Post Office Detection Capability

[Xfuzz]

Mail thieves can spot a Hallmark birthday card
a mile away....and unfortunately some postal
workers.
Especially if the name of the kid is on the card.
They know it is likely to contain cash.

 

[taz666]

Maybe a debit card?

 

[dockmurgw]

In today's mail. Yes, that's cash shown plain as day. Do you think anyone would be sending these if it was as risky as some believe it is?

 

[THE PILGRIM]

The PO Employee who took my Libertad will gladly take your Benjamin.
eBay buy, after a fair amount of Jawing I was reimbursed.
Yes, I had tracking!
It tracked directly do not pass go to the Albuquerque Main Post Office!

 

[sigp220.45]

A Postal Inspector I used to work with said to never send cash in one of the colored large envelopes that birthday and graduation cards come in. He was kept very busy with postal employees snagging them out of the mailstream for cash and gift cards.

I'd just put cash in the card and put the whole thing in a flat rate priority mail envelope. There is something about a nice crisp Benjamin that a check (do people still write checks?) or a money order doesn't provide.

 

[mike4sigs]

I don't believe it's against USPS rules to send cash through the system, but I'd be reluctant to send a c-note without some kind of tracking. A Priority Mail cardboard 'envelope' for $9.85 would provide a level of security and comfort, as well as $100 of insurance for the contents.

USPS will not insure Currency.
Found out the hard way

 

[Ματθιας]

Send cash all the time, especially if I'm buying something from a forum or even GB. $100 is my limit. Anything more, I just get a USPS MO.

I just put it in a sealed envelope with a card. Then I seal the back with packing tape. Done. I've never had a problem.

 

[AKtinman]

I remember receiving a letter from my great grandmother in which she had taped 5 dimes.

Big money for a little lad in 1953.

 

[Sistema1927]

For many years my Dad would send a crisp new $50 bill to kids and grandkids for their birthdays. He would stick it in a card, put regular postage on it, and toss it in the mail.

Not once did any of them get lost. Your mileage may vary.

To close the loop, Dad died last year in June. I was the executor of the estate. Each of us except for one of my brothers had already received our birthday cash from him so I made sure that he wasn't forgotten and sent his money in the mail.

 

[Narragansett]

I was thinking of using one of those small Flat Rate Boxes as the shipping container, sealed with cellophane tape.

Like Nike says, Just Do It. No need to over think it. The box is fine

 

[mrchick]

Send it any way you want...you have a better chance of being struck by lightning then having your cash pilfered from a card.

Over the years, both of my daughters had cash pilfered from birthday cards sent by their grandparents. Both times a small corner was torn off the envelope and the cash wash pulled out through the corner. The cards were still delivered with the damaged envelope.
I guess lightning can strike twice.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Several months ago JR sent a $20 bill to his cousin for his birthday. He wrote his birthday greeting on a dark blue sheet of construction paper, folded it up with the money inside and I mailed it.

The eagle landed.

 

[SMSgt]

Even USPS says not to mail cash. Maybe we should heed its advice.

If your dad says don't do that or you'll get hurt, and you do that and get hurt, do you think dad will be very sympathetic?

 

[vt_shooter]

What percentage of letters get to their intended destination? 99.8%? Just a guess, but the number is pretty high. I'd just put the C-note in the envelope and give him the 99.8% chance of being surprised by a nice crisp C-note. Of course if he's like a lot of kids these days you might not get a thank you right away, leaving you wondering if that .02% probability reared its ugly face.

 

[boykinlp]

I select a card, write my note and sign it, send it to my son with a check for $100 so he can add the $100 bill from his bank, deliver the card on the grandchild's birthday.

This^^. If you are really worried, send it in a small Manila envelope instead of the usual envelope.
Larry

 

[CH4]

The PO doesn't have detectors for cash.

 

[Beemerguy53]

...Am I over thinking this too much?...

Absolutely...

 

[Breakaway500]

I send cash ALL the time.My limit of comfort is about $300. I add a strip of 8"x2" aluminum tape in the envelope as it masks any detection devices. Never have had an issue. Hundreds of times.

 

[SMSgt]

The PO doesn't have detectors for cash.

They do. They're called employees.

 

[Retired W4]

Several months ago JR sent a $20 bill to his cousin for his birthday. He wrote his birthday greeting on a dark blue sheet of construction paper, folded it up with the money inside and I mailed it.

The eagle landed.

The eagle flys on Friday,
Saturday I go out to play.