How do I ship a whole bunch of coins (13.5 pounds) from USA to Canada?

I need to ship coins for a large swap (a little over 13.5 pounds total, packed and boxed; valued at around $180) from Virginia/USA to a member in Nova Scotia/Canada.

I had a very heated argument with several Post Office workers and their supervisor this afternoon. I'm still a bit flustered from it and the whole issue in general, so please excuse me if this post is a little bit all over the place.

USPS says (per the guidelines on their computer system) that "collectors and dealers can only send coins in regular uninsured parcels"; with an added bit from the Supervisor that "just regular people can't send coins." So, according to her, I would have to be a licensed collector/dealer in order to send coins to Canada…?

However, per USPS's website, in Canada's prohibited/restricted items section, it states that coins aren't prohibited, only restricted, with the requirement that "coins…may be sent only in insured parcels."

So, basically, I need Schrödinger's Insurance…?

I've done several international swaps, and usually put "numismatic collectibles", "hobby supplies", or "collectable tokens" on the Customs form. I don't think I can get away with it this time as, 1) it's like 1200 coins, and 2) I can't really afford to lose them if they're uninsured. *If they do get lost, I could at least collect the insurance reimbursement and pay the partner what I would owe.

To add insult to injury, I shipped coins via the same method (Priority Mail Flat Rate--an insured method) two weeks ago to Spain. I wrote "collectible tokens" in the description, but the lady forced me to add "- coins" to the form, as they "don't have a section for tokens, but do for coins". Then the package was sent (and later received) with zero issues. None of this collector/dealer nonsense.

So what am I supposed to do here? I need to send these ASAP as my partner just sent theirs, and I'd love to not have to return them (wasting both our money) when they get here if I can't send mine.

Any help, but especially help from any of y'all who successfully ship large lots of coins from US to Canada, is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Have you thought about multiple small packages?

jc'scoins

Have you thought about multiple small packages?

Hey JC; I hope you've been well!

I have thought about it, but that would significantly increase my shipping costs to way over my budget. I've just barely been able to budget myself with the $61 shipping this should cost me. If I broke the shipment down into the size of the envelopes that I've successfully sent to Canada, it would be about 10-14 envelopes, at about $23 each…meaning $230-322, which I couldn't even dream to afford. 

If I broke it down into the smaller boxes (4lbs limit, so 3 boxes and 1 envelope), that would still run me about $120.

But even if I could afford either, this wouldn't get me past the US-side "only uninsured" / Canada-side "only insured" issue.

You could aways just plan a trip to Canada :D

jc'scoins

You could aways just plan a trip to Canada :D

Bruh I'm'a send you a bunch of ugly-ass wooden nickels next time we swap 😤

But seriously, if I can barely afford $60 for shipping, ain't no way I can afford a trip to Fancyland Canada. 

BlottomanTurk

jc'scoins

You could aways just plan a trip to Canada :D

Bruh I'm'a send you a bunch of ugly-ass wooden nickels next time we swap 😤

 

But seriously, if I can barely afford $60 for shipping, ain't no way I can afford a trip to Fancyland Canada. 

That was just a joke bro. 

But seriously, you could just put a lot of stamps on a package and put it in your mailbox. They can't ask any questions.

You can buy $10 stamps from USPS.com 

Hope this helps 

The only other option is to try to send it with a printed label online to avoid hustle at the post office? https://www.paypal.com/shiplabel/create/

Your friend is not going for a Spring Break to Niagara Falls by any chance?:) I will be driving from Northern Virginia to Niagara Falls next weekend, just in case:)

I've had several large swaps with a member in Nova Scotia, maybe even the same collector you're dealing with.

I'm guessing you packed your coins (13 lbs) in a medium-sized flat-rate box? And you need to complete a Customs Form but the clerks rejected the info you put on there? They say you cant insure the package? Priority Mail automatically comes with $100 insurance so dont bother trying to add any.

I've mailed at least 3 such boxes to Canada last year. Step 1: go to a differemt PO.  Then, on the customs form list the contents as “Legal Tender” “Qty 100” “value $0”.

Worked for me every time with no headaches. Don't ask any questions, just slide the box and form over the counter. If the clerk asks whats in the box say “legal tender”. If the clerk asks what that is just say "money". They have to check their boxes on their dumb little computer screens and they're limited by the drop-down fields. So annoying these days.

PS: the only package I ever had “trouble” with was a large box sent to France. I packed the box and filled out the form as described above. It took a week or two longer than expected. The other member said that when he rec'd the box it had clearly been opened and re-sealed by French Customs. They used special tape and left a note inside. Nothing was missing. I've shipped boxes to Thailand, France, Canada, and UK this way. No trouble.

I used “Metalic Disk samples” as content description in previous swaps.

TCon

I've had several large swaps with a member in Nova Scotia, maybe even the same collector you're dealing with.

 

I'm guessing you packed your coins (13 lbs) in a medium-sized flat-rate box? And you need to complete a Customs Form but the clerks rejected the info you put on there? They say you cant insure the package? Priority Mail automatically comes with $100 insurance so dont bother trying to add any.

 

I've mailed at least 3 such boxes to Canada last year. Step 1: go to a differemt PO.  Then, on the customs form list the contents as “Legal Tender” “Qty 100” “value $0”.

 

Worked for me every time with no headaches. Don't ask any questions, just slide the box and form over the counter. If the clerk asks whats in the box say “legal tender”. If the clerk asks what that is just say "money". They have to check their boxes on their dumb little computer screens and they're limited by the drop-down fields. So annoying these days.

 

PS: the only package I ever had “trouble” with was a large box sent to France. I packed the box and filled out the form as described above. It took a week or two longer than expected. The other member said that when he rec'd the box it had clearly been opened and re-sealed by French Customs. They used special tape and left a note inside. Nothing was missing. I've shipped boxes to Thailand, France, Canada, and UK this way. No trouble.

Thank you very much for this info! I'll follow these directions and try another PO tomorrow. One thing though, am I correct in marking it as “Gift” on the US Customs form (the little check boxes above where I put description)?

Yes, tick the box for “GIFT”.

The EU recently started to demand very specifi descriptions on Cusroms forms so I bet the USPS is applying the rules to all international shipments now. So we used to just write “gift” or “papers” or “souvenirs” but now you have to be more specific. So if the clerk asks what you mean by “Legal Tender” say “Money”. That should be the end of that.

TCon

Yes, tick the box for “GIFT”.

 

The EU recently started to demand very specifi descriptions on Cusroms forms so I bet the USPS is applying the rules to all international shipments now. So we used to just write “gift” or “papers” or “souvenirs” but now you have to be more specific. So if the clerk asks what you mean by “Legal Tender” say “Money”. That should be the end of that.

These developments make international shipments even expensiver, don't forget the customs fee's too. The fee for a package with coins from the USA to the Netherlands it's around the 30 euro and it takes 3 to 4 weeks to be delivered.  It may differ with other EU countries. 

The positive side of it, it's that I don't need to tell fantasy stories (lets call it lies) to the post officer anymore and the parcell can't get lost (to much track and trace eyes on it).

In other words when swapping from the EU to the USA or vice versa, just make the swap content/value count! 

Spookie

I used “Metalic Disk samples” as content description in previous swaps.

Alas it doesn't work that way anymore, not from the Netherlands.  When the letter is heavier than 40 g and the post office notice that there is more than paper in it, I can't even use stamps. Fill the forms sir, it's everything they tell.

Lets call it the new reality. 

AHOJ 

(„Ad honorem Jesu“)

I chose a psychological effect for customs ( Although they have scanners and X-ray machines)  -On the shipment under my name in the left corner of the box-shipment I write:

,, BIRTHDAY GIFT GRAPHIC DESIGN,,

( I proceed from simple human logic - that almost all of us have a birthday in a given year and customs officers are also only human and like it when they run out of presents)

graphic design - is the technical processing of coins - however, in an artistic sense and that is what we collect-no money - money - mammon, but we are interested in design -especially graphics, the artist's work.

,,I would never send money - you have to go to work and earn it or beg on the sidewalk,,

As for the post office and its employees:

Yes, we also filled in information about the shipment according to the stupid regulations and implementation of EU rules. But I live in a big city, so I'm secretive.

We have a total of 490 inhabitants, including all cottages in the woods and hills-so we know about ourselves and what someone had for dinner yesterday. Explaining what I am sending is completely unnecessary, everyone knows what is there - even the superior post office in a larger village has a manager who is my neighbor's girlfriend.

So we put it together - the post office employee will write a graphic design birthday gift - add insurance and we will laugh and have a nice day.

Worse is the opposite - incoming parcels - the post office has gone crazy in the capital and considers all parcels with "Asia" as ordered purchased items and automatically demands a duty of 10 dollars.

and here I am at a loss and I don't know how to get around it.

Ivan