for the local or trusting our mail system.
My $1000 package was clearly stolen as it was signed in to my PO, I was pi$$ed and fortunate they didn't call the cops when I wanted to go in the back and look for it. HH Mark |
"54/54/2280" |
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My First Experience with Apmex... HELP!
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