Is tracking necessary?

[kabilab]

I began selling through my current account in the Fall of 2013, to liquidate items I was unable to sell in my store; the overwhelming majority have been DVDs. At that time, I was able to price down to $3.99, still cover all my costs and receive my initial investment. Currently, due to postal, e-Bay and toner increases, it takes $5.99 to accomplish the same result.

Recently, it was suggested I forego tracking and purchase a 99 cent non-machinable stamp. That would permit  me to, once again, sell at $3.99; which would definitely increase my sales. I checked with the local Post Office and learned that was permissible on their end. Next, I read many e-Bay tracking rules, but  am not clear as to their position. Please assist.

An added note: I am 80 and do not factor my time.

[kabilab]

Thanks to all who responded. At the age of 80 and with no living relatives of whom I am aware, my decision is definitely not what it would have been even 10 yrs. ago. I decided to test the waters by selling five DVDs a month without tracking. At the $4 level, I should not be attractive to thieves, but if I am, I would much rather try and fail than to wonder "what if?" It is that very principle that has served me well through almost six decades of self-employment.

[inhawaii]

Is tracking necessary?

No, it's not necessary.

But it sure is nice to have ... especially if the buyer files a INR claim.

Without it you will lose any INR claim.

[reallynicestamps]

You get protection using tracking if you use stamps you will need to be okay with scammers saying they never got the dvd.

Tracking offers protection against scammer, you are right.

But you don't need a label to get tracking.

Most of my parcels are tracked but I'm still paying for them with stamps. The clerk just adjusts her cash register tape to reflect that payment included both affixed stamps and cash.

The drawback is that I can't just drop the parcels into the mailbox as I do with my LetterPost items, but do have to talk to the counter clerks.

She usually will make up the rate by printing off a label for the difference.

[slippinjimmy]

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@kabilab wrote:

Thanks to all who responded. At the age of 80 and with no living relatives of whom I am aware, my decision is definitely not what it would have been even 10 yrs. ago. I decided to test the waters by selling five DVDs a month without tracking. At the $4 level, I should not be attractive to thieves, but if I am, I would much rather try and fail than to wonder "what if?" It is that very principle that has served me well through almost six decades of self-employment.

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The MAXIMUM thickness for a letter is 1/4", a DVD in it's case is generally 1/2" thick, expect at least some to be rejected or delivered postage due.

The Maximum thickness for a Flat is 3/4" so you are good there BUT they would fail the Flexibility test so you should expect some to be rejected or delivered postage due.

Your only option would be to sell/ship without cases which isn't going to work.

[kabilab]

Jimmy,

Thank you for your comments. Those points either were unknown to the Post Office clerk or not deemed sufficiently important to mention to me.  As I occasionally visit the main location in my city, I will do so tomorrow and request to speak with the Postmaster/mistress.

[slippinjimmy]

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@kabilab wrote:

Jimmy,

Thank you for your comments. Those points either were unknown to the Post Office clerk or not deemed sufficiently important to mention to me.  As I occasionally visit the main location in my city, I will do so tomorrow and request to speak with the Postmaster/mistress.

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Physical Standards

Flats

https://pe.usps.com/text/qsg300/q201c.htm

Letters

https://pe.usps.com/text/qsg300/Q230a.htm#ep1030914

[onefootflipper]

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@kabilab wrote:

Jimmy,

Thank you for your comments. Those points either were unknown to the Post Office clerk or not deemed sufficiently important to mention to me.  As I occasionally visit the main location in my city, I will do so tomorrow and request to speak with the Postmaster/mistress.

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It doesn't matter what your local postmaster thinks, as they are not the only one handling the item.  A DVD case in an envelope doesn't meet the allowable standards.

Those DVDs with in cases with stamps on them will show up postage due to your customers on a regular basis, might be 75 percent of them, might be 10 percent of them, but it will happen and it will happen all the time. I still every once in a while get a trading card standard envelope show up postage due or get returned to my house because someone along the line decided it was a package. It would be constant with the DVDs.