Ping John
 

On Thu, 03 Apr 2014 12:35:23 -0400, wrote:

On Thu, 03 Apr 2014 08:15:21 -0400, Poquito Loco
wrote:

On Thu, 03 Apr 2014 03:52:56 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:

On 4/2/2014 9:45 PM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 02 Apr 2014 21:37:01 -0400, Poquito Loco
wrote:

Insurance is available at USPS. Today I dropped off a package and asked the lady at the counter if
she knew why the US Mint was using UPS instead of USPS. She didn't know either.

===

Yes, you can insure and request a tracking number. Rates seem to be
cheaper than UPS in my experience although I think UPS might be a tad
faster.


The USPS has a "if it fits" flat rate shipping program. They have
priority mail shipping boxes in several sizes. If your item fits in one
of the boxes it ships for a flat rate regardless of weight or
destination. (I think there's an upper limit on the weight though).

The shipping boxes are free at the post office or you can order some
on-line and they will deliver them to your house or place of business.

The flat-rate shipping includes free tracking and $50 free insurance.
You can up that if desired. Delivery is priority mail, so it usually
takes only three days. Not a bad deal. I just shipped a digital
recorder with a bunch of accessories to a guy in Texas. I shipped it on
Saturday, he received it on Wednesday. Cost to ship: $15.00.



Those flat rate boxes are convenient, but unless they're filled to the brim they're expensive. But,
I'm a cheapskate at heart anyway.

The trick is to weigh the package and then decide whether flat rate is
better than just using regular priority mail. You do need to use the
right box. The won't let you black out "flat rate" and put regular
priority postage on it and you can't write "flat rate" on a regular
priority box even though they are exactly the same sized box.
I just have a supply of both kinds.
You can go to USPS.COM and order all you want for free.
When I am weighing these things I don't bother to fold up the box,
just lay it on the scale flat and put the item you are shipping on top
of it.

A cool thing about click n ship is you can print up a return label and
put it in the box or you can even Email it as a pdf..


OK, maybe I'll warm up to the idea. I'll try your approach next time...maybe.

Ping John
 

On Thursday, April 3, 2014 1:21:44 PM UTC-7, Mr. Luddite wrote:

Here's what cracks me up. You know what sells or causes obsolete audio

gear to sell? The original remote control if it came with one.



I listed an old Yamaha stereo receiver/amp that is in super excellent

condition on Craigslist but nobody was interested because it's old. It

has "VCR" inputs on it. :-)



I never bothered much with remote controls and ended up with a basket

full of them. A guy finally emailed me and told me he would buy the

Yamaha for $65 but *only* if I had the remote controller for it. Turns

out I found it in the basket. He's willing to skip the receiver and pay

me $65 just for the remote. I don't get it. You can buy universal

replacements and program them to do whatever you want, but some people

want the originals.



I might have a few hundred bucks worth of remotes in that basket. :-)

People will collect anything. Maybe the guy collects remotes?

Ping John
 

On Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:33:30 -0400, wrote:

Once you get set up on click n ship, it is so easy you will never want
to do anything else.
I have not actually been to the post office (or any other shipping
place) in years. Deb, my mail lady, comes right up to the front porch
and gets the outgoing box. You schedule the pickup when you print the
label. Everything is bar coded, scanned at every step and you can
track your box online but I have never lost a priority box.

===

I assume that you must set up an account backed by a credit card or
something similar?

Ping John
 

On 4/3/2014 5:30 PM, Tim wrote:
On Thursday, April 3, 2014 1:21:44 PM UTC-7, Mr. Luddite wrote:

Here's what cracks me up. You know what sells or causes obsolete audio

gear to sell? The original remote control if it came with one.



I listed an old Yamaha stereo receiver/amp that is in super excellent

condition on Craigslist but nobody was interested because it's old. It

has "VCR" inputs on it. :-)



I never bothered much with remote controls and ended up with a basket

full of them. A guy finally emailed me and told me he would buy the

Yamaha for $65 but *only* if I had the remote controller for it. Turns

out I found it in the basket. He's willing to skip the receiver and pay

me $65 just for the remote. I don't get it. You can buy universal

replacements and program them to do whatever you want, but some people

want the originals.



I might have a few hundred bucks worth of remotes in that basket. :-)

People will collect anything. Maybe the guy collects remotes?



I think it's more an issue of originality. Sorta like guitars. People
will pay big bucks for certain older guitars but only if they are
completely original.

Ping John
 

Poquito Loco wrote:
On Wed, 02 Apr 2014 20:47:03 -0400, Earl wrote:

wrote:
On Wed, 02 Apr 2014 09:07:43 -0400, Poquito Loco
wrote:

On Tue, 01 Apr 2014 20:38:25 -0400, Earl wrote:

Poquito Loco wrote:
On Mon, 31 Mar 2014 20:58:53 -0400, Earl wrote:

Poquito Loco wrote:
On Sun, 30 Mar 2014 00:11:47 -0400, Earl wrote:

Poquito Loco wrote:
On Fri, 28 Mar 2014 21:22:53 -0400, Earl wrote:

Poquito Loco wrote:
On Thu, 27 Mar 2014 23:07:15 -0400, Earl wrote:

John,

I'm looking for a one ounce American Eagle gold proof coin. I was able
to get the once ounce platinum coin from the US Mint but they have sold
out the gold coins. What was the name of that dealer that you used for
the gold coins for your family? If you aren't the correct poster, sorry!

Thanks,
Earl
Ask and ye shall receive!

http://www.golddealer.com/product/am...le-proof-1-oz/

That is a beautiful coin and presentation. Might make a great Christmas present for the daughters
this year. That site has a nice product description also. If you have questions, call them. They are
very easy to work with.
Thanks! I got an email today that the 2014's are going to be released
next week so I'll compare prices.

The US Mint just released their first curved coins to commemorate the
baseball hall of fame. It bought a $5 proof gold coin and two proof
silver dollars for my nephews. They are huge baseball fans.
Send me a link to the US Mint site when you get your email. Be interesting to compare prices.
http://www.usmint.gov/
So, it looks like the US Mint adds from $310 to $360 to whatever the spot price happens to be. CNI
is adding $330. So it's possible to save a bit or spend a bit more. When you buy from the Mint, do
you make the deal over the phone and get a price good for the time it takes your payment to reach
them? How does that work?
It's all online and very simple. What I don't understand is that when I
bought my platinum eagle they sent it via UPS and they had a free
shopping bag promo that they also sent UPS in a separate box - both 2nd
day. WTF? The US government isn't supporting the USPS?
Trust? Signature requirement? Don't know. I know there was a signature requirement on the package I
got from CNI.
There is a signature required. The USPS is capable of that.
Then you got me. I don't know.
It might have something to do with the insurance
The government is self-insured. We're talking about less than $2000 -
not an original Picasso!

It's just sad that the US government finds UPS to be a better option
than the USPS.
Insurance is available at USPS. Today I dropped off a package and asked the lady at the counter if
she knew why the US Mint was using UPS instead of USPS. She didn't know either.
I just ordered a 2014 1oz gold American Eagle proof coin from the mint.
It's shipping UPS 2nd day air...