shipping a penny to us from canada

[aubreyclay56]

i am hoping there is a seller available to answer a question about shipping coins to the us,i have some coins mostly pennies and nickles listed,they are not valuable to any stretch of the imagination,however they are collectable.i have seen sellers ship for 1.00 or two to us from canada,i ran that by the guy at the post office he tells me its 5 dollars to ship something to the us that isnt paper.he also said you might get away with sending it letter mail.but they also may send it back to you if it doesnt have the proper shipping label hence the 5 dollar charge,

[pierrelebel]

"the guy at the post office he tells me its 5 dollars to ship something to the us that isnt paper"

The guy is technically correct.  Only "documents" can be sent to the USA using the letterpost rate ($1.20 up to 30g)

However "he also said you might get away with sending it letter mail."  While technically incorrect, many Canadian sellers are known to ship small low value items going to the USA using the letterpost rate. 

A coin sandwiched between two pieces of cardboard should work as long as the thickness of the envelope does not exceed 5mm

[aubreyclay56]

it wont set off a metal detector or something,i just cant see charging 5 bucks for a one or two dollar item

[aubreyclay56]

thankyou sir most helpfull

[mr.elmwood]

What the PO wants, is for the envelope to be the correct size and thickness so that it does not cause any problems with the equipment.

If you ask what the rules are, they will tell you, as they are required to. Do not ask.

I would go one better with coins. Not just sandwich, as that can give a bulge, but, use thicker and carve out a depression that the coin will fit in.

Buy discount stamps from some of the fine sellers here. Affix the correct postage and drop your mail in the nearest letterbox.

[jt-libra]

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@aubreyclay56 wrote:

i am hoping there is a seller available to answer a question about shipping coins to the us,i have some coins mostly pennies and nickles listed,they are not valuable to any stretch of the imagination,however they are collectable.i have seen sellers ship for 1.00 or two to us from canada,i ran that by the guy at the post office he tells me its 5 dollars to ship something to the us that isnt paper.he also said you might get away with sending it letter mail.but they also may send it back to you if it doesnt have the proper shipping label hence the 5 dollar charge,

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Those types of small, lightweight items, I've taped to the inside of a greeting card and shipped as lettermail to the U.S. - $1.20 under 30 g.

An added bonus -- the buyer is pleased to get a personalized thank you card.

[femmefan1946]

KISS

And if you go thrifting, there is usually a big box of greeting cards somewhere in the back near the dress patterns and christmas tins. No need to buy the $5 ones at the supermarket.

[jt-libra]

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@femmefan1946 wrote:

KISS

And if you go thrifting, there is usually a big box of greeting cards somewhere in the back near the dress patterns and christmas tins. No need to buy the $5 ones at the supermarket.

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Of course, I don't buy $5.00 cards.  You can get a package of 5 blank cards at Dollarama for $1.00, or I use the ones I get from charities when I make a donation.

[aubreyclay56]

thankyou all very much

[tinmancomith]

Always remember though no tracking no protection on your sale so if you do send it letter mail and they say they did not receive the letter they get all their money back and your out your 5 bucks and your penny. That's the risk you take sending letter mail , just another view you need to look at as well.

[femmefan1946]

Do you mean on a $5 sale you are out $5?

No.

You are out your costs not your profits.

But it is necessary to weigh the chances of a Dispute against the lower cost of an untracked service.

[maximus7001]

$5 to mail a coin. That is just silly. Put it in an envelope with some folded paper so it stays put. Make it 30 grams or less and fit through the 5mm slot. Lots of room. $0.85 stamp to Canada, $1.20 stamp to USA, and $2.50 stamp elsewhere.

31-50 grams less than 5mm is $1.20 stamp to Canada, $1.80 stamp to USA, $3.60 stamp elsewhere

[mr.elmwood]

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@femmefan1946 wrote:

Do you mean on a $5 sale you are out $5?

No.

You are out your costs not your profits.

But it is necessary to weigh the chances of a Dispute against the lower cost of an untracked service.

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Exactly, you cannot lose unrealized profit.

The "chances of a dispute" run about 1:1000 for me. .1%? Why would I even bother worrying about a % that low?