Priority mail (with tracking) vs. First Class mail (with no tracking)

[teamstandy]

Hello. I'm selling some very lightweight items (less than 6 oz.) and posted them using first class mail. Now I'm wondering if that's the right way to go.  Priority mail is almost double first class, but it does provide tracking and $50 of insurance. 

Am I better off shipping lightweight packages with priority mail despite the buyer having to pay more for shipping? 

Because first class mail doesn't provide tracking, do I take a "hit" from eBay because they have no automated way of verifying that the package arrived (as they do with priority mail)?

Thanks,

Andy

[teamstandy]

Or, should I maybe set a fixed price for shipping in this case? For example, if priority mail costs between $7.95-$10.65, maybe set a fixed price of $7 and absorb any shipping cost above that?

[myescape]

Use first class package(not letter).It has tracking

[nobody*s_perfect]

USPS has 3 types of First Class mail: Letters, flats (AKA Large envelopes) and packages.  

First Class packages, like all other USPS package postage, automatically include tracking (formerly known as delivery confirmation) at no additional cost.

[donsdetour]

No tracking = no delivery if they file a case.

Just saying.

[justafemster · Accepted solution]

Print the labels through ebay, you'll get a (small) discount on postage and the tracking number will automatically upload.  And you can pay with your pending payments, so there's no out of pocket.

First class costs less than priority ($3.50-$6ish), no insurance though.  

Lowest price for priority is $8 for a flat rate envie, goes up from there.

I send everything I possibly can first class.  I've only had 3 packages lost or damaged in 20+ years of online selling and (luckily), 2 of them were priority, so I received the insurance payment and a refund of postage.  I pack way, way, way too well!  

[teamstandy]

I should have mentioned these particular items are in a bubble mailer. Would I have to place them in a box to use first class package?? They're just Girl Scout patches and lapel pins.

[teamstandy]

That's a great track record. In this case, I'm going to stick with first class mail. Thanks for the info.

[fab_finds4u]

First Class Packages track to everywhere in the US. First Class International tracks to most locations. 

[varebelrose]

No, you can use bubble mailers with 1st Class package.

Not knowing what the value of these is, if they are under $10 I personally wouldn't even worry about tracking, and would just send them via stamped envelope. I would think the scam factor in GS collectors would be pretty small, so minimal risk of false INR claims. YMMV.

[teamstandy]

When I look at shipping options, all I see is USPS First Class (i.e. I don't see any way to specify first class letter or first class package).  How would I specify first class package?

[annisazzz]

eBay automatically assumes you’re shipping a package. All USPS packages are tracked within the US. Only first class letters aren’t tracked. I ship EVERYTHING I possibly can first class mail. I had two packages get lost last Christmas time but out of the two only one never arrive. The other arrived a month and a half later and the buyer was honest and paid me again….

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@teamstandy wrote:

I should have mentioned these particular items are in a bubble mailer. Would I have to place them in a box to use first class package?? They're just Girl Scout patches and lapel pins.

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If the bubble mailer is not over 1/4 inch thick, then you can continue to mail them as letters. If over 1/4 inch but flexible, it's a flat which is much cheaper than a package but doesn't have tracking. Lapel pins properly packed would almost certainly be packages rather than letters or flats since the envelope would be over 3/4 inch thick and/or uneven thickness.

If you want tracking on a bubble envelope which otherwise would go as a letter or flat, the way to turn it into a package is to make part of it over /4 inch thick so it's ineligible to be mailed as a flat.  You can insert an item such as a packing "peanut" or just roll up the end of the envelope before you tape it.

Something tells me that buyers go GS patches are probably an honest bunch so it's not worthwhile to upgrade to Priority to get insurance  or even First Class package to get the tracking.

[kensgiftshop]

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@teamstandy wrote:

I should have mentioned these particular items are in a bubble mailer. Would I have to place them in a box to use first class package?? They're just Girl Scout patches and lapel pins.

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No, just you don't need a box, just measure like you would a box, if you need the dimensions.

[pjcdn2005]

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@teamstandy wrote:

When I look at shipping options, all I see is USPS First Class (i.e. I don't see any way to specify first class letter or first class package).  How would I specify first class package?

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On the sell your item form near the bottom of the shipping section there is box for the 'Package Type'.  If you choose your package type as letter or large envelope, the buyer will be charged for a first class flat which does not have tracking and a you can't print a label for it on ebay but you can use stamps.  But if you choose package (thick envelope)  your buyer will be charged for first class package which has delivery confirmation and a label can be printed on ebay.