What Is The Best / Cheapest TRACKABLE eBay-Approved INTERNATIONAL Shipping in Community Help Boards in Community

Last Post Nov 8, 2009 1:10 AM by: eekhorn1

Replies: 38

What Is The Best / Cheapest TRACKABLE eBay-Approved INTERNATIONAL Shipping

Oct 28, 2009 8:33 AM

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Howdy Folks-
I have been selling on eBay since 2001 and
have sold & shipped many items all over the world. I
just got burned for $43 when a package got lost by the
Greece postal service. I knew I was outside eBay policy
by not using a trackable method; but I was trusting, had
good experience, and wanted to be a "good guy" by keeping
int'l shipping costs as low as possible. My fine gentleman buyer never informed me of any problem; PayPal refunded his payment from my account, then he filed negative feedback
before answering any of my e-mails or giving me any
chance to attempt to assist him. So waa-waa.

I would still love to keep sending stuff to int'l buyers,
but:
WHAT IS THE BEST CHEAPEST TRACKABLE WAY??? It
seems like UPS/FedEx are too darned high for most of the
modestly-priced / oddball / not-extremely-collectible
stuff I sell. Also, it looks like the USPS trackable /
guaranteed methods are likewise exorbitantly priced for
shipping a $10-50 item. How do you Big-Time Sellers keep
int'l rates affordable without exposing yourself to the risk
of something getting "lost" or being scammed by
unscrupulous buyers?
Or, is trackable / guaranteed
int'l shipping just too expensive for what I'm selling?

PS: Yes, I know Canada is an exception to USPS
tracking / guaranteed delivery.

THANKS for
your sharing your experience and valuable input!

HAPPY SELLING,
-Mark the Amp-Shark

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Re: What Is The Best / Cheapest TRACKABLE eBay-Approved INTERNATIONAL Shipping

Oct 28, 2009 9:16 AM

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"I have been selling on eBay since 2001 and
have sold & shipped many items all over the world. I
just got burned for $43 when a package got lost by the
Greece postal service. I knew I was outside eBay policy
by not using a trackable method; "

You lost the price of a tank of gas, over the years you have saved the price of a new car. Get some balance.

Occasionally something will go astray, them's the breaks.

Things get lost, tracked or not, but they don't get lost that often that it is worth worrying about it. Untracked basic mail looks less valuable so is safer in transit.

" I was outside eBay policy"

You set policy, ebay is just somewhere to advertise, not a senior partner in your business.

Re: What Is The Best / Cheapest TRACKABLE eBay-Approved INTERNATIONAL Shipping

Oct 28, 2009 10:36 AM

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I fully agree with you, af!

I send my items at the cheapest rate to my buyers and they are happy.
I can confirm that I get MUCH higher results than my 'competitors'! About 30%!
From that extra money I can one day pay any losses - because there was none so far.

Mr.Monicker

Re: What Is The Best / Cheapest TRACKABLE eBay-Approved INTERNATIONAL Shipping

Oct 28, 2009 12:36 PM

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I agree amp-shark: It seems like I'm getting more and more International buyers who are claiming foul "Never Received their item". This has started to get worse in the last couple of months. I'm starting to think they are getting smarter, knowing that you can't afford to ship registered mail with a tracking #......so how can you prove they didn't receive the item. File their claim with PayPal, you have no recourse, they get their money back. Just too many recent buyers claiming "where's my item"? I've even tried to save on shipping using no delivery confirmation in the states and it's getting to the point of out of control. Folks know if there's no trackable shipping.......why not put that claim in to PayPal!

Re: What Is The Best / Cheapest TRACKABLE eBay-Approved INTERNATIONAL Shipping

Oct 28, 2009 3:15 PM

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Lifesgoodnow, how do you know your buyers are making false claims of non-delivery if you can't track your items?

Re: What Is The Best / Cheapest TRACKABLE eBay-Approved INTERNATIONAL Shipping

Oct 28, 2009 9:11 PM

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amp-shark wrote:

Howdy Folks-
I have been selling on eBay since 2001 and
have sold & shipped many items all over the world. I
just got burned for $43 when a package got lost by the
Greece postal service. I knew I was outside eBay policy
by not using a trackable method; but I was trusting, had
good experience, and wanted to be a "good guy" by keeping
int'l shipping costs as low as possible. My fine gentleman buyer never informed me of any problem; PayPal refunded his payment from my account, then he filed negative feedback
before answering any of my e-mails or giving me any
chance to attempt to assist him. So waa-waa.

I would still love to keep sending stuff to int'l buyers,
but:
WHAT IS THE BEST CHEAPEST TRACKABLE WAY??? It
seems like UPS/FedEx are too darned high for most of the
modestly-priced / oddball / not-extremely-collectible
stuff I sell. Also, it looks like the USPS trackable /
guaranteed methods are likewise exorbitantly priced for
shipping a $10-50 item. How do you Big-Time Sellers keep
int'l rates affordable without exposing yourself to the risk
of something getting "lost" or being scammed by
unscrupulous buyers?
Or, is trackable / guaranteed
int'l shipping just too expensive for what I'm selling?

PS: Yes, I know Canada is an exception to USPS
tracking / guaranteed delivery.

THANKS for
your sharing your experience and valuable input!

HAPPY SELLING,
-Mark the Amp-Shark

there is none, but i always buy third party insurace when i ship to greece. i use shipsurance, it only costs you $1.50.

Re: What Is The Best / Cheapest TRACKABLE eBay-Approved INTERNATIONAL Shipping

Oct 29, 2009 12:23 PM

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Wouldn't a smart seller simply self-insure?

Re: What Is The Best / Cheapest TRACKABLE eBay-Approved INTERNATIONAL Shipping

Oct 29, 2009 9:25 PM

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I would say it all depends on the value of the item, and if you can afford to absorb the loss or not.

I use priority international,but my items are small.But usually once it leaves the US up dates are almost NON events.

When I'm dead,no one will ask if I was a good housekeeper!

Re: What Is The Best / Cheapest TRACKABLE eBay-Approved INTERNATIONAL Shipping

Oct 29, 2009 9:28 PM

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sam,for years I have seen you prompt self insure, what do you get out of this,is it just your personal philosophy, or is someone paying you!! :^O

:^O

When I'm dead,no one will ask if I was a good housekeeper!

Re: What Is The Best / Cheapest TRACKABLE eBay-Approved INTERNATIONAL Shipping

Oct 29, 2009 10:46 PM

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my problem was with greece mail too! it has never been returned to me either!

Re: What Is The Best / Cheapest TRACKABLE eBay-Approved INTERNATIONAL Shipping

Oct 30, 2009 12:33 AM

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I just got burned for $43 when a package got lost by the Greece postal service. I knew I was outside eBay policy by not using a trackable method;

I see yet another seller that thinks paypal protect if items are lost. They don't and never will.

Re: What Is The Best / Cheapest TRACKABLE eBay-Approved INTERNATIONAL Shipping

Oct 30, 2009 1:03 AM

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eekhorn1 wrote:

I just got burned for $43 when a package got lost by the Greece postal service. I knew I was outside eBay policy by not using a trackable method;

I see yet another seller that thinks paypal protect if items are lost. They don't and never will.

you misunderstood. the poster didn't say that. paypal does protect you from false INR claims, but you need to prove the items are delivered.

Re: What Is The Best / Cheapest TRACKABLE eBay-Approved INTERNATIONAL Shipping

Oct 30, 2009 3:24 AM

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I say self insure and no-one is paying me. Worse luck.

"I would say it all depends on the value of the item, and if you can afford to absorb the loss or not."

You don't have any loss, a very small levy on all sales has covered the cost of the refund.

If the item is notably valuable use a third part insurer, in the same way that bookies lay off big bets and insurance companies use re-insurers to spread their risk more evenly.

af

Re: What Is The Best / Cheapest TRACKABLE eBay-Approved INTERNATIONAL Shipping

Oct 30, 2009 6:55 AM

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you misunderstood. the poster didn't say that.

No misunderstanding. The poster said the package got lost by the Greek postal service.

Re: What Is The Best / Cheapest TRACKABLE eBay-Approved INTERNATIONAL Shipping

Oct 30, 2009 7:52 AM

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Little Miss Sunshine, I'm not interested in anything you say.

Of course you're not. But I'm very interested in what you have to say.

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