What is the best way to ship within California and insurance?

[Phoenix]

I'm asking my niece to post - on my behalf - the items I'd like to sell, within the US, from Orange County to LA (where Grace is based).

What is the best way to ship? Which carrier? And is there a maximum insurance limit? She'd be shipping several items worth a total of just under USD60k. Could she post them altogether or would she be better off shipping them in say 2 or 3 packages?

 

[Rfisher]

I’m sorry if an ignorant question, your niece will ship them from
Orange County California to Los Angeles California?

If that’s the case - I wouldnt choose for her ship it at all.

 

[lissyflo]

Ditto what Rfisher said. Or ask Grace to send you a label if you really want to ship so that you’re covered by her commercial insurance. But hand delivery on that kind of distance would be safer.

 

[Phoenix]

@Rfisher and @lissyflo, I asked her today if she wouldn't mind driving to Grace's office. And she said she wouldn't have access to a car.

I shall ask her again. If she still says no, I'd ask Grace to send me a label. That's an excellent idea. Thank you.

​

 

[Rfisher]

Best wishes for quick sale(s).

For me to use fed ex (if that’s what Grace uses) boxes, and a vendor supplied label, I have to drive over 25 miles to get to a fed ex location that’s appropriate. Hope your nieces situation is different- out there in CA.
Nothing saying fed ex boxes ‘have’ to be used - but not sure I’d find sturdy enough inner and outer boxes appropriately sized laying around my house.
Don’t forget to remind her to cushion the jewelry within their jewelry boxes, to fully cushion the inner box(es) from the outer box, and that nothing rattles around in the outer box. Inner boxes should have their own label as well, as precaution.

Eta
I know this isn’t your first rodeo in shipping jewelry - but worth saying

 

[Lookinagain]

@Rfisher and @lissyflo, I asked her today if she wouldn't mind driving to Grace's office. And she said she wouldn't have access to a car.

I shall ask her again. If she still says no, I'd ask Grace to send me a label. That's an excellent idea. Thank you.

​

Does your niece drive? If so, why not pay for her to rent a car for the drive? Probably safer and perhaps even less money than shipping. I'm guessing its not that long of a drive.

 

[marymm]

As another option, if Grace has an account with / access to a trusted messenger service, it might be as cost-effective to ask Grace to schedule a messenger to drive out to pick up the boxed items and deliver them straight back to Grace ...

 

[VRBeauty]

Maybe your niece has a friend she trusts enough to drive her to and from Grace’s office? Even today, gas money would probably only be $10-20 or so. Offer $100-$200 for the bother and everybody wins!

 

[rocks]

Registered mail. I think the insurance max is $25k per package. Your niece can go to her local post office and not have to rely on anyone else. It’s slow, but safe.

 

[kenny]

IMO the safest way to ship high-value items is https://www.malca-amit.com/
They are used by diamond vendors, art dealers, gold bullion brokers, etc. to ship high value things.

If you can't get to one of their facilities in major cities they can even send an armored truck to your location for pick up or drop off.
To weigh a diamond upon receipt their Los Angeles location has a little private room with a fancy gem scale (with glass windows to prevent air flow from affecting the measurement) for weighing your diamond or cocaine, or whatevs.

I've used them and trust them.
Not cheap.

 

[Phoenix]

Does your niece drive? If so, why not pay for her to rent a car for the drive? Probably safer and perhaps even less money than shipping. I'm guessing its not that long of a drive.

She does drive, yes. I thought about that. It sounds like she doesn't want to go.

 

[Phoenix]

As another option, if Grace has an account with / access to a trusted messenger service, it might be as cost-effective to ask Grace to schedule a messenger to drive out to pick up the boxed items and deliver them straight back to Grace ...

Oh she does? That'd be AMAZING and definitely the best option.

 

[Phoenix]

Maybe your niece has a friend she trusts enough to drive her to and from Grace’s office? Even today, gas money would probably only be $10-20 or so. Offer $100-$200 for the bother and everybody wins!

Definitely another option. Thank you.

 

[Phoenix]

Registered mail. I think the insurance max is $25k per package. Your niece can go to her local post office and not have to rely on anyone else. It’s slow, but safe.

That's what I was thinking originally. This is USPS?

 

[Phoenix]

IMO the safest way to ship high-value items is https://www.malca-amit.com/
They are used by diamond vendors, art dealers, gold bullion brokers, etc. to ship high value things.

If you can't get to one of their facilities in major cities they can even send an armored truck to your location for pick up or drop off.
To weigh a diamond upon receipt their Los Angeles location has a little private room with a fancy gem scale (with glass windows to prevent air flow from affecting the measurement) for weighing your diamond or cocaine, or whatevs.

I've used them and trust them.
Not cheap.

It's the "not cheap" that's deterring me. I think I'd need to explore this if all else fails. Thanks, @kenny.

 

[Alybird]

This is tough to say.

OC to LA really isn't that far of a drive, just up or down the 405 for maybe an hour. It's a straight shot and a chance to check out the beach if coming from LA or a chance to get some interesting food if coming from OC.

Otherwise, USPS in separate packages and hope for the best? I've mailed valuables back and forth through the USPS with no insurance but with Signature Confirmation and goodness do I hold my breath each time. I guess I've always done it this way because I feel the high insurance would result in internal theft? Might be a faulty theory but I try not to give any cues.

 

[Phoenix]

This is tough to say.

OC to LA really isn't that far of a drive, just up or down the 405 for maybe an hour. It's a straight shot and a chance to check out the beach if coming from LA or a chance to get some interesting food if coming from OC.

Otherwise, USPS in separate packages and hope for the best? I've mailed valuables back and forth through the USPS with no insurance but with Signature Confirmation and goodness do I hold my breath each time. I guess I've always done it this way because I feel the high insurance would result in internal theft? Might be a faulty theory but I try not to give any cues.

That is so true about declaring high insurance attracting would be thieves' attention.

I will see if she can drive or maybe take a cab to go to Grace, if Grace doesn't send a label which really would be the best option.

 

[kenny]

It's the "not cheap" that's deterring me. I think I'd need to explore this if all else fails. Thanks, @kenny.

I'd just call them for a quote.

 

[Phoenix]

I'd just call them for a quote.

Will do. Thank you, @kenny.

 

[kenny]

Sorry, I just noticed they are shipping from OC to LA.
Short trip.

I'd just drive them (off rush hour of course).

 

[Phoenix]

Sorry, I just noticed they are shipping from OC to LA.
Short trip.

I'd just drive them (off rush hour of course).

That'd be best. My niece is saying no atm. Gonna ask her again.

 

[rocks]

That's what I was thinking originally. This is USPS?

Yes. It’s the us postal service. If you aren’t in a hurry, it’s cost effective and reliable. The down side is that delivery can take 2 weeks. Send it registered and insured, not exceeding the limit for each package. The postal service does require a specific packing method. You have to use paper tape to seal the box. Some post offices sell the boxes. Good luck!

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

I always prefer the jeweler to send an insured label, well worth the cost IMO. The last time I did this it was LESS than what USPS was going to charge. I don't worry about thieves, that's what the insurance is for.

 

[Phoenix]

I always prefer the jeweler to send an insured label, well worth the cost IMO. The last time I did this it was LESS than what USPS was going to charge. I don't worry about thieves, that's what the insurance is for.

I'd prefer this if Grace could. I've sent her an email to ask her.

Thank you.

 

[Phoenix]

Yes. It’s the us postal service. If you aren’t in a hurry, it’s cost effective and reliable. The down side is that delivery can take 2 weeks. Send it registered and insured, not exceeding the limit for each package. The postal service does require a specific packing method. You have to use paper tape to seal the box. Some post offices sell the boxes. Good luck!

Thank you for the details. I wasn't aware.

 

[kenny]

In case it's not already been mentioned ...
With all shippers, if there is a loss and a claim is filed, the insurance company will not pay without proof of the value you declared.

It's only fair.
(I can claim it's value is 44 billion bucks, but why should they pay the claim without proof?)

Check with your shipper, and/or their insurance company.
I have, and they said a sales receipt, or recent appraisal by an independent competent professional appraiser (even better yet, both) will document its value.

But don't take my word for it. Ask!

If you don't have the insurers required proof of value, then don't ship it with that shipper.

Again, given the short distance IMO driving it personally is a no-brainer here.

 

[Phoenix]

In case it's not already been mentioned ...
With all shippers, if there is a loss and a claim is filed, the insurance company will not pay without proof of the value you declared.

It's only fair.
(I can claim it's value is 44 billion bucks, but why should they pay the claim without proof?)

Check with your shipper, and/or their insurance company.
I have, and they said a sales receipt, or recent appraisal by an independent competent professional appraiser (even better yet, both) will document its value.

But don't take my word for it. Ask!

If you don't have the insurers required proof of value, then don't ship it with that shipper.

Again, given the short distance IMO driving it personally is a no-brainer here.

I have the sellers' receipts. But it's scary having to go through the claim process.

Agreed that best to have them driven to Grace.

 

[rocks]

I have the sellers' receipts. But it's scary having to go through the claim process.

Agreed that best to have them driven to Grace.

I had one claim with the post office. Believe it or not, they were quite reasonable. Not fast, like an insurance company…..but the documentation was quite reasonable.

 

[Phoenix]

I had one claim with the post office. Believe it or not, they were quite reasonable. Not fast, like an insurance company…..but the documentation was quite reasonable.

That's good to know. Thank you.