First Class Mail Package - Does Tracking Cost Extra?

[miraculousnoir]

Hello,

So I purchased a really inexpensive lanyard item (less than $5) that had shipping details listed as "USPS First Class Package." Label was not printed out, however, and the item was marked as shipped, with no tracking. The next day, I asked the seller if it came with a tracking number (I just prefer having one so I know when to check my mailbox). He responded immediately with "I shipped it in a mailer at the post" and didn't actually answer my question, so I sent him another message asking if it came with a tracking number more simply, in case he just looked over what I sent and thought I was asking if he had shipped. No response since the first time. The seller has no negs and a decent amount of positive feedback, so I'm not too worried. Sort of embarrassed though, because I'm wondering if the question was dumb. I rarely go to the post office myself these days and can't remember the last time I actually shipped a first class mail package.

Basically, does it cost extra for tracking if you ship something directly at the post office (no printed label) like a first class package, since I know priority should automatically come with tracking and insurance right? Or maybe he used a different first class mail option for the lanyard that wouldn't come with tracking?

Would just like to know for future reference. Thank you.

[sam9876]

He shipped it as a first class "flat", which can't have a tracking number on it.

[sam9876]

A First Class "package" will have a tracking number on it for free.

[thallidguy]

It has been a long, long time I have shipped anything from the post office counter, but it used to be the case that you had to pay extra for a tracking number if you went that route and perhaps still is. As a general rule, USPS encourage shippers to prepay postage by buying online, and that is/was one of the incentives.

[thallidguy]

Ah, that's true. eBay gives no option for telling the buyer that it's being shipped by letter or flat, so it would show in the listing info as "First Class Package" even though that's not the actual class of service used.

[partial*eclipse · Accepted solution]

All USPS package postage automatically includes tracking (formerly known as Delivery Confirmation) at no additional cost.  This free service, originally available only with Priority Mail, was phased in for the other services over a period of a couple of years; for a while some services had it for online labels but not for retail.  But now even retail packages include it.

A lanyard might qualify to be mailed as a flat (AKA Large envelope) or even as a letter, depending on its bulk and how it was packaged. First Class letters and flats don't have tracking.

[miraculousnoir]

Yeah, I'm in the same boat where it's been so long since I last shipped a package in person, so I can't completely remember. But the reason you gave makes total sense, as an incentive/to encourage printing labels online. 

"First class mail flat" is most likely it then, since it seems like it would fall under the first class mail category in general. I'm not sure what the requirements specifically are for this stuff, but given he used a mailer and the lanyard itself is pretty thin, that's probably what happened.

Thanks for the responses! They definitely helped. 

[sam9876]

"But the reason you gave makes total sense, as an incentive/to encourage printing labels online."

Nope.

All packages get a free tracking number no matter where the postage was purchased.

[miraculousnoir]

Yeah, I sort of posted that response before reading what the other guy wrote, which I marked as the solution because it explained everything really well.

That helps to clear that up about it though. Now I know for sure that tracking for a first class package does not cost extra, whether online or in person. The only exceptions are letters/flats which do not come with tracking, based on the responses here. So he most likely used the flat service, but I guess it'll still fall under the "first class mail package" category which caused the original confusion.

[shoptalkid]

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@sunnysodabreeze wrote:

Hello,

So I purchased a really inexpensive lanyard item (less than $5) that had shipping details listed as "USPS First Class Package." Label was not printed out, however, and the item was marked as shipped, with no tracking. The next day, I asked the seller if it came with a tracking number (I just prefer having one so I know when to check my mailbox). He responded immediately with "I shipped it in a mailer at the post" and didn't actually answer my question, so I sent him another message asking if it came with a tracking number more simply, in case he just looked over what I sent and thought I was asking if he had shipped. No response since the first time. The seller has no negs and a decent amount of positive feedback, so I'm not too worried. Sort of embarrassed though, because I'm wondering if the question was dumb. I rarely go to the post office myself these days and can't remember the last time I actually shipped a first class mail package.

Basically, does it cost extra for tracking if you ship something directly at the post office (no printed label) like a first class package, since I know priority should automatically come with tracking and insurance right? Or maybe he used a different first class mail option for the lanyard that wouldn't come with tracking?

Would just like to know for future reference. Thank you.

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You will probably get that item in an envelope with some stamps on it or metered postage, which according to USPS 's classification, is NOT a first-class package.    So if that's how you get the item, your sellers is using the wrong shipping service.   

[apache.falls]

tracking numbers are for sellers, buyers don't need one