Need Advice - Experienced US Seller

[foreverflash]

I really need some help and advice, but it HAS to be from an experienced US member who sells. I'm at a loss; torn between what workers at USPS tell me and what people abroad are telling me regarding what options are available FROM USPS when shipping international.

The guy at USPS has told me numerous times:



USPS does not offer tracking international. Period.
USPS has weight limit policy; Under 4 lbs can go First class (cheapest), over 4 lbs can only go priority.

Now, people abroad are telling me all sorts of things:


USPS does offer tracking international; a number that can be used on their website to confirm delivery. Begins with a C or L.
People have told me I should mark as "gift" with low value to pass through customs easier. If I do this I can't add insurance as I would have to declare a TRUE value!



Is Insurance always available for international shipping?



Are these things I'm being told by the worker at USPS correct?

[vhal_x]

If you mark as gift, and deem the item to be under $40, the person on the other end will not be made to pay customs charges :)

Not sure if it prevents insurance though (although it will if it's genuinely over $40) xx

[foreverflash]

If you mark as gift, and deem the item to be under $40, the person on the other end will not be made to pay customs charges :)

Not sure if it prevents insurance though (although it will if it's genuinely over $40) xxI appreciate your help Vhal but I really need a US member to verify the policies and options available to me with USPS. I'm not sure how many US members are on CE.org but...

[foreverflash]

Driv3r has just shown me a tracking # that was provided with a
"priority Mail international" shipment he received, originating from Philadelphia
(PA) here in United States and being delivered to Korea where he lives.

NOW I DEFINITELY KNOW I'm being given wrong information. I'm extremely frustrated right now.
I'm going to try to verify information with a USPS phone agent (on phone right now)

[foreverflash]

Ok, so here it is:

After speaking with a USPS International phone agent, I finally know EXACTLY what is and what isn't offered for International shipping.

I just spoke with a USPS phone agent and cleared everything up. I finally understand what to do now. I was right. USPS does not offer tracking on Priority or First Class shipping international. When I send your package, I will have to fill out a customs form. As long as I use my own box for the package (and not one of the USPS flat rate boxes) it is considered a "parcel". Once the customs form is filled out I am given a copy with a CP#.

People have been confusing this CP# with a tracking#. the CP# is NOT a tracking# it is a customs registration number. All along you and others have been using these CP#'s to track, but the thing is, tracking a package using a CP# is NOT guaranteed. The phone agent explained to me that as the package ships, neither USPS or any postal service in any country is NOT REQUIRED to scan the package into the system w/ the CP#. This means, if you use the CP# to track and you see information appear online, that is a "courtesy" only. Whoever scanned it is doing it as a "favor" to whoever wants to see the package progress.

So now I finally understand. Thank you GOD ALMIGHTY!

I can give these CP#'s to everyone I ship to international, but they will not be guaranteed to track the whole way. If someone in Korea got your package and just didn't feel like scanning it, then you would not see the information of it's arrival in Korea using the CP#.

[twistedsymphony]

FYI USPS is WORTHLESS for insurance, especially for international orders.

I've had several things shipped through them both within the US and Abroad that arrived damaged and they pretty much give me the run around in terms of which forms to fill out and who to call. One item I received smashed when I went to file the claim they told me to give them the broken item for their "investigation" then the the next day the SAME PERSON claimed that I never gave them the item or any proof that damage had occurred....

total waste of time...

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Also this forum is for comments and questions about this website (eg: it's a feedback forum for me so people can let me know what they think about the site) so I'm moving this thread to collector's chat where it belongs. ;)

[foreverflash]

FYI USPS is WORTHLESS for insurance, especially for international orders.

I've had several things shipped through them both within the US and Abroad that arrived damaged and they pretty much give me the run around in terms of which forms to fill out and who to call. One item I received smashed when I went to file the claim they told me to give them the broken item for their "investigation" then the the next day the SAME PERSON claimed that I never gave them the item or any proof that damage had occurred....

total waste of time...

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Also this forum is for comments and questions about this website (eg: it's a feedback forum for me so people can let me know what they think about the site) so I'm moving this thread to collector's chat where it belongs. ;)Sorry. I struggled with deciding where to put this thread. Thanks for putting it in the right place. As for USPS; unfortunately, they are the primary (and sometimes only) choice for carrier when shipping international if you don't want to spend a fortune am I correct? So as difficult as they may be and as untrustworthy (which they are) I and others are forced to use them more than we'd like to. I'm just glad I at least understand now what is and isn't available when I ship international using USPS. At least I can give a buyer all the correct information now...

Symphony, do you see a more viable option in FedEx, UPS or DHL? From what I understand they generally charge a lot more for international. I know they have better services, especially DHL. And all of them offer full tracking and real insurance but at what cost? 50$ at USPS vs 100 at DHL for a 10 lb package?

[lhurgoyf]

When I shipped 2xMvC3 to the UK, I think USPS was around $30-40, UPS wanted $120 and FedEx wanted $130. USPS is about the only option.

[Ceohai]

Sorry. I struggled with deciding where to put this thread. Thanks for putting it in the right place. As for USPS; unfortunately, they are the primary (and sometimes only) choice for carrier when shipping international if you don't want to spend a fortune am I correct? So as difficult as they may be and as untrustworthy (which they are) I and others are forced to use them more than we'd like to. I'm just glad I at least understand now what is and isn't available when I ship international using USPS. At least I can give a buyer all the correct information now...

Symphony, do you see a more viable option in FedEx, UPS or DHL? From what I understand they generally charge a lot more for international. I know they have better services, especially DHL. And all of them offer full tracking and real insurance but at what cost? 50$ at USPS vs 100 at DHL for a 10 lb package?
Speaking as an international buyer, I prefer USPS to just about any other service. Packages shipped using UPS and FedEx often come with massive brokerage fees that the buyer needs to pay when picking up the package, depending on the UPS / FedEx service chosen.

As far as tracking goes, this is what the USPS website says when outlining the features of international Priority Mail shipments:
Track your shipment online. Note: Tracking is not available for the Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope or the Small Flat Rate Box.

The fact that there is a special format for Express Mail International and Priority Mail International goes to confirm that,
Express Mail International®: EC 000 000 000 US
Priority Mail International™: CP 000 000 000 US

[foreverflash]

Speaking as an international buyer, I prefer USPS to just about any other service. Packages shipped using UPS and FedEx often come with massive brokerage fees that the buyer needs to pay when picking up the package, depending on the UPS / FedEx service chosen.

As far as tracking goes, this is what the USPS website says when outlining the features of international Priority Mail shipments:


The fact that there is a special format for Express Mail International and Priority Mail International goes to confirm that,Thanks for the input Ceohai, but I already cleared this up. I understand completely how USPS works now and am much more confident shipping international. All it took was a 1/2 wait on the phone and several transfers, then I got to speak with an International Phone agent from USPS. The particular agent I got was exceptionally kind and understanding and answered all my questions. If you see a few posts above I explain this in detail.

USPS does NOT offer traditional tracking for ANY domestic service, and only offers FULL tracking for the top two most expensive services for International (Global Express and Express International). Every other international service, including the two most affordable options (First Class and Priority) DO not include tracking.

Instead, what most people do is use the CP# (Customs #) to track USPS First Class and Priority shipments. Problem is CP# is not guaranteed to provide tracking information; but much of the time it does.

[AJLareneg]

Has anyone mentioned Registered mail to you? You can add a registered mail number on any parcel and it's supposed to be a full tracking. It costs an additional $11.75 on top of whatever postage you're doing... so there's that to consider.

You're right though that the customs number is not tracking, and there is nothing else available for international mail. Insurance varies per country too. Some destinations are not able to be insured. (not sure why, but it is what it is :I)

I'm honestly not sure why no one mentioned registered to you... we do it fairly often for people sending out international mail. :\ so its not an obsolete service or anything.

[foreverflash]

Has anyone mentioned Registered mail to you? You can add a registered mail number on any parcel and it's supposed to be a full tracking. It costs an additional $11.75 on top of whatever postage you're doing... so there's that to consider.

You're right though that the customs number is not tracking, and there is nothing else available for international mail. Insurance varies per country too. Some destinations are not able to be insured. (not sure why, but it is what it is :I)

I'm honestly not sure why no one mentioned registered to you... we do it fairly often for people sending out international mail. :\ so its not an obsolete service or anything.Thanks AJ. I already knew about Registered Mail, but did not mention it because a while ago I was at the post office, trying to return an item to the Phillipines (to an ebay seller) and the seller explained they wanted the package registered. When I asked the clerk about registered mail, he said it was "not" recommended because there were several special "requirements" for the package such as: Brown tape only, no box logos or writing, no labels (only written addresses directly on box is allowed). Then he explained Registered Mail is not allowed to travel w/ all other packages via air (plane) and must go by land/sea (boat). He said because of these restrictions, Registered Mail can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks for delivery. I said "screw this!" and walked out. That was my first and only experience w/ Registered mail...

[AJLareneg]

Thanks AJ. I already knew about Registered Mail, but did not mention it because a while ago I was at the post office, trying to return an item to the Phillipines (to an ebay seller) and the seller explained they wanted the package registered. When I asked the clerk about registered mail, he said it was "not" recommended because there were several special "requirements" for the package such as: Brown tape only, no box logos or writing, no labels (only written addresses directly on box is allowed). Then he explained Registered Mail is not allowed to travel w/ all other packages via air (plane) and must go by land/sea (boat). He said because of these restrictions, Registered Mail can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks for delivery. I said "screw this!" and walked out. That was my first and only experience w/ Registered mail...
Not sure about it only going sea mail, that doesn't sound right to me, but the other things are true. It's the most secure way to ship things, which is why it has all those restrictions (and it can slow down a bit because its so secure, but again, not sure about the sea mail only thing :s), but for an actual tracking for international it's pretty much the only option. :\ I don't know why USPS doesn't offer an easier way to do international tracking...

[foreverflash]

Not sure about it only going sea mail, that doesn't sound right to me, but the other things are true. It's the most secure way to ship things, which is why it has all those restrictions (and it can slow down a bit because its so secure, but again, not sure about the sea mail only thing :s), but for an actual tracking for international it's pretty much the only option. :\ I don't know why USPS doesn't offer an easier way to do international tracking...Yea, I was also told it is the most secure (hence the restrictions) but the part that turned me off was the speed (sea only?) - maybe next time your at the post office AJ, ask the clerk if RM only travels by sea/land. If he tells you NO, then I can assume the clerk at my post office is an idiot...

[AJLareneg]

Yea, I was also told it is the most secure (hence the restrictions) but the part that turned me off was the speed (sea only?) - maybe next time your at the post office AJ, ask the clerk if RM only travels by sea/land. If he tells you NO, then I can assume the clerk at my post office is an idiot...

lol i work for the post office. we're a smaller unit though and sometimes new mail regulations aren't relayed to us. Which is why I said it doesn't SOUND right to me. As far as I know they don't send mail by boat anymore? There is no option to send anything but airmail, anyway, so I just assumed Registered was the same.

I personally haven't sent any registered mail parcels over seas, but I know someone that has and it took a few extra days on top of the normal time, but it wasn't a month or anything crazy.

[foreverflash]

lol i work for the post office. we're a smaller unit though and sometimes new mail regulations aren't relayed to us. Which is why I said it doesn't SOUND right to me. As far as I know they don't send mail by boat anymore? There is no option to send anything but airmail, anyway, so I just assumed Registered was the same.

I personally haven't sent any registered mail parcels over seas, but I know someone that has and it took a few extra days on top of the normal time, but it wasn't a month or anything crazy.Well that's great to know you work for USPS. In this case, I would greatly appreciate if you could clear this up for me regarding RM. Just ask someone there next time your at work! I'm sure your supervisor or someone knows for sure how RM travels and if ALL mail goes AIR regardless of speed/method.

I really need to know for sure and my post office clerk is obviously not the go-to for answers...

[AJLareneg]

Well that's great to know you work for USPS. In this case, I would greatly appreciate if you could clear this up for me regarding RM. Just ask someone there next time your at work! I'm sure your supervisor or someone knows for sure how RM travels and if ALL mail goes AIR regardless of speed/method.

I really need to know for sure and my post office clerk is obviously not the go-to for answers...

I just want to say, it is VERY COMMON for people that work at USPS to not know mail protocol. :| We've tried attempting to clarify a few things with people that work higher up and often get 2 completely different answers depending on who we talk to. It's really confusing.

The easiest thing to do is just check the mailing manuals, but the one in our computer is like 3 years old and they just shrug when we ask for a newer one.

I am really not making USPS look better, am I? LOL. but its true ok. :\ Your clerk could easily not know what they're talking about. If you asked someone else that works there they might tell you something entirely different.