Delivery confirmation is a good thing

[tappel]

While it's only happened 3 times since I've been selling online (21 months now) each time a domestic customer has complained that his order never arrived, I've been able to follow up with delivery date and time provided by USPS. In each case the customer has replied with, "I've found it." I wonder if they'd have found it if I didn't have delivery confirmation.

Just something to consider if you sell shippable items.

Tom

[DogAndPony]

While it's only happened 3 times since I've been selling online (21 months now) each time a domestic customer has complained that his order never arrived, I've been able to follow up with delivery date and time provided by USPS. In each case the customer has replied with, "I've found it." I wonder if they'd have found it if I didn't have delivery confirmation.After having done the eBay thing, this always makes me think about the possibility of fraud. :/

...Bob

Bob West

[PhunkyMonkey]

Oh, I'm sure they did not just find it!!
The post office rarely looses mail ~

I had buyers tell me all the time that they had already sent a check & just to wait a few days because it must just be delayed in the mail ~ and then when it gets to me the big date on the front tells me it was only mailed two days before.
(So I had to get a bit strict on that)

Sellers & buyers both always try to blame the post office for their own laziness or lack of responsibility. :grr:

I've been selling about the same length of time & have never had anyone try that with me, but I only have a few, large payments every few weeks. I'm sure they are just trying to rip you off because you are a larger business.

[tjlid]

What about delivery confirmation for international shipments? I've analyzed the USPS rules, regs and rate tables for all methods of shipping, but must be missing something.

What method of USPS shipping do you use for international (France) shipping that provides delivery confirmation and/or less than $100 of insurance? If I was shipping to Paris, Texas, it would be a no brainer.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Tom

[tappel]

International shipments are another thing... a very small percentage of my business is international, so I've used airmail letter post (under 4 pounds) with reasonably good results. It's cheap and relatively fast (4-7 days) but offers no tracking or confirmation; it's no more reliable than a first class letter.

I believe that USPS Global Express Mail is the cheapest service that provides tracking.


Tom

[tjlid]

Thanks Tom.

After a research trip to the PO this afternoon, Letter Post is what I will use.

I also learned that you can have return confirmation on that service by Registering it for $7.50 + $1.75 for the return receipt. The return receipt form number is #2865.

Tom

[Jeff]

Oh, I'm sure they did not just find it!!
The post office rarely looses mail ~
Really??? We send out ~1000 a month via postal mail, and find some really strange things happen; about 1 out of 500 we expect something weird to happen. Often someone will say they didn't get it after two weeks so we send a replacement which arrives on time, then a month later the original arrives. Or for 6 months an address works just fine, then with absolutely no changes "no such address", then it works just fine again with no changes.

[PhunkyMonkey]

When I wrote that I actually added
"But it will get delayed for no apparent reason"
but took that part off ;)

I have had a few packages take an extra few weeks & you can't figure out why. Not anything I have mailed, but on a few packages I recieved. The packages that were late were sent a cheaper way though (I use Priority Mail).