What shipping method is proper?

nitsky416 · Post by **nitsky416** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 5:51 pm

I ship exclusively USPS Priority Mail. It costs me a little bit more (but never more than $6), but it comes with a tracking number and only takes 3 days to arrive. I tell everyone I trade with this BEFORE the trade. I also give tracking/confirm numbers as soon as they become available to me. However, I've completed a couple of trades where people have used much MUCH slower shipping methods, and I have two guys I'm trading with right now that promised to have things to me before I moved back home for the holidays (which is this Saturday) who won't give me tracking info and won't answer my emails. Both have a decent amount of feedback too!

How do you ship? What is considered 'proper'? Whats the deal with people skimping on shipping, especially tracking/confirmation?

Warmonger · Post by **Warmonger** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 5:55 pm

Unless otherwise is negotiated, I always make sure it's USPS priority mail with tracking. In the US of course.

I traded with someone early in my career, and they have a great rating. I sent priority without tracking, so this loser claims he never received it. Now I'm out a model.... ah well.

But yeah, I always try to make sure that shipping is specified when I first deal with someone.

insidius · Post by **insidius** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 6:01 pm

I, too, always ship priority. It's usually cheaper and more reliable than standard shipping.

I would just make sure in the future that both parties agree to use priority mail.

arch_8ngel · Post by **arch_8ngel** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 6:05 pm

It's always best to agree on something first and the hold both parties to it. My thought is that unless otherwise specified, laws of economics predict that both parties will do what is cheapest rather than fastest, especially on small trades. Once you cross a threshold of about 3lbs or so it becomes cheaper to send flat rate priority, but lighter than that parcel post is often times cheaper depending on where you're shipping. You can pay the 50c or so for confirmation on either, so you don't necessarily lose that protection. If guys aren't responding to your contacts, you can check your PM outbox to see if they've even had a chance to read it yet, sometimes that helps cool the situation down before people say stuff they regret.

Sandy Death · Post by **Sandy Death** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 7:56 pm

I had only two major problems with damaged WH goods via transit out of several hundred packages. Both cases the shipper did a poor job packing and now I always emphasize the items must be packed well.

Anyway, I put a claim in with the US post office and UPS. The post office settled very quickly ($65) but UPS (about $90) jerked me around for six months. Finally I gave up and swallowed the loss. But I never used UPS again and always insist on traders/sellers doing the same for me.

Sandy

nitsky416 · Post by **nitsky416** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 8:05 pm

Right now I'm speaking primarily of shipping speed & accountability rather than damage...although I thoroughly believe that the USPS provides some of the highest quality and speed shipping for the lowest retail cost of any shipping agency. Plus if you buy the postage online, the tracking number is free. Hate to sound like a commercial, but I sell stuff on eBay as well, and its mighty convenient to be able to print my postage and drop things in the mail without heading down to the Post Office.

As far as PMs are concerned - I conduct trades via email, as PMs are much more difficult to organize and lack a certain degree of accountability, as well as being wholly dependent on the site to maintain their presence - emails I can archive, organize at will, and burn to CD to keep permanent record of.

Brian Khazad · Post by **Brian Khazad** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 8:28 pm

I definately agree with Nitsky on Email - I do all my trades via email, or I prefer not to do them at all. Nothing personal against anyone, but as he mentioned it's far easier to Archive, Organize, and research if need be.

As for shipping, I generally ship via FedEx ground. I work for FedEx, so I'm able to ship through ground for fairly close to the same cost of Priority mail. It offers a Tracking #, declared value, and usually 2-3 day delivery depending on how far the other person lives from me. I'm the Shipping Specialist for my location, so I'm fairly confident in my ability to package items. Haven't had any complaints yet either through trades or Ebay sales.

I've noticed that a lot of people that I've traded with ship via Priority mail, but very few of them bother with any sort of tracking number - at least, none they ever gave me. So far during all of my trades I've only been given a tracking # once. Most of my trades have either been very small, or with someone with a very high rating, so I've probably been more lenient about it than I would be attempting a large trade with someone with a lower rating. Generally I'm OK with someone shipping Priority Mail, though I do wish more people used and gave out tracking #s.

-Dwarf

Stanislav · Post by **Stanislav** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 6:09 am

Well,
Something to consider is the package itself. If it is too small (some dimension the post office used on me), tracking is not available. Also, for some locations, Priority is only a day or so faster. It's not that I'm cheap, I just prefer to get the most bang for my buck. Paying $5.40 for a Confirmed Priority Box (the majority of my trades would be this amount) for something that could be mailed for $2.50 + .90 (padded envelope) just seems like a better deal.

Also with Tracking Numbers, for Delivery Confirmation, it only gets 2 scans. One when it is recieved at the post office, and the second is when it gets to the other post office. I am usually pretty busy, so I put the delivery confirmation number in my car visor, and will get it out if there is a problem after a couple of days. Generally, and I am bad about this, I usually forget to send the tracking info. Guilty, but I have never stiffed anyone on a package.

Another thing, to me is it depends on what the guy wants to charge me for shipping. If he wants $5-7, I expect Priority. However, when I get shipping for $3, 1st Class is fine.

Nitsky-sorry, for 3 models and for what I charged you for them, I wasn't going to use Priority, and I found out that the DC wouldn't happen after I got it to the post office.

nitsky416 · Post by **nitsky416** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 6:26 am

Black Gobbo wrote:Nitsky-sorry, for 3 models and for what I charged you for them, I wasn't going to use Priority, and I found out that the DC wouldn't happen after I got it to the post office.

I wasn't going to name names mainly because both are ongoing trades - yours was fine as you were able to effectively communicate what happened, and I got the figures, which is what really counts in my book. These two don't talk to me, and if I don't get them by when I need them (before I move, which I made abundantly clear before the trade was finalized), I'm not going to be happy. I probably should've just waited, but when you work out a deal in November, and you're not moving till mid-December, you'd think things would be smooth enough to get them on time. Murphy's law kicking me in the head, I suppose.

As far as Priority's Confirm numbers go, you're right - it usually only gets scanned twice. This will normally tell you if your shipper actually shipped when he said he would, and also, if it is misrouted, it gets scanned a few more times, and the site will tell you such. That way you know that a package is going to be late, and you don't start worrying about having to file a Bad Trader report because you haven't recieved something you were told was 'shipped' two weeks ago.

[edit] one of the original trades I was talking about that was MIA just showed up in the mail today, so now I'm only one package short... [/edit]

insidius · Post by **insidius** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 7:22 am

The problem with tracking numbers if that they're mostly useless, unless something's gone wrong.

People who expect tracking numbers to tell them the progress of their package should realize that by the time a tracking number is actually updated to let you know where it's at, you have the package in your hands.

Stanislav · Post by **Stanislav** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 7:25 am

I wasn't picking at you Nitsky, everything was cool between us. You made a good point about making sure that it was sent. One of the main reasons I usually put off giving out a tracking number is because people always want to do it as soon as they get the email, and lots of times it comes up with a "haven't recieved package" notice becasue the post office's system hasn't updated. No big deal, like I said, you made a good point.

( 832 ) · Post by **MagickalMemories** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 6:38 am

Well, here's my take on it.
Not everyone will be especially fond of it.

I ship the cheapest method available to me

Why? because, I'm ...err... thrifty. Typically, I charge "X" for a price, and that includes shipping. I only factor in a buck or 2 for shipping, unless it is heavy. I'm not mortgaging my house over your $25 models.
That means media mail for books, unless you pop for extra or we specify that, as well.

And I always use delivery Confirmation.

Why? because I have been stiffed with the 'I sent it" packages that there is no proof for.
I pop for the $.55 Delivery Conf in sales. In trades, I insist that both sides use it (that IS a deal breaker for me, unless I am wholly comfortable with you -- Don't ask. I'll let YOU know if that's the case). If I am buying, I insist on it and offer to pay for it.

I've been told that DC is available on all packages... essentially, everything except a regular "letter" type envelope... by the local USPS.

I don't care about tracking the package in between destinations. I care about knowing it was sent. If I see that the D.C. shows as being sent on the USPS site, I don't get stressed. If I don't get it in a few days, i continue to check the site. Why? because if the corn-hole sent me a DC# for a package he sent someone else, I want to know ASAP!

Right now, I'm in a deal where the guy sent me a DC# for a package he sent Wednesday. I looked it up tonight on the USPS site... It shows as being an invalid DC#.
At this point, I'm not too concerned about it... but you can BET I'm right on top of it.
THAT is one of the reasons I insist on it.
Plus, I can always show proof that I sent it & it was received.

...A word of advice when sending packages through the USPS, since many BTowners recycle packaging.
Always include the name & address of the person you are sending "to" on a piece of paper INSIDE the box. If something happens & your label is destroyed, they will open the package & look in, in hopes of finding the information to send it to the correct person. I got that tidbit from a USPS employee.

Eric

vesrian · Post by **vesrian** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:23 am

If you have preferences in shipping, you need to make them clear to the other party. If you did and they didn't adhere to the agreement, then you've got a legitiment complaint.

I'm pretty flexible on shipping, both sending and recieving. When i get stuff, I care more that it's well packed than having it here a few days sooner. Rightly or wrongly, i use that as a guide when i ship things, unless agreed otherwise. If i'm paying shipping on something i'm sending you, i figure i have the right to send it whichever method i choose, as long as it gets there. Of course if you're paying for shipping, i'll send it however you want.

For small packages, I haven't noticed any significant difference in delivery times for first class vs. priority. So, i just can't see paying $3.85 for priority when i could send it first class for half of that.
For larger packages, i generally send priority, because it usually ends up that the cost difference is minimal. And with flat rate, it's sometimes cheaper to go priority.
However, i do want to add that i think every parcel post package i've sent or recieved has been faster than the advertised six days.

When i send something and use delivery conformation, it's for me to confirm that the package was delivered and prevent the "i never got it" scams that show up occasionally. I use it when i have any doubt about the person i'm dealing with (which is fairly often - no offense guys). I generally don't give the DC # to the other person unless they ask for it. I figure they'll know i sent the package when it shows up at their door. Now that i think about it, maybe that's not the best policy. But if i sent you something and never gave you a DC #, that's why.

psiekier · Post by **psiekier** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 7:56 pm

nitsky416 wrote:How do you ship? What is considered 'proper'? Whats the deal with people skimping on shipping, especially tracking/confirmation?

Sometimes tracking doesn't seem worth it, especially for low-dollar deals where you only expect to make a buck or two.

First Class is acceptable for small packages. In fact, as long as the package is at least 3/4" thick at its thickest point, it is eligible for Delivery Confirmation, just like Priority Mail - it just costs $0.10 more. Given the difference in distances and the minimum prices, it may be a better price than Priority and will arrive in the same amount of time.

Parcel Post is OK when your recipient is not necessarily in a hurry. Like First Class, it is eligible for Delivery Confirmation. Unlike First Class, it usually does take longer than Priority, but usually only by a day or two. The kicker is that forwarding and return services with Parcel Post are not free, so caveat emptor.

Priority Mail is a good deal for mid-range or fairly expensive items. Delivery Confirmation with Priority is slightly cheaper than with other services, but the high initial cost makes it impractical for small sales or bitz swapping. The biggest bonus comes when you can squeeze a truly heavy item (like an Armorcast Titan or the like) into a flat-rate box. For $7.70, you can send a Priority Mail package anywhere in the US regardless of weight, and sometimes that can make a real difference.

For truly expensive items, your best bet is likely to be a courier service like FedEx or UPS. They track constantly, have humans who are [sometimes] responsive to complaints or requests, and will insure packages for pretty cheap. They won't deliver to PO boxes, but if you're sending something this valuable, would you really want them to?

Keep in mind while you read this that the US postal rates are due to go up in less than a week, so I may be off a few cents here and there.

Bartertown.com

What shipping method is proper?

What shipping method is proper?

ertr

Re: What shipping method is proper?