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Topic: Lost/undelivered packages from PMG  (Read 22183 times)
ogopogo
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« on: February 20, 2017, 09:30:05 pm »

Anyone experiencing any lost mail from PMG?
Sitting here hoping a pack of bills that hit Canada Feb 5 gets delivered.
Canada Post won`t help as they don`t track international mail.
Lost don`t know what to do.
Manada
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« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2017, 09:53:03 pm »

It is most likely sitting in customs. I had a large one sit there for 4 weeks. My wife found a phone number to call online(unfortunately I didn't keep it) but I called the number and the customs agent knew right away which package I was referring to. She asked me a few questions about what it was and why, then told me she is now releasing it. I received it 2 days later.

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Ottawa
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« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2017, 11:42:32 pm »

I wouldn't even think of using the Post Office for bulk submissions to PMG or PCGS. I use FedEx without any exception whatsoever.  It's not cheap ($50-$100 depending on the package weight) but the quality of the tracking and the speed of delivery are mesmerizing. A package sent from Ottawa before 4:00 pm one day will arrive at PMG in Florida before noon the following day, and vice versa. My customs declaration always reads "Printed documents being sent to PMG for certification, then returned to sender",  or words to that effect. Fedex does not deliver to PO Boxes though.

Last October, I lost a $300 banknote that I sent to the UK by Registered Post. It was tracked through Montreal and to Heathrow Airport in the UK but then it disappeared. I'm still waiting for some sort of minimal compensation from Canada Post and that's after four months and two online complaints. I don't blame Canada Post in this case as the item did arrive in the UK although it never got to its proper destination.

I've used FedEx for overseas deliveries too. A banknote sent to INDIA arrived TWO DAYS LATER, as did a banknote sent to QATAR. The cost in each case was about $110 but it's worth it if only for the peace of mind. Registered Post would have taken three weeks or longer, and the item may have been lost or stolen along the way.

FedEx Forever is my motto!

" Buy the very best notes that you can afford and keep them for at least 10 years. " (Richard D. Lockwood, private communication, 1978).
Ottawa
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« Reply #3 on: February 25, 2017, 07:27:10 am »

This is the standard letter that PMG includes when it returns graded notes to Canadian customers, thereby averting all potential Customs problems and delays.

" Buy the very best notes that you can afford and keep them for at least 10 years. " (Richard D. Lockwood, private communication, 1978).
Ottawa
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« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2017, 07:29:05 am »


" Buy the very best notes that you can afford and keep them for at least 10 years. " (Richard D. Lockwood, private communication, 1978).
Seth
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« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2017, 10:01:03 am »

Last October, I lost a $300 banknote that I sent to the UK by Registered Post. It was tracked through Montreal and to Heathrow Airport in the UK but then it disappeared. I'm still waiting for some sort of minimal compensation from Canada Post and that's after four months and two online complaints. I don't blame Canada Post in this case as the item did arrive in the UK although it never got to its proper destination.

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for any compensation above what you paid for the postage. "Canada Post shall have no liability for loss, damage or rifling of Registered Mail (U.S.A. and International) items containing banknotes". https://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/pgregistus-e.asp

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ogopogo
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« Reply #6 on: February 25, 2017, 10:12:44 am »

"Printed documents being sent to PMG for certification, then returned to sender"

Well now I know what to put down on the declaration for customs.
Thanks for that.
It is still undelivered and I have called Canada Border Services and actually had a postal worker in Canada try and find it.
Moving to Fed Ex.
Somewhere out there is a nice consecutive pair of 1975 $50 and a couple of fold errors.
Ottawa
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« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2017, 04:24:47 pm »

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for any compensation above what you paid for the postage. "Canada Post shall have no liability for loss, damage or rifling of Registered Mail (U.S.A. and International) items containing banknotes". https://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/pgregistus-e.asp

Thanks Seth, although I was already painfully aware of the liability issue. By far the most scary word in the above paragraph is "RIFLING" and I think that word was added to the Canada Post regulations relatively recently. It's tantamount to an admission by Canada Post that it knows that rifling does occur within its system. I often feel that, in the long run, it would be safer to send paper money of modest value by regular (un-Registered) post in order not to draw attention to contents of possible value. High value items should always be sent by FedEx, although I'm sure FedEx too experiences losses from time to time .... The life of a paper money collector ain't so easy these days ...  :-[

" Buy the very best notes that you can afford and keep them for at least 10 years. " (Richard D. Lockwood, private communication, 1978).
Seth
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« Reply #8 on: February 25, 2017, 06:33:39 pm »

By far the most scary word in the above paragraph is "RIFLING" and I think that word was added to the Canada Post regulations relatively recently.

I agree, I've looked at these terms before and definitely do not remember "rifling" being in there.

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friedsquid
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« Reply #9 on: February 25, 2017, 06:53:23 pm »

Quote
The life of a paper money collector ain't so easy these days ... 

With cheap flights to Florida, maybe personally delivering your notes to PMG might be the way to go.... ;D



Always looking for #1 serial number notes in any denomination/any series
Ottawa
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« Reply #10 on: February 26, 2017, 07:32:15 am »

It is still undelivered and I have called Canada Border Services and actually had a postal worker in Canada try and find it.
Moving to Fed Ex.
Somewhere out there is a nice consecutive pair of 1975 $50 and a couple of fold errors.

Let's hope that your package has merely been delayed and not lost. Keep us up to date with any developments. Good luck!

" Buy the very best notes that you can afford and keep them for at least 10 years. " (Richard D. Lockwood, private communication, 1978).
34Coupe
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« Reply #11 on: March 03, 2017, 08:04:48 pm »

I hope they do get delivered and that it's just held up in the "system".  I was wondering why you chose PMG versus BCS (no Customs or cross border issues)?  I have not tried PMG yet and have had a great turn around time from BCS, but am always looking at other opinions or options.
friedsquid
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« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2017, 08:25:05 pm »

I hope they do get delivered and that it's just held up in the "system".  I was wondering why you chose PMG versus BCS (no Customs or cross border issues)?  I have not tried PMG yet and have had a great turn around time from BCS, but am always looking at other opinions or options.

Although grading by PMG is costlier if you read previous posts you will see that in most cases PMG notes get higher grades than do BCS notes....Therefore from a sellers point of view better grade = more $$$$$
Also PMG is more known world wide which also makes some sellers prefer this TPG over a Canadian TPG
Only my opinion



Always looking for #1 serial number notes in any denomination/any series
34Coupe
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« Reply #13 on: March 03, 2017, 08:30:40 pm »

Ok, that explains an item I heard that sometimes people or companies will remove notes from BCs holders and send them in to have them graded by another company. 
shrek999
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« Reply #14 on: March 05, 2017, 09:43:03 am »

Yes I read a lot in this forum about the higher grading and switching of notes to PMG interesting and informative posts
Ottawa
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« Reply #15 on: March 08, 2017, 10:45:18 am »

Although grading by PMG is costlier if you read previous posts you will see that in most cases PMG notes get higher grades than do BCS notes....Therefore from a sellers point of view better grade = more $$$$$
Also PMG is more known world wide which also makes some sellers prefer this TPG over a Canadian TPG
Only my opinion


I sent off 50 notes (Canadian and foreign) to PMG yesterday and they arrived safely this morning (see tracking data below).

Whatever we may feel about American grading standards via-à-vis Canadian grading standards, PMG and PCGS have taken the TPG world by storm and, by default, their grading standards have become the industry standard. As I've opined before, I just don't feel that two widely different grading systems (Canadian and American) can coexist for much longer because, in reality, there is only one single commercial marketplace within North America.


" Buy the very best notes that you can afford and keep them for at least 10 years. " (Richard D. Lockwood, private communication, 1978).
ogopogo
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« Reply #16 on: March 10, 2017, 08:53:15 pm »

Mine shows that it went from New York to London England before it made it to Canada.
ogopogo
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« Reply #17 on: March 10, 2017, 08:54:40 pm »

Florida to New York then England then Canada
Ottawa
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« Reply #18 on: March 11, 2017, 10:37:55 pm »

Florida to New York then England then Canada

That's most unusual, at least in my experience. Perhaps you should contact FedEx for an explanation?

" Buy the very best notes that you can afford and keep them for at least 10 years. " (Richard D. Lockwood, private communication, 1978).
Seth
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« Reply #19 on: March 13, 2017, 05:35:33 pm »

<shrug> I'm sure they have their reasons. As long as it arrives on time I wouldn't care if it went to Mars along the way.

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friedsquid
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« Reply #20 on: March 14, 2017, 02:11:33 pm »

<shrug> I'm sure they have their reasons. As long as it arrives on time I wouldn't care if it went to Mars along the way.

I wouldn't care either as long as they put a MARS postage on the envelope :)



Always looking for #1 serial number notes in any denomination/any series
Seth
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« Reply #21 on: March 14, 2017, 03:24:50 pm »

Reminds me of the time years ago when I worked in a call centre for the BC government. This man called up furious that his shipment of auto parts from California was routed through Fort Erie, Ontario on the way to BC. They arrived on time all right, he just wanted to blame some level of government because "private business doesn't operate that way with those kinds of inefficiencies. There's no way a shipment of auto parts from California to BC gets routed though New York and Ontario without government making that happen."

...And he was calling the BC government to complain about this. Sigh...

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Manada
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« Reply #22 on: March 18, 2017, 10:07:51 am »

I just had a very close call with a buyer on ebay.

This buyer is from Singapore and purchased some banknotes in the value of $1000+ from me. My internal alarm bells were ringing but I went through with the deal regardless and sent the items through Canada Post registered mail in the evening and uploaded the tracking number.

The next morning the buyer sent me a message asking if the notes were sent insured. (Alarm bells ringing louder now) I responded with Canada Post will not insure banknotes but he would be covered through Paypal. The buyers response was "Well if you didn't insure them I don't them anymore. I see you have a 14 day return policy, and when they arrive I will return them to you because I don't want to deal with the drama of possibly pilfered notes. My apologies I should have told beforehand that I want them insured and would have paid extra to do so."

Knowing that I dropped off the notes last evening I left work and raced to the post office because I know I missed the Canada Post pick up time the evening prior and they were still at the post office and managed to get my notes back before they were shipped off.

I then sent the buyer a message that I managed to get the notes back and if he would like I can get a quote for shipping through Fed Ex insured. His response was "Oh that's ok, I've now found a local buyer with the same notes for cheaper!" I got lucky on that one!

Anyways the moral of the story is I then went to the Fed Ex office and asked about insurance for banknotes and was told that they will absolutely NOT insure banknotes. So my question is how are people shipping high value banknotes to PMG or anywhere for that matter insured? Or is everyone just taking a gamble? Are you just writing the contents are something else? If so, what if they do get lost and any type of investigation is done ( especially on higher value notes) will you lose out on getting refunded for lost packages? Help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Manny
manadabc@outlook.com

But always, there remained the discipline of steel. - Conan the Barbarian
Seth
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« Reply #23 on: March 18, 2017, 11:49:38 am »

Bank notes are prohibited items under Fedex's terms and conditions. They will not insure them for loss under any circumstances. And if they find any in any shipment, they will be confiscated and deposited, and the shipper will be sent a cheque for their face value minus a service charge of between $25 and $35.  Fedex Canada terms and conditions

Knowing the above, I would never send any package to any TPG with Fedex. It would be obvious to Fedex what the contents of any shipment going to any TPG would be. I'd feel safer sending bank notes uninsured with regular post.

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Seth
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« Reply #24 on: March 18, 2017, 11:56:14 am »

So my question is how are people shipping high value banknotes to PMG or anywhere for that matter insured? Or is everyone just taking a gamble? Are you just writing the contents are something else? If so, what if they do get lost and any type of investigation is done ( especially on higher value notes) will you lose out on getting refunded for lost packages?

People here have mentioned that they declare bank notes as historical documents to get insurance coverage, but I'm not aware of any successful claims against loss that have resulted from that.

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Manada
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« Reply #25 on: March 18, 2017, 01:24:01 pm »

If I understand correctly historical documents would only be covered up to a maximum of $500.

Section 16; Subsection 8 Articles of extraordinary value/valuable cargo

http://www.fedex.com/ca_english/services/serviceguide/termsandconditions/ip1ixf/


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Manada
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« Reply #26 on: March 18, 2017, 01:26:58 pm »

*correction Section 16 A - Restriction due to nature of goods Subsection 8

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Ottawa
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« Reply #27 on: March 18, 2017, 03:43:23 pm »

...... Knowing the above, I would never send any package to any TPG with Fedex. It would be obvious to Fedex what the contents of any shipment going to any TPG would be. I'd feel safer sending bank notes uninsured with regular post.

That's somewhat difficult to believe lol!

" Buy the very best notes that you can afford and keep them for at least 10 years. " (Richard D. Lockwood, private communication, 1978).
Ottawa
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« Reply #28 on: March 18, 2017, 03:52:08 pm »

People here have mentioned that they declare bank notes as historical documents to get insurance coverage, but I'm not aware of any successful claims against loss that have resulted from that.

I declare as "Printed Documents" (or words to that effect), not for the purpose of obtaining insurance coverage but for the purpose of facilitating problem-free passage through Customs. So far fortune has been on my side. However, I realize that if a FedEx package got lost or stolen I wouldn't receive any compensation at all. Based on my own experiences, however, I just feel safer with FedEx than with Canada Post. The only real answer is to purchase private insurance, which many online sellers do as a matter of standard practice.

" Buy the very best notes that you can afford and keep them for at least 10 years. " (Richard D. Lockwood, private communication, 1978).
Manada
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« Reply #29 on: March 21, 2017, 08:04:18 pm »

Thanks for the advice Ottawa! I will look into third party insurance.

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ogopogo
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« Reply #30 on: March 22, 2017, 08:04:56 pm »

Mailed out Jan 28th hit Canada Feb 5th delivered today.
54 days in the postal service.
Got 2 1975 $50 bills with 65 EPQ *.
Never seen the star before.
SSSSOOOOOOOO glad they are home.
Ottawa
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« Reply #31 on: March 23, 2017, 07:03:18 am »

Mailed out Jan 28th hit Canada Feb 5th delivered today.
54 days in the postal service.
Got 2 1975 $50 bills with 65 EPQ *.
Never seen the star before.
SSSSOOOOOOOO glad they are home.

That's great news! However, 54 days in the postal pipeline with all of the consequent stress is totally unacceptable. That's the principal reason why I always go with FedEx these days. I sent two 50-note shipments of world notes to PMG very recently. Both shipments arrived safely around 10:30 am on the morning following the day I shipped them. If you enter the following two Tracking Numbers into the FedEx.ca tracking site you will witness the highly detailed tracking information which generates a lot of peace of mind: 810170850292 and 810170231305).

By the way, the *STAR* designation is very rarely assigned by PMG and it can add huge desirability and value in the eyes of many collectors. I have sent well over 200 high-grade notes to PMG and have only received one single *STAR* designation to date!

" Buy the very best notes that you can afford and keep them for at least 10 years. " (Richard D. Lockwood, private communication, 1978).
ogopogo
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« Reply #32 on: March 24, 2017, 09:38:12 pm »

The worst part is I only sent in 2 of the 4 consecutives to be graded.
Now I`m gun shy to send in the other 2.
Ottawa
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« Reply #33 on: March 30, 2017, 05:42:30 pm »

I finally received a formal response from Canada Post regarding the $300 banknote that was lost/stolen/destroyed in the Registered Mail system en route to the UK last October. I will be reimbursed in the amount of $54.60 plus the cost of Regular (NOT Registered) postage.


" Buy the very best notes that you can afford and keep them for at least 10 years. " (Richard D. Lockwood, private communication, 1978).
ogopogo
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« Reply #34 on: March 30, 2017, 07:57:59 pm »

ouch
ogopogo
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« Reply #35 on: April 09, 2017, 02:02:00 pm »

Here is 2 of the lost and now found bills.


Seth
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« Reply #36 on: April 09, 2017, 04:20:30 pm »

That is some sweet embossing on those fifties.

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