Suggestions for best international shipping method

[Fenton]

Hi everyone,

I am using website payments standard and am in the process of setting up my shipping amounts. I sell small costume jewelry items (generally valued under $25/item) so the maximum value of a pkg would probably be around $100 give or take. Weight is also usually under one pound.

I will be using First Class Mail with Delivery Confirmation to ship domestic orders and have that set up as a flat amount based on purchase price, but am wondering what the best set up for international would be. Questions include both the PayPal end of set up and the best USPS method (their site is rather confusing if you spend too much time trying to decipher between methods). So, my main concerns are:

1. What option to pick from PayPal's drop-down for international (given the limitations of the descriptions)?

2. What USPS international shipping method to use? I don't mind taking pkgs to the post office instead of printing labels for the international pkgs.

3. How is insurance handled? Should you use insurance as it appears that delivery confirmation is limited or unavailable on certain methods?

I guess I'm looking for the voice of experience here on how best to protect myself, make sure the customer gets their pkg, and give the customer the best deal possible on shipping.

Thanks so much for any input you can provide!

[postalchart_com]

Inexpensive items like this are best shipped First Class Mail International or in the Priority Mail International Small Flat-Rate Box. There's no insurance or tracking with it. If you can't afford the risk, get third party shipping insurance or add Registered Mail service. You can't print the postage for FCMI at PayPal, though.

Reports have come in that you should not send merchandise in First Class Mail International to Italy and Brazil. I've also had trouble sending FCMI to Germany. For those you should use insured, tracked shipping.