Sending cash through the U.S. mail 1 1

[Henri Charriere]

A few years ago, a gentleman from a foreign land won a MAJOR lottery here and was told he had to mail his winning ticket to the state capital which he did, placing it in an envelophe with the appropriate address and postage... but not mailing it certified, RRR, registered or insured.  The fact that he had won was not newsworthy, but his cavalier attitude and absolute trust and faith in the mails was front-page news. Everyone I know thought it to be hilarious. "Who does that"?

Today, I emulated his move and raised the stakes. After getting a notification from HA that items which matched my 🐓  want list were coming up for auction, I felt exactly the way any collector of top pops would feel if he eagerly sped thru 15 items only to find they were akin to "parking lot" finds. Apparently, someone who became disenchanted with his Set Registry had dismantled it and was in the process of selling it.  [Tellingly, none were the harder-to-find "Originals."] I had listed my interests with specificity and I felt as though someone with a long memory smacked his head, and declared: "Send those pix to that Rooster guy up in New York." Then I re-read the topic regarding hitting the "upgrade wall". Nothing new, not in weeks or months -- but years.

In another thread, uncle z made a perspicacious comment bespeaking great familiarity if not experience.  In an off-beat comment, I confided I had gotten so disgusted with my forced inertia, I entertained the thought of starting a "kid brother" 10 francs gold rooster set.  In so many words, z suggested it would not be easy.

Today, I did something impulsively:  I sent money thru the mail.  Some of you would say, "So what? That's an every day thing." Allow me to elaborate. I took a greeting card, addressed it to a specific person I never saw, spoke to, or wrote to, placed twenty crisp benjamins in it, sealed it as one normal would, and handed it to a postal clerk.  She threw it on a scale and listed my options on a reader. I told her No, no hazardous materials, etc. I rejected all the other options (which were prohibitively expensive and might have attracted unwanted attention, "Who registers or insures a greeting card?" and paid her $2.80 (for a letter/greeting card being flown Air Mail) that weighed all of 1.40 oz., and left.  To avoid a stampede to the www, I will volunteer only the coin I "ordered" was struck as a pattern on a hexagonal planchet. It is, by the description furnished, unlisted and unpublished.... UNIQUE.

I do not know if it will reach its destination.  I marked it: PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL and followed it up with an email informing the recipient only that I have ordered it and, on principle, refused to use eBay, its notorious counterpart, PayPal, credit card or a bank wire transfer.  The number of things that can go wrong is legion. Indeterminate. Right?  I threw all caution to the wind. (If I'd've told my wife, I wonder what she'd've said)

My question to you. gentle reader, is:  WOULD YOU DO THE SAME?  If not, WHAT'S YOUR LIMIT?   Bear in mind, all of us use the mails to buy and sell coins, currency, bars and collectibles WITH SOME MEASURE OF PROTECTION.  This is an experiment in progress. I will not know the outcome even if receipt of my order is confirmed.  I know you could. My question is would you, and if you have, what was the outcome?  (It is perfectly understandable if you have sworn to the zadokian oath of silence.) I will include one exception: a major TPGS (as indicated in another unrelated thread, makes cash remittance its first option, checking the box off as directed.  Forget the money involved. Would you exercise that option?  I did, but it was a sizeable fraction of the $2,000 involved here. I am going to assume the outcome here will be ideal.

But if you have an interesting tale to share, feel free to do so here. Withhold sensitive details as you wish.  Good nite all!

[olympicsos]

Nielsen sends people cash in the mail as a thank you for participating regularly. 

[zadok]

...n now we know why there r guardians appointed by the courts....

[Henri Charriere]

🐓:  Quite a lackluster response, if I may say so myself.

Q.A.: The truth is human beings tend to repress bad experiences. Uncle z mentioned legal guardians.  I wouldn't go fhat far. Your average member would suggest inadvisable or perhaps irrational, but come what may, my 2.3 followers can count on me coming clean. I expect my ill-advised but not illegal scheme to work and will post my dated postal receipt indicating a cash only purchase as well as a good shot of the pattern (the reverse is blank) right here for all to see. You'll see.  Right now, I am awaiting a reply to my order via e-mail.  If the artifact was sold, no problem: First come, first served.  If so, I am hoping they will issue me a credit. Who knows, maybe a top pop might make its debut. Would I advise anyone on the Forum to do likewise?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

Edited May 15 by Henri Charriere
Complete partial spelling of word; word substitution.

[Rob’s Coins]

I can’t say that I’ve willfully and trustingly sent money to a person in faith that they will send me the product.   I have sent coins to NGC and optioned out of the insurance.  A sizable $ package for my comfort but I hate insurance….  😒.  The things I could buy if I had all my insurance money back!!

[Henri Charriere]

On 5/15/2024 at 8:15 PM, Rob’s Coins said:

I can’t say that I’ve willfully and trustingly sent money to a person in faith that they will send me the product.   I have sent coins to NGC and optioned out of the insurance.  A sizable $ package for my comfort but I hate insurance….  😒.  The things I could buy if I had all my insurance money back!!

Don't feel bad.  A postal clerk once confided in me that the Tracking Number is key.  My problem was devising a sensible approach to problem-solving. Why would anyone insure, or send certified with a tracking number, a plain old greeting card, and if so, for how much without drawing the very attention you are seeking to avoid? 

You did the right thing. I believe speed is important (First Class/Priority Mail) packing things properly for shipment is important -- and that tracking number is important.  

[Henri Charriere]

THE RUMOR YOU MAY HAVE HEARD IS TRUE!

I figuratively stabbed my most ardent fan, not to mention my legion of Ignorers, squarely in the back.  How so, you might ask?  Easy.  I sent in my membership renewal... [Upon the advice of counsel, Ricky, 🐓 I sent my remittance in, eschewing crisp currency, for the security of a money order.] There is always the possibility that NGC, having weathered my antics, for years, will refuse to accept it, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.  Now for those not quite satisfied with that explanation I offer you the wisdom of our good friend from the Heart of Dixie who once said:  "I'd rather be RIGHT, than nice." To my knowledge, no one has challenged his fantastic assertion.

With me, I'd rather be fluid and truthful, than consistent and untruthful.  I announced my resignation, and save for the few that got wind of it and urged me not to, no one batted an eye.  So I ask you, gentle reader, what's the point of leaving, if you're not going to be missed?  As Putin, through an interpreter, said to Biden -- who, in substance, had just exclaimed, "I am looking into your eyes, Mr. President, and I do not see a soul," -- "We understand each other exactly."

Readership, we understand each other.

 

[J P M]

I always get my stuff within a week first class USPS from almost everyone. The last purchase from a dealer was sent economy USPS. And it has not arrived in three weeks. I fear it may be my first loss.  

[Henri Charriere]

I never fear the worst, but then again, international mail poses seemingly insurmountable problems. I ordered an item from Slovenia, and after fighting sharks rounding Cape Horn the freighter finally chugged in to New York harbor. I guess I lucked out. When certified, five years ago after receipt, it came in as a Top Pop: 2/0.  I vaguely remember the cost was $285 for an Original rooster -- its gold melt as of today is $446.13; its numismatic value obviously twice that -- and while it was packed practically for FREE DELIVERY (a clever euphemism used for SEA MAIL; Last Class Mail in the U.S. -- I had already forgotten about it, immersed in completing my main 16-coin set quickly.

Let us know how you make out. (I don't expect to hear from my seller until well into June.)

[J P M]

On 5/17/2024 at 6:46 AM, J P M said:

I always get my stuff within a week first class USPS from almost everyone. The last purchase from a dealer was sent economy USPS. And it has not arrived in three weeks. I fear it may be my first loss.  

Well, the coin is nowhere to be found in the USPS as of today. The seller has given me my refund $8.50 to my account although I really wanted the coin seeing it was valued at $85

[bstrauss3]

On 5/15/2024 at 8:11 PM, Henri Charriere said:

Don't feel bad.  A postal clerk once confided in me that the Tracking Number is key.  My problem was devising a sensible approach to problem-solving. Why would anyone insure, or send certified with a tracking number, a plain old greeting card, and if so, for how much without drawing the very attention you are seeking to avoid? 

You did the right thing. I believe speed is important (First Class/Priority Mail) packing things properly for shipment is important -- and that tracking number is important.  

Easy. Have you met my Mother?

 

If I send her {birthday|Mother's Day|Anniversary} card two weeks ahead of the date, I get a snarky comment about being early.

 

If I send her {birthday|Mother's Day|Anniversary} card so that it should arrive per USPS published delivery standards on the Friday or Day before said event ... it arrives late (bleep you DeJoy) and I get an endless rasher of {redacted}.

 

Tracking allows me to show I mailed it on time.

Photos prove what the card said so I can refresh my memory at how clever I am.

[Henri Charriere]

The saying goes, Buy Low, Sell High. I had bought a great deal of silver from The North West Territorial mint, without problem. Silver, then, was "stable." Years later, unbeknownst to me, I looked them up on Google and was surprised to see all the negative reviews. That answered the question as to what happened to the two twenty-dollar bills I once sent "The Metal Mint" for a pound of copper I never got. Cu was in a free-fall and those folks understandably could no longer maintain a sustainable operation. I took it in stride. The silver I ordered from the NWT mint, sent to me in canvas (duck?) bags experienced the same problem, the only difference being I got my silver, I suspect, when Peter robbed Paul until there were no new Pauls to rob, everything ground to a halt. So yes, Buy Low and Sell High, but do not do so when prices are on a steady downward trend. Silver, post Hunt bros., had already bottomed out when I placed my order.  I miss that Englehard hallmark and its  weight in my back pocket (about 8 lbs.) but that was 40 years ago. A lot has happened since.  Lucky for me, the best things in life are free, I live well within my needs, found a special woman, an apartment at less than half the rent I was paying, gold at its lowest when I got in, is now close to the highest it's ever been -- and do not have a care in the world.ife is beautiful!

 

[CIII]

Life really can be simple if you let it.  :-)  I like it like that.

Edited May 24 by CIII
misspell

[Henri Charriere]

@bstrauss3 :  As difficult as it may seem to believe, things could have been a whole lot worse.  Suppose she'd've called and said, "Where's all that money you promised me"?  🤣

[Henri Charriere]

On 5/14/2024 at 12:05 PM, zadok said:

...n now we know why there r guardians appointed by the courts....

FWIW:  If it helps matters any, I mailed "that" envelope to the founder of the firm on May 15, 2024.  Your guess is as good as mine as to when to expect a response, if any.

I also sent a text to the firm alerting them I desired the "coin" in question, had mailed them my "remittance" and would appreciate the courtesy of a hold on the product in question, if at all possible.  The e-mail, simply addressed to: whom it may concern, was dispatched the same day, 5/15.  They advise waiting up to 10 days for a reply.  I regret to inform you we are past that date.

For those keeping tabs on me, I will wait until the Fourth of July before conceding defeat.  The next day is my wife's and my wedding anniversary. Mail matters then, won't matter.

What if the "founder" is deceased. The greeting card envelope is marked: PERSONAL & CKNFIDENTIAL.  What if the coin's been sold.  I certainly don't want a check in €uros back.  What if, in the interim, one of my T[hree]MW 🐓  becomes available.  Yup, at least I will have a spot for it on my set registry.

What's the very worst that can happen?  TOTAL SILENCE?  Nope.  Loss of the merchandise between here and France. You know Murphy's Law:  If it can happen, it may very well happen.        

[zadok]

On 5/28/2024 at 11:39 PM, Henri Charriere said:

FWIW:  If it helps matters any, I mailed "that" envelope to the founder of the firm on May 15, 2024.  Your guess is as good as mine as to when to expect a response, if any.

I also sent a text to the firm alerting them I desired the "coin" in question, had mailed them my "remittance" and would appreciate the courtesy of a hold on the product in question, if at all possible.  The e-mail, simply addressed to: whom it may concern, was dispatched the same day, 5/15.  They advise waiting up to 10 days for a reply.  I regret to inform you we are past that date.

For those keeping tabs on me, I will wait until the Fourth of July before conceding defeat.  The next day is my wife's and my wedding anniversary. Mail matters then, won't matter.

What if the "founder" is deceased. The greeting card envelope is marked: PERSONAL & CKNFIDENTIAL.  What if the coin's been sold.  I certainly don't want a check in €uros back.  What if, in the interim, one of my T[hree]MW 🐓  becomes available.  Yup, at least I will have a spot for it on my set registry.

What's the very worst that can happen?  TOTAL SILENCE?  Nope.  Loss of the merchandise between here and France. You know Murphy's Law:  If it can happen, it may very well happen.        

...n now we know why some court appointed guardians carry straight jackets....

[Henri Charriere]

On 5/29/2024 at 10:17 AM, zadok said:

...n now we know why some court appointed guardians carry straight jackets....

That is "strait" jacket.  I am, of course, not speaking from personal familiarity. 

[zadok]

On 5/29/2024 at 10:49 PM, Henri Charriere said:

That is "strait" jacket.  I am, of course, not speaking from personal familiarity. 

...all in time....

[Henri Charriere]

🐓:  I see where your Topic dropped to 23rd place. Looks like the Forum wrote you off, as in, "a fool and his money are soon parted."

Q.A.  Oh ye of little faith... That's before the phone pinged at 4:41 a.m. this morning confirming my status as the Greatest Evel Kneivel of the coin world Of All Time!

If you, gentle reader, failed to reply to this Topic in a timely manner, you're too late. I received a confirmation that the twenty benjamins I placed in a greeting card had been received in France, is being converted to €uros and processing of my order is proceeding. Truth be told, it does not even matter if I receive this essai (test) pattern... described as uniface, undated, unlisted, unpublished -- and UNIQUE. I am now its proud new owner. As a practical matter this means no air travel, no extended car drives, no overnite hotel stays and no, I don't care how many real numismatists or artificial ones pay a visit whether to every roadside stand in the Commonwealth of PA or auction house in the country. You're not going to find it because it's mine and it's being prepped for shipment from overseas.

Is there a slot for it on any Set Registry?  No, there isn't and I couldn't care less. You don't see EC complaining about lack of accommodation for his '33 D/E on his set, do you?

So to all the Danny (and Debbie) Downers who long ago wrote me off as meshugana, I'M STILL HERE, STILL STANDING, STILL STRONG. I now hold a few records: member who owns a #1-ranked set registry of a series few ever heard of;  a [certified] pattern your average numismatist never knew existed; most disciplined member who clawed his way back from multiple deportations; and, as far as I am concerned, the only person to send a stamped envelope stuffed with U.S. currency -- uninsured, unregistered, uncertified, etc -- to a stranger I never saw, met, or spoke to before in my entire life. I am going to close this with a quote Kurt dislikes intensely:  "you don't have to be smart in this business. You just have to pay attention." I would add, it pays to broaden your horizon, use a little ingenuity and be resourceful.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

(Posted at the discretion of Moderation.)

Edited June 2 by Henri Charriere
Die polishing.

[Henri Charriere]

🐓 :  In deference to old-school members who insist on documentation, references, footnotes -- possibly a link, I think it would be wise to provide that information to the extent it is available

Q.A.:  Thank you, Ricky. The link is, as follows:

https://www.pcgseurope.com/cert/42188163

France Essai Coin - Marianne - Gold Pattern 20 Francs or tin uniface hexagonal planchet - PCGS SP-62 (Highest grade; the only example (UNIQUE) Top population: 1/0 

Unlisted in reference books - unpublished - undated - date/mintmark ND (not determined) circa 1898. Jules Clement Chaplain (Marianne type).

Material: tin; weight: 3.69; diameter: 27.00 mm.

Pattern struck on hexagonal planchet; superb eye appeal joins superlative rarity with bright original [mint] luster. Very scarce in this grade.

1 638.97€; expedited shipping (from Meylan, France.) 60€; Total: 1 698.97€   [1 700€ = 1 820 USD]

Projected delivery date:  Mon. Je 10 - Mon. Je 17. [Delivery effected: Thurs. Je 13.]

... all in time...

Edited June 14 by Henri Charriere
Restore link to function.

[Henri Charriere]

On 6/3/2024 at 5:25 PM, Henri Charriere said:

www.pcgseurope.com/cert/42188163

If link inoperative, as the late, great Oldhoop advised: "Look it up!"  PCGS Cert # 42188163.

[J P M]

It is a lovely looking coin Quintas. I think Ricky would say, don't count your chickens before they are hatched. It still has to get here. I am still waiting for my lost USPS nickel that may have never been shipped for all I know.

[Henri Charriere]

On 6/3/2024 at 8:30 PM, J P M said:

It is a lovely looking coin Quintas. I think Ricky would say, don't count your chickens before they are hatched. It still has to get here. I am still waiting for my lost USPS nickel that may have never been shipped for all I know.

Thomas Numismatics, the very first time I stumbled across it, was very formal and intimidating.  It read like the NGC Guidelines, covering EVERYTHING from acceptable forms of payment to settling disputes.  I got the distinct feeling they didn't just sell to anyone.  Perhaps an exaggeration, but it seemed to me they reserved the right to choose their buyers and the only option a complete stranger had was to be referred by a previously vetted source.

I believe when that money in that simple greeting card addressed to its founder fell out of the envelope, it must have left them gobsmacked. The hard part was over when I received an acknowledgment which I actually solicited from them!  It was out of the blue. I made no inquiry as to the availability of the piece.  I never became a member, subscribed to their newsletter or received an order number. Set the money aside and I cease to exist.

We"ll see what happens... I remain hopeful your nickel will show up -- minus a stye.  🤣

[cobymordet]

On 6/4/2024 at 11:55 AM, Henri Charriere said:

-- minus a stye.  🤣

. . . I was beginning to thought it was a ghost post. . .  

[Henri Charriere]

Decision Day (D-Day) : 6 juin 2024. [ Official Receipt of Confirmation of Order and projected delivery date: on or about June 13.]

Numero de commande:  # 54298

Method de paiement: Autre

Prix sous-total:  1.638.97 € 

Expedition:  60 €

Total:  1,698.97 €  (which I rounded off to 1,700 Euros which = 1851.23 USD)

***

EDITORIAL COMMENT:

I believe a serious collector of French 20-francs gold roosters (or Coq Marianne) ought to have a rudimentary working knowledge of the French language. Regarding Thomas Numismatics, I should like to point out three things.

1-  Cash/currency is not an acceptable payment option of any country. (When I sent a USPS money order, which is for domestic use only) to a U.S. seller, he balked and I realized it was not a negotiable matter according to the terms of eBay and their bosom buddy, PayPal.

2-  So how did T.N. handle this potential international incident? With finesse. Look at what they recorded for posterity in their records above for "Method of payment": "Autre," which is French for "other." That's classy and clever.

3-  As I mentioned either earlier in this column, or on another, I got the impression the seller conducts business only with people they know.  So how were they able to reconcile this sale professionally without my logging in? Simple. They arbitrarily assigned me a User Name and intricate Password which looked like something you would need to access nuclear codes.  An Auto-fill function was provided with the advice that should I choose another it be sufficiently garbled and enviably incomprehensible.

Incidentally, I knew, after conversion from USD to €uros the price (exclusive of what Customs will surely exact from me) and what with a volatile market, the Grand Total would be between $1700 and $1900, hence the $2,000 remittance to cover all contingencies. I guess I differ from other buyers in that I feel any discussion of price or reimbursement of excess funds is beneath me.  Notably absent from the "invoice" was any mention of the remittance made and the difference between it and the final price. In the general scheme of things, it amounts to petty cash. I don't sweat the small stuff.

[Henri Charriere]

🐓  :  You do realize this Topic is now 38 posts down the list, don't you?

Q.A.:. That's too bad because as of 10:47 a.m., today, Thursday, May 13, 2024, I am the very first member in recorded NGC history to place $2.000 in cash in a stamped envelope, unregistered, uninsured, uncertified with no tracking number to place an "order" to a coin emporium I am not a member of, deal with a principal and his associates without ever having inquired as to the availability of the item sought beforehand, not once exchanging texts, receiving an order number, without ever having met, spoken to, or writing to a place I had no prior experience with in a city in France that was previously unknown to me...and having the merchandise delivered to my door on time and on schedule. (Yes, I tipped the courier.)

I haven't opened up the package.  I don't need to do that right away.  Right now I am sitting in the park, crowing. Inside that envelope is an essai, a (test) pattern, etain (tin) uniface which those members rooting for me have already seen: hexagonal, undated, unlisted, a Top Pop 1/0, graded SP-62  -- UNIQUE.

Added Bonus: NO CUSTOMS!

Some of you thought the very worst. What can I say? I am sorry to have disappointed you.  Now, uncle z can put the strait jacket away. And the whole Forum can heave a heavy sigh of relief.

To my many detractors, this was MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. To me it is MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Secretly, I already knew it was a fait accompli.

🐓  :  Fine. Can we eat now?

Q.A.:  Oui,  With crepe suzette for dessert.  Man, I love this place!

(Posted at the Discretion of Moderation.)

Edited June 14 by Henri Charriere
Routine die polishing.

[J P M]

On 6/13/2024 at 2:27 PM, Henri Charriere said:

🐓  :  You do realize this Topic is now 38 posts down the list, don't you?

Q.A.:. That's too bad because as of 10:47 a.m., today, Thursday, May 13, 2024, I am the very first member in recorded NGC history to place $2.000 in cash in a stamped envelope, unregistered, uninsured, uncertified with no tracking number to place an "order" to a coin emporium I am not a member of, deal with a principal and his associates without ever having inquired as to the availability of the item sought beforehand, not once exchanging texts, receiving an order number, without ever having met, spoken to, or writing to a place I had no prior experience with in a city in France that was previously unknown to me...and having the merchandise delivered to my door on time and on schedule. (Yes, I tipped the courier.)

I haven't opened up the package.  I don't need to do that right away.  Right now I am sitting in the park, crowing. Inside that envelope is an essai, a (test) pattern, etain (tin) uniface which those members rooting for me have already seen: hexagonal, undated, unlisted, a Top Pop 1/0, graded SP-62  -- UNIQUE.

Added Bonus: NO CUSTOMS!

Some of you thought the very worst. What can I say? I am sorry to have disappointed you.  Now, uncle z can put the strait jacket away. And the whole Forum can heave a heavy sigh of relief.

To my many detractors, this was MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. To me it is MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Secretly, I already knew it was a fait accompli.

🐓  :  Fine. Can we eat now?

Q.A.:  Oui,  With crepe suzette for dessert.  Man, I love this place!

(Posted at the Discretion of Moderation.)

So,is there a package ?  Have you opened the package  ?

Edited June 14 by J P M

[Henri Charriere]

On 6/14/2024 at 8:32 AM, J P M said:

So,is there a package ?  Have you opened the package  ?

I have.  It was probably the most intricately packaged item I ever opened in my life.  Redundant protection.  Envelopes inside sleeves with padding discreetly taped to insure it would not move in transit.  I posted a few photos Ricky took (which absolves me of the responsibility of taking blame for the substandard quality.) The best photos are in the Link:  https://www.pcgseurope.com/cert/42188163

It is a very unusual piece and the original mint luster (lacking in Ricky's photos) exceeded my expectations.  I appreciate your interest. 

[Henri Charriere]

THIS TOPIC IS NOW CLOSED TO FURTHER REPLIES