Shipping Question: Track everything?

[Jakai_Musashi]

I've recently processed 2 trades with people, both went smooth and no issues, until I went to the post office. The first I opted to ship through FedEx because the shipping costs at the post office was equal to the FedEx shipping, the second I was pressed for time and had to ship with Canada Post.

As it turns out (not sure if it's the case in other countries) Canada Post now has a policy that if a package is undeliverable you have 2 choices, destruction of the contents, or pay for the return shipping (in my case the latter left me debating throwing away $60 in models, or paying $40 to have them stuck in a box for a few weeks, only to have them come back to me). I'm not saying that the package WILL be returned, but it leaves a sour taste in my mouth when I know FedEx will return-to-sender without charging the Customer more.

So here's the question.... Tracking numbers are as a security feature for the shipper and the ship-ee, but mostly for the shipper to argue any accusations that a package never arrived (or was never sent) as receipts rarely give enough information to prove that a specific package was shipped to a specific person, etc. So how small or how large is a package before you place a tracking number on it, and if you do not track every package how do you defend yourself against anyone who may argue that the package never arrived? Disclaimer on your ads saying small packages are shipped at the recipients responsibility? Simply replace any "lost packages" without proof that it never arrived? My last trade costed me more in shipping costs than buying the to-be-received package at retail cost from the local store (and I shipped 2 metal marines).

Opinions?

[kturock]

That option applies to mail shipped from the US internationally also. It's on the customs forms.

Also, it appears that Canada Post is now offering the equilivant of "parcel Post', which is 1 way shipping. [in th US]

In the US, a 1st class , priority and express mail, covers shipping until delivery or it's returned.Internatonal or domestic.

Parcel Post, which is domestic only, covers shipping to the 1st address. If it gets forwarded or returned, then it become postage due. [for the same postage as the 1st handling.]
If the addressee at the 2nd/new address refuses to pay the postage, it goes to the 'dead letter' office. It sits there for a while, then gets opened and either throw away or auctioned off.

[Jakai_Musashi]

I didn't realize that was the case with US mail... it's a relatively new thing for Canada Post though. Not to mention the packages that I've sent recently had never cost me this much for shipping, so I'm being bombarded more or less with these questions in my mind as to options. Only about 2 years ago (the last time I can remember) when I shipped a package with a tracking number, small parcel only costed around $6 with $100 insurance... now to send the same 'small parcel', lighter than the last parcel than I remember, is costing me consistantly $15+, and bombarding me further is this new "feature" that it will cost me twice the shipping if for whatever reason it's return-to-sendered on me.

My original questions still stands. What's everyone's policy on shipping packages. Do you track every package? What's your dividing line that brings a package from not-tracked to tracked-package? If you do not track every package, what is your contingency plan, your backup, your defense as it is, if a package does not arrive, as you only have the word of the receiver that things never arrived? With today's economy we're all trying to save money, whether that's by trading and selling unwanted miniatures, or in my case, on shipping costs.

Opinions?

[MagickalMemories]

Track E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.

Disclaimer on your ads saying small packages are shipped at the recipients responsibility?

BTown staff would not side with you in that case.
Official policy/support says that it is the sender's responsibility to ensure that the package gets to where it is going. So, if you offer tracking and they refuse, you need to (a) pay for it yourself (b) cancel the deal (c) be prepared to eat the cost of the deal if/when they claim it did not arrive.

I require a Delivery Confirmation number on all US trades (whether I'm sending or receiving), and I require tracking on all international trades (if I'm willing to ship to their location). If they are unwilling to pay for it, I cancel the deal or cover it myself.

Eric

[kturock]

I sell on here, AMazon & Ebay.
I track everything,regardless of value.
I insure & track everything over $10 value. Insurance costs about $2.50. So for about 25% of value I add insurance.

[Jakai_Musashi]

I normally agree completely with you MM, but my last shipping really has me wondering where the sweet spot is. I didn't feel it was acceptable to back out of a deal because shipping my models with a tracking number costed more than buying what I was receiving new-retail. Alternatively I suppose I can limit trades to no less than "10 models" or something of that nature. As for 'pay for shipping', I feel strongly on that as well. If someone is buying models from me, especially if we're talking a moderate amount (ie: an army), then a tracking number is a deal-breaker if they're unwilling.

I figured that the overall response would most likely be siding with my method of 'every package has a tracking number', just trying to figure out if I'm the exception to the norm, that sending for example a blister of IG Stormtroopers with assault weapons cost more than buying them new vs sending them for $3 shipping.

@kturock Sadly the "cheap" insurance option no longer exists for us Canucks...

[MagickalMemories]

That's the price you pay for trading, sadly, Jakai. Shipping.
IMO, if shipping & tracking is more than the minis, I'm just going to buy the mini. I don't deal without shipping... and I am better off for it.


Eric