INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING & TRACKING~SELLERS BEWARE~LOL

[greatdeal]

HI, IVE BEEN READING OTHER POSTS ON INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING AND TRACKING AND IVE GOT MY OWN DISPUTE THAT I ESCALATED MYSELF, AND YES I AM A SELLER AND BUYER. IVE ALSO TALKED TO USPS AT MY LOCAL POSTOFFICE AND BY THEIR WEB SITE PHONE NUMBERS. THE TRUTH IS ~~~ SELLERS HAVE NO RIGHTS ANYMORE REGARDLESS~~~~1ST...THERE ARE ONLY 2 USPS INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING OPTIONS AVAILABLE THAT HAS TRACKING, 1 IS EXPRESS MAIL AND 1 IS REGISTERED MAIL. THERE ARE NO OTHER USPS TRACKING INTERNATIONAL!!!!!!!!!!  NOW--EVEN IF YOU USE THESE TO SHIP INTERNATIONAL, ALL THE BUYER HAS TO DO IS SAY THEY DIDNT GET THEIR ITEM AND YOU WILL 99.9% OF THE TIME LOOSE ANY CASE.

I LEARNT A LONG TIME AGO THAT THESE ARE THE ONLY 2 SERVICES WITH TRACKING, BUT THAT DOESNT MEAN YOU WILL WIN ANY CASE.

USPS EXPRESS MAIL IS THE FASTEST WITH TRACKING BUT USUALLY COST $20-$40 DEPENDING ON THE WEIGHT. ITS USUALLY DELIVERED IN 5-8 DAYS.

USPS REGISTERED MAIL IS THE SAFEST WITH TRACKING BUT CAN TAKE UP TO 30 DAYS FOR DELIVERY, SOMETIMES LONGER, BUT IT IS SCANNED AT EVERY SINGLE STOP ON THE WAY TO ITS DESTINATION. ~~BOTH THESE SERVICES REQUIRE THE BUYER TO SIGN FOR THE PACKAGE, WHICH YOU WOULD THINK IS SOLID PROOF OF DELIVERY IF A NON-RECIEPT CASE WAS OPENED AGAINST YOU. !!!!! NOT TRUE !!!!!! I DONT KNOW WERE THE PROBLEM REALLY IS BUT I ONLY SHIP REGISTERED MAIL CAUSE ITS THE SAFEST AND CHEAPER THAN EXPRESS MAIL. BUT I RECENTLY LOST A CASE BECAUSE THE BUYER IN "CHINA" SAID THEY DID NOT RECIEVE THEIR ITEM. EVEN THO I HAVE THE REGISTERED MAIL RECEIPT WITH THE TRACKING NUMBER THAT SAYS "DELIVERED", AND THE BUYER HAD TO SIGN FOR IT OR IT CANNOT BE DELIVERED, I STILL LOST THE CASE!!! SO.....LOL.....I FAXED PAYPAL ALL DOCUMENTS ON THIS AND LOST. I CALLED USPS AND THEY REASSURED ME THAT THE BUYER HAS TO SIGN FOR REGISTERED MAIL, BUT STILL LOST THE CASE.

BASICALLY, SELLERS HAVE NO RIGHTS AT ALL. EVERYTHING GOES TO THE BUYER, NO MATTER IF ITS INTERNATIONAL OR WITHIN THE USA.

SO, I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THIS INFO IN CASE ANYONE WAS READING OR INTERESTED. NEVER THINK YOU WILL WIN A CASE IF YOUR A SELLER, NO MATTER HOW YOU SHIP A ITEM, IT JUST ISNT SO!!!!!!!!

[PayPal_Kevin]

Hello greatdeal

I am sorry to hear about your recent experience and I can understand how frustrating this situation can be.  International shipping can definitely be a bit more challenging and expensive but the same rules apply in terms of how a seller is protected.

If an item is shipped internationally and the buyer claims to have not received the item then we will ask for online tracking information.  If a seller supplies PayPal with a tracking number that can be verified online showing delivery to the correct address, and signed for if required, then you as the seller will be awarded the case.  In some situations, we may also require you to fax or upload the Proof of Purchase that shows the exact address the item was shipped to.

What often happens with international tracking is that the tracking number never actually shows delivery and in that case we have no option but to find in the buyers favor.  My best suggestion is to use a method such as the ones you have described that will give you a way of tracking the item all the way to final delivery and keep in mind that you may ship with other companies other than USPS provided they have online tracking capabilities.  I appreciate your business and if you have any further questions please feel free to ask me.  Take care.

KB

[kkootenay]

For international shipments through USPS, you may be best to add a third party insurer, like shipinsure to your handling costs.

As a Canadian, I cannot speak about USPS services, but I happily ship internationally by Canada Post without "tracking" (which is usually only Delivery Confirmation in any case), because Canada Post includes up to $100 insurance automatically with most parcel services (Small Packet, ExpressPost, PriorityPost).

If you are having a high percentage of losses, you have options.

Stop shipping to problem countries. You can automatically block certain countries in your eBay Seller Preferences.

You can add third party insurance. If a parcel is reported missing, go to the insurance claim and ignore PP.

Self-insure by adding a tiny amount (a dime?) to every S&H or every International S&H to cover the occasional loss.

[kkootenay]

Again, I am not sure of the situation with USPS, but Canada Post Registered Mail does not feature online tracking of the sort that Paypal requires.

On the other hand, it does include insurance.

On the third hand, it costs the normal postage ($1.22 for LetterMail to the USA) PLUS a hefty Registration fee (about $9.00 the last time I used it.)

[isellonFee-bay]

I feel your pain!! ive gotten hit hard this year with international buyers.... BUT i covered myself as we all know ebay and paypal are ALWAYS on the side of the buyer . Its ABSOLUTLY RIDICULOUS to charge more for shipping then the item itself... I use endicia / dazzel for all of my international shipments  via usps first class or priority small flat rate box.because you can insure them for very little ( my small packages range from 1.30-3.00 to insure ). all you need to file a claim with the insurace is the claim the buyer made with ebay or paypal to get your money back.... LOL funny thing is that i have had shipments that went out and 30 -45 days later i filed the claim  it usually takes another 30 days to get your refund (i mark the insurace to cover postage as well) then heres my package back i sent on aug 1st on nov 12th  i got my insurance refund too in oct ( the buyer diddnt want to pay custom duties /fees)... hay im not perfect  ill admit and wasnt trying to cheat the system but when you get it up the rear too many times the joy of having things work out better then expected for YOU the SELLER is a joy.

[Soma]

I can't read that all caps, and as much as i want to understand the last poster, i cannot.

I use Endicia as well, what do I need to send as to make sure International can be tracked by Paypal?

[gnosy]

hello,im sorry for your loss.i can verify that 1 lots of sellers have this complaint .2 every case is diferent even though may seem the same or conspiracy,it is both parties that have problems not either or.fed ex is an exelent proven reliable most the time] with walk in shipping.there online acount shipping manager is a complicated service.fedex will ship international provide detailed shiping hub to hub online or phone up to date.big easy to read tracking #fedex cost 14$ instead of maby 3$that is obvious problem.of course though you have big 2 page reciept with carbon copies in fedexofice and tracking #ect.you can not ship to po box fed ex.you can with usps.that is another problem.peace

[Frameslider]

Also, don't think that you are covered, just because you bought USPS Insurance. I shipped two expensive Artglass vases that I packaged very well with bubblewrap and plenty of packing peanuts. They both arrived shattered and the buyer said the package looked like it had been backed over by a truck. I had the neccessary USPS Insurance and filed a claim with the Post Office. They denied my claim stating : Inadequate Packing Material" I had even sent in pics that the buyer had sent showing the damage to the box. I had used plenty of Bubblewrap and peanuts, but yeah, I guess it was inadequate if the Postal Service was going to crush it. If you think about it, their insurance is a scam. They are their own insurance agency, and they can deny your claim anytime they feel like it. They charge you insurance to protect you from their incompetence, then don't honor it when they damage your item. I haven't used their insurance since, and the money I've saved would easily pay for several claims if I had to cover a buyers loss.

[luke00731]

I'm actually going through a case right now..... wish me luck.

[psessums]

Pay-pal and EBAY there needs to be some big changes.As for the person stating she buys insurance on priorty nail small flat rate boxes no such thing if you read the fine print your not covered on small flat rate boxes.The USPS postal system with todays international market needs to make some major changes to protect there customers at an affordable pricing with tracking.Am I the only one who thinks its weird that you can get tracking on Express mail, Medium or large Flat rate Boxes which is all way to expensive to ship when you sell items as zippos that are small, I feel that they could but they are after more money or they would provide the service.What makes me Mad is US the United States cannot provide a cheap service with tracking on all packages every country i buy from sends packages first class very cheaply with tracking, So why Cant the post office get the Dollar Signs out of their head and provide the same service as some third world countries where we can be more competive.I sell about 40% Overseas