SELECTING THE RIGHT SHIPPING SERVICE THRU USPS

Last updated 10/2/06 once you have finished reading this guide, please do not forget to vote on if it was helpful.
Tired of super long waits, upset that you paid inflated shipping costsand found sent the cheapest way, angry that you were forced to buy insurance -often wasting your money- ormade to buy insurance they never paid for,......and ready to blast the seller with negative feedback for all the hassles and other unrelated problems. Take the mystery out of shipping and arm yourself with knowledge.
Some sellers use FLAT RATE SERVICE.... and leave it non specified. It isYOUR responsibility to e-mail the seller and get a response. Powersellers with "anything merchandise"often rush auction listings. When they are templated, meaning info is carried over to other listings, you can get unclear statements. I make listing errors myself. I sell low volume, so have the time to check it out when a live auction page and then I "revise" it. I also take advantage of listing mistakes from Powersellers and save a bundle and then resell it. Many resellers have learned that one. They are basically two kinds of Powersellers. The first type sells high volume one or a few items "brand new" lower price than local retailers. High feedback from happy buyers. The 2nd Powerseller type are "mom and pop" operations being sold out of the house or sometimes a physical thrift store is tied in. Here is where you find problemed listings and you may never hear back from them when e-mailing.
Always put an item on "watch" until you can get a response from the seller. Sometimes they use a vender that is not listed on the pull up menus like FED EX. Sometimes they have listed shipping details inside the body of the paragraph describing the item.
Once you get an e-mail response, save it. E-mails are legal agreements or contracts between the seller to buyer. If you never get a response, start looking for another dealer selling the same thing, or take a risky chance. Sometimes you can base a decision upon their recent feedback. Do these basic things and save yourself endless frustrations.
The following info gees from a cousin who is a veteren postal worker and very reliable person.
What is Priority Mail from USPS. It is 1st class postage for heavier items and does get Priority over delivery of 1st class. I have seen postal workers delivery on Christmas day, and I assure you it was not 1st class. 2 to 3 day service is the average and I have seen them deliver on the 4th day in regional ice storms around Christmas. Like 1st class, it is secured meaning close to lock and key without the delays. No sticky hands concept from temp workers for example. Rates above 16 oz. or 1 lbs. are effected by distance measured in zones. Nominal mark up for up to 32 oz. or 2 lbs. You will notice sharper prices as 3 and 4 lbs. are reached and usually not worth it for heavier objects. UPS ground runs lower in price, but not as speedy.
1st class is measured by ounces instead of pounds. We mail checks for bills this way and add 3 or 5 days onto Priority time. Also a secured route and both offer return service in price of postage.
Parcel Post is considered 3rd class. It is used for heavy items. Insurance can be added and best that it is shipped in a box too large to be stolen in transit by slipping under a shirt or coat. I have insured Parcel and that provides an internal tracking number for postal inspectors. That is how I know my valuables were stolen in route. This is not a secured route meaning many different postal workers have access. Unlike 1st class or Priority which leave the station before it closes, Parcel and Media Mail do not. Again, I regemend UPS ground for valuable heavy items any time. See UPS paragraph. Parcel does not offer automatic return as not factored into the postage, but they do try to return it, sometimes.
Media Mail can be considered 4th class although some debate at my post office if 4th class exists. I will go with my cousin on this one. Media Mail is for things like music CDs, or books without advertisements. Magazines are excluded due to the regulations regarding ads. Even vintage magazines with ads are not permitted. It is far less expensive than Parcel, but again return shipping is not guaranteed. Insurance can be added.I use it to mail 'burned music CDs" as they have no real value and I send them in large boxes to relatives. Veeeeerrrrrry slow.
UPS ground tends to be a great alternative to Parcel. A little more costly, but a kick butt tracking system which covers each stop. It even tells you what hour of the day it should arrive. Insurance isincluded up to $100. You always need a receipt for any vender to recover the insurance. UPS is darn fast in processing it. USPS can take up to 6 months to offer pay back. That is another reason as a seller that I do not like to offer Parcel or insurance on it or Media Mail. A few sellers offer Media Mail rates in clear violation of the regulation which can also cause you problems.
UPS Stores vs Authorized UPS Shippers. If you are like most okayers, you resent having to pay extra for the same service or product. Go with UPS Stores as their rates are set by UPS. I recall the "old days" when UPS had drop off depots. Now, they have their own stores sprinkled around. You can also find Authorized UPS Shippers such as at Office Depot or stores that handle multiple shipping venders including USPS. Here, you pay a surcharge and UPS does not have set rates. These places are convenient during Christmas season or for business use. Otherwise, I do not regemend them.
The post office systems insurance offering also needs to be dysmystifed. Too many sellers wash their hands of the product they ship off. I have had item damaged or broken due to "slam it in the box" and no thinking handling. Truth is that USPS workers do not throw or jump on boxes. They process high volume all day. Boxes have to be packed into smaller spaces so some are turned or flipped. Items inside can twist and break or strike each other. Just gemon sense helps and marking the box "FRAGIlE" will not help in these cases. It has to be packed tight so no slippage.
Insurance for 1st class and Priority Mail is for the peace of mind of winners in case you do not want a large package left unsecured at your door due to its value. I have personally mailed hundreds of Priority Mail packages on okay and off and none have been lost or stolen in transit. One took more like a month to arrive, but it did. My cousin's advice was to use a preapproved USPS box instead of a smaller non USPS box I had. These marked boxes are at your post office branch free. Starting price of $4.05 covers these boxes and even special packing tape, but must be used for Priority Mail. Some of my buyers still purchase insurance, but again I make it clear to them why to buy it.... to sign for it.
I never buy the USPS tracking number or delivery confirmation service, as it only shows date and time it left the mailing station and date it was delivered. It can still be stolen if left unsecured. I keep receipts of what I mail and has your city and zip code with date. I wait for feedback and toss them.
USPS offers insurance rates for up to $50 and up to $100 and in higher increments.If I offer insurance, you pay the second level even if its valueis under $50. It is only the 2nd insurance rate or higher that requires you sign for it. The first insurance rate is for cheap stuff that still has some value and you opt to ship it non secured.
Additional Services Thru USPS
Register Mail: Your item under lock and key in lock box. This can slow the rate of travel. Use for high value items.
Certified Mail: You get a return receipt showing the person who signed for it.
Both are 1st class shipping routes.
A trip to the post office can be frustrating an unpleasant. My cousin points out that new clerks are no longer trained the way he was, and frankly, there is a lot to learn. I have actually had to explain policy to someone and always ask the clerk if this is right, and get a nod. Other clerks are very good at their job or craft.
There are other venders like FED EX and DHL. I have never used them to ship, but I get somethings shipped to me, and they seem very reliable like UPS.
This is a rough draff, so sorry about the typos.