I also thought this was true. However, I shipped a 14K/SS Bracelet
with a pretty large fire agate which would have been difficult (to
say the least) to replace by registered mail and you do have to pay
additional for insurance. Which I did
It was put into a rural mailbox, and the postman signed the
recipients’ name (misspelling it). When I checked into this (thank
goodness, it was not lost) the postmistress told me the householder
had told the postman to sign for anything and put it in the box. of
course, the customer says this is not true. so what good is
registered mail? plus the fact that registered mail when filed for
loss requires a wait of 90 days before you even call to
check on the claim? I am wondering if just insured mail is best.
Unless the rules have changed (which seems to happen frequently), the
biggest difference is the trackability. They will track registered
mail almost immediately, so if it doesn’t get where it is expected
when expected, it can be traced right away. Insured they won’t even
start looking for until 30 days. At least this is what we were told
and what we experienced when we had a trade shop doing 95% of our
business by US mail. If you can’t even start looking for 30
days, I don’t really expect much chance of finding something.
Hi Gang, My preferred way of shipping is by Priority Mail. I use the
online (usps.com) site for shipping & ordering the boxes & other
packing items. The boxes & packing items are FREE. They’re shipped to
your address.
Using the usps site, you can print the labels with postage already
on them. The labels are then glued (I use rubber cement) to the
container & the container dropped off at the post office (I use a
branch po). It sure is nice to be able to walk past that long line &
just set you pkg. on the counter.
I’ve been using this method for about 5 years for both domestic &
international shipping. One of the benefits is a tracking number
that’s printed on the label. Using this number, it’s possible to
track the pkg. & know when it was delivered. On international pkgs.
it’s possible to see when the pkg. moved through major check points
in the system. Domestic tracking also tells you when the pkg. hit
major checkpoints.
I just shipped a pkg. from AZ to Australia. It was shipped on 8/21 &
arrived at the customer on 8/25 at 2:52PM.
The PO has never lost a pkg. for me.
Dave
I want to know what shipping methods other folks here use to
ship wholesale and retail orders.
Hi DeDe, Many eBay sellers like myself use USPS and an internet
postage company called Endicia. An advantage to using Endicia is that
I can print labels with postage and also include delivery
confirmation for only 14 cents. I believe the post office charges 45
cents when you purchase delivery confirmation at the post office
window. A big advantage is that I can drop my packages into the mail
box outside instead of having to go to the Post Office window and
wait in line. I also use an independent insurer (u-pic) instead of
using USPS insurance. It is only half the price of USPS insurance,
and again, I don’t have to go to the Post Office and wait in line.
I never use UPS. It makes me nervous when packages are delivered to
neighbors when the recipient isn’t home. I also feel that Postal
workers know their delivery routes (sp?) better. I’ve had the same
Postman for years. The turnover at UPS seems to be higher. I’ve
shipped around 200 packages this year and only one was “lost” by
USPS. I used quotes because the package actually turned up but was
delivered 4 weeks later.
Hint: It’s a good idea to not use your business name in your return
address on the parcel if it would indicate that there is jewelry in
the package.
Here are links:
www.u-pic.com
www.endicia.com
I have had pleasant experiences with the customer service department
for both companies.
Hope this helps.
Dan