Six Mistakes to Avoid when Shipping Precious Metals
Don’t worry. When you call us to discuss sending your precious metals to our refinery for testing and processing, we will explain what you need to do to send them safely.
The purpose of today’s post is to help you avoid some of the more common mistakes people make when sending precious metals – and valuable items of all kinds – to other people and businesses.
Mistake #1: Failing to Require the Recipient to Sign for the Package
Okay, we know it is sometimes a hassle to require a signature. If the shipping company – be it FedEx, UPS, the USPS or some other carrier attempts to deliver your package and the recipient is not there, the recipient will have to arrange for another delivery time or go to the carrier’s location to pick it up. That is irritating, but it is better than having your shipment of valuable metals get lost.
We have heard stories of bad things that happen when senders do not require signatures. Packages get stolen from front porches, from mailrooms in apartment buildings. You don’t want that to happen to your shipment, do you?
Mistake #2: Failing to Insure Packages
Both the Post Office and commercial companies that offer shipping services also offer insurance – often, it is very inexpensive. For only a few dollars, you can cover yourself for the loss of your metals. Why wouldn’t you do that?
Mistake #3: Poor Packaging
Remember that many metal items are fairly heavy. If you wrap them in paper or cardboard, they can break through that packaging and either arrive in damaged condition or be lost. So take the time to wrap items carefully in bubble wrap or bubble pouches, to use plenty of strong nylon-reinforced tape, and to pack the space between the wrapped item you are shipping and the box that contains it. Even better, consider placing your valuable items in one box, and placing that box inside another one – in effect, a double barrier. Also use strong tape to close boxes and other kinds of mailers to discourage thieves from reaching into them and stealing their contents.
Another problem is dropping precious metals to a “we ship it for you” kind of company and assuming it will do a good job. If you want to use one of those services, stand there and watch how they pack it.
Mistake #4: Using an Incorrect or Incomplete Address
Before sending, call the recipient and make sure you have the right address. Also make sure to obtain, and use, office suite numbers, apartment numbers and all the correct details. Avoid the temptation to use addresses that you copy from people’s emails. Are you 100% certain they are correct? Are you 100% sure that address represents the place where your contact wants the package sent? Make a call and ask.
Mistake #5: Failing to Ask the Right Questions about International Shipments
If you are sending some gold bullion to a person in Canada, for example, you will need to fill out customs forms that the Post Office or a commercial shipping company can show you how to use. But avoid the temptation to just send something valuable to another country without filling out the correct forms. If you do, the person you are sending valuables to could end up paying duty, your package could be held by customs at the country, or other problem can arise.
Mistake #6: Failing to Insert a Mailing List for All Commercial Shipments
It only takes a second to create and insert a packing list that itemizes everything you are enclosing in a package – and doing so is important. Above all, avoid the temptation to assume that your recipient will “know” what you are sending because you discussed everything via email or phone conversations. Your packing list can help you avoid misunderstandings and, if anything is stolen or lost from your package during shipment, you will have a record of what was taken.
And What About Great Big Shipments of Scrap You Are Sending to Us?
As we mentioned at the start of today’s post, we are ready to answer all your questions, including questions about shipping precious metal items of all kinds to our precious metal refinery for testing and processing. Call us at 800-426-2344.
Over the years, we have received shipments of an amazing variety of materials that have included floor and bench sweepings from factories, tangled masses of thermocouple wire, automobile and airplane parts, and lots more. We have seen and accepted just about everything, and we are here to offer you advice and guidance.