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

[1tuna]

if you are using a small bubble mailer then it needs to be at least 3/4 of an inch thick to qualify as a package

the post office has a gauge for this.......... less than 3/4 and its a flat I think

that is why shippers put a wad of paper in them to make them thicker or a single shipping noodle

patches for the GS can go in a box.  I lke to use 5 inch cube boxes..........very handy and light weight

flats do not have tracking because they are not actually a package

shipping policies are spelled out in your master buisness  policy section 

[teamstandy]

Thank you for that info.

[teamstandy]

Using the new listing tool, I didn't see an option to select "package or thick envelope." However, when I switched to the old listing tool, I did.

If I had just stuck with the new listing tool and put in 1" for thickness (but still selected first class), would that provide me a way to print a shipping label from the shipping page when it sells? Would it have know that it was a "package or thick envelope" because of the package dimensions (in this case 8"x7"x1"?

[varebelrose]

"Lapel pins properly packed would almost certainly be packages rather than letters or flats"

At one time I was mailing 10 or so lapel pins a week in stamped envelopes with never an issue.  Just pushed the pin through cardboard and then used some more thick cardboard with a cutout to cushion where the retention clasp sat.  Came to about 1/4" thick.

[gwm_industrial]

I lost Top Rated status because of this.  I shipped everything on time but since there was no tracking, my status was downgraded.  

[kh-stanley1]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread HERE if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.