Need Advice - Experienced US Seller

[foreverflash]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by foreverflash

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]

Originally Posted by AJLareneg

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]

Originally Posted by foreverflash

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]

Originally Posted by AJLareneg

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]

Originally Posted by foreverflash

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.