I agree with Mike, it is wasteful to send items of small value (let's say $25.00) via Priority mail. However, when the value of the shipped item is higher than that, Priority is the safest way to go.
Let me explain what I mean by "safest."
A few years ago, I shipped an item to a first time buyer via 1st Class at his request. After a week or so, I started receiving daily emails from him that he hadn't received the item yet. After several more days, he demanded a refund of his money. If I remember correctly, the item sold for around $90.00 and had cost me $60.00. To keep my Ebay customer happy, I had to send him a refund or face the possibility of receiving negative feedback. After that, I made it a policy to ship all items valued over $25.00 via USPS Priority with a Delivery Confirmation. Using this system, I can track the shipment of the package.
A month or so later, the same Ebay bidder won another item which was worth about $100.00. The description in my auction clearly stated that I shipping on that item would be via USPS Priority. I received his payment, shipped the item Priority ( with Delivery Confirmation) and thought I was done with it. The buyer sent me an email a week or so later..."where's my package?" I told him I'd sent it and he went into his previous routine about wanting a refund if he didn't receive the package. I went to the USPS website and tracked the package. It had been delivered to him four days prior. I figured he'd received the package and would now be happy. But, a few days later, I get another email from him and he's now demanding a refund. His email included his phone number so I called him. I let him rant and rave for a minute or so and then told him I had proof that the package had been delivered to him three days after I had shipped it. After a few tongue tied moments he said he'd get back with me. Later, he did call me back and say that his wife had received the package a week before, had opened it, put it on "the wrong desk" and neglected to tell him about it.
Shipping Priority + Delivery Confirmation saved me $100.00.
Now, very few dishonest, thank goodness for that, but I've had enough problems similar to the one above that I ship Priority to people I haven't dealt with before and/or if the value of the item justifies it.
Best,
John
At 10:41 PM 9/9/03 -0700, Michael Farmer wrote:
Anne and all, that is a waste, tiny items shipped priority? I have found over the last 7 years of doing this that first class almost always arrives just as timely.
Of course, as long as you send that way and charge that then it is ok. I am talking more about the people who charge one rate and send at a lower weight. I have had several emails from clients of mine who discuss this about other dealers.
Mike Farmer----- Original Message -----
From: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED] ; <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED] l.com
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 10:35 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Shipping theft IE HIGH CHARGES
In a message dated 9/9/2003 11:09:16 PM Mountain Daylight Time, <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
I just saw one dealer who is on this list, selling a 1 gram Taza stone and adding $3.85 shipping charge. It costs .45 cents to ship and maybe .20 cents for the envelope. NET gain for the dealer $3.00 profit on the shipping alone.
unless it is shipped by Priority Mail then the dealer is making $0 on shipping. I don't know about you but I ship practically everything in the States by Priority Mail, safer and quicker.
BTW: I did not take the time to go search Ebay to see who you are talking about, just a tad busy right now.
Anne M. Black www. IMPACTIKA.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] IMCA #2356
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