Lost Or Stolen Stamp

A year or so ago I sent a $2000 shipment of stamps by registered mail within the US. It took a couple weeks with all of the security they put in place. How did it turn out ?

My buyer lived on a long drive and the residents had a cluster of mailboxes at the head of the drive. Instead of bringing the package to the door for the proper signature, the carrier mistakenly left the package atop the cluster of mailboxes just ahead of inclement weather.

My buyer was surprised to see an older neighbor coming down his driveway. He delivered the package. He found it and thought it might be important. If it hadn't been for a good neighbor and a honest buyer this could have been bad. We both file complaints with USPS at both ends of the shipment. Their reply "everything worked out alright, so no problem"

Lately we've been having problems with a particulat sorting facility. Things track there and then get stick for nearly 2 weeks before the finally make it out.

It's getting scary.

1st class mail is the best way to go. Anything with fancy stamps, insured or registered is inviting to be stolen. Address it like a card to your aunt and it gets there in 2 days everytime.

Essay I think you're right that I am referring to certified. There have all been items with tracking.

And to add to that kcaramat, anyone mailing common carrier and puts ""DO NOT BEND"" on the envelope to me is an invitation (through curiosity ) to steal.

Cost-cutting measures by the USPS and security procedures are inversely proportional.

USPS First Class parcels with Signature Confirmation are faster and likely to be more secure because tracking can be monitored on line and they spend less time in the mail stream. For more expensive items Express Mail is quick and relatively secure. The best option for really expensive items is FedEx overnight with morning delivery, but you will have to provide your own insurance. Many stamp collector or dealer policies include insurance with limits specified in the policy. If the rules are followed, Registered mail is kept under lock and key while in the post office. Unfortunately, no protection exists once the mail leaves the country.

Finally, now that USPS has withdrawn Click-N-Ship for business, it is no longer practical to use stamps when mailing First Class parcels.

Clark

First class barcoded labels with tracking can be printed either within
Paypal or within the ebay transaction...

The UPS website only supports Priority and Express...

All of the above holds true whether you are a business or individual...

Many of these suggestions are helpful if sending/receiving within the US. However, this original post was about a registered international shipment (original source doesn't matter) to the US.

Gladiator001's package, just like the two I lost, were scanned by customs in New York, then put into first class mail. Registered international mailings are no longer tracked by the USPS once they clear US customs.

What recommendations can our members offer to ensure delivery?

Brian

Like Brian, I, too, have lost registered mail in the NY Post Office from Europe (Germany). Appeals to the Deutsche Post, the USPS and my congressman were useless.

Since that time I have asked the sellers to send the stamps by regular mail with NO special identification (odd stamps, "do not bend" or "philatelic mail" notices etc.) so it looks like a normal business/personal letter. I agreed to be responsible for any loss.

To date I haven't had any missing deliveries. (Fingers crossed)

Dan

UPS or Fedex. If those are too expensive, regular first class mail. I probably order from a couple international sellers a month, on average. I have yet to have a standard first class shipment not get here. The main thing is to not use registered int'l mail. It's the worst possible scenario - you pay extra for it, it's only tracked until it hits the US, and there's a great big advertisement that there's something valuable inside. It's a thief's dream, when you think about it.

My sentiments exactly!

Brian

Thanks all of you for contribution to this topic, but ordinary post is not safe for a seller too, last time I sold hundred low value stamps 10% of buyers claimed that item was not received and think you have no proof that you have ever posted it. At least with registered you have a chance to ask some one for delivery record and claim a $50 insurance if its lost. This time I was trying randomly charge some of the buyers registered to avoid loses if they purchase item for more than $10 or multiple purchases. Turns our bad decision too. In recent years postal theft has increased and I think none of the options are 100% safe.

About international registered mail being thrown with first mail in US I don't know much as some of the items I was able to track up to the clients door steps thru out states. May be just because it was registered letter, by clerical negligence it was thrown into a wrong bag?

Keep this thread open and tell your story, would love to hear what USPS have to say about it.

P.S Would hate to see my letter to be sold at lost item auction held by USPS or Customs - ref. to TV show "Baggage Battles"

Here's another article on the subject. It is a response by the USPS to Canada Post's claim that the USPS isn't tracking mail.




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http://postandparcel.info/59660/new...#comment-315


"Secure" first class mail stream - what a bunch of hooey. I guess the lesson is to add "signature required" to the mail.

Brian

No matter what you do, international shipping will never be 100% safe. You can use low-cost options that have little to no security, or use high-security services that are simply not cost-effective for most shipments. Neither option is attractive.

The answer is to fill in the gaps with prudent choices:

1. Make sure you either have 3rd-party insurance coverage or self-insure, and then use the most cost-effective carrier and service, or ideally strike a balance between cost and security. These options also allow you to not have to state the exact contents or insure for full value openly, i.e., a big honking sign that says "I'M VALUABLE! STEAL ME!".

2. Shipping internationally isn't an all-or-nothing proposition. Use ebay's settings to minimize your list. For example, turn on the ebay setting that disallows bids from countries you don't ship to and exclude some of the higher-risk countries. Also, maybe you allow low-to-medium value items to be bid on internationally, but higher-dollar items you only list domestically (easier to control on fixed price listings where you know what the items will sell for).

(Of course, these suggestions are from the perspective of a U.S. seller shipping internationally, but presumably there are similar options for people in other countries shipping here.)

Shipping overseas is not worth the gamble.
A very small portion of my sales are made on ebay but I do consistently offer philatelic and postal history items, the majority are US material. Have been well pleased with the results for more than 15 years. Several years ago the tag line 'shipped to USA only' was added on all lots I offer. It has made prices more satisfactory; effort, expense and grief minimized. And once in a while a serious buyer from overseas has pleaded for shipping and agreed that a USA-based relative, friend or agent would accept my shipment to him, who would then forward it to the buyer. It worked perfectly.
I understand that my restrictions limit sales and better prices in many cases but am just plain too busy to do battle with the overseas shipping problems.