I had one of these a very long time ago. It was sent from Sydney to Blackburn, Melbourne, via Blackburn, Lancashire
I'm still waiting on a purchase from the UK on November 20. I figure it's stuck in a back corner somewhere. Ended up there right when Omicron emerged, and they're still working towards that back corner.
More recently, I've received shipments from the UK in 10 days or less.
I believe we're kind of at the mercy of space available on the (limited) intercontinental flights these days.
Note to international sellers: It's probably a good idea to retain some form of 'proof of mailing', even if it's just a PO receipt. As a buyer, that's always the first thing I inquire about, and I have yet to get a response with such a receipt.
Like I've been saying, I would gladly pay a couple of bucks for a tracking number, on all my orders. And, what better proof of mailing could there be?
-Paul
" I would gladly pay a couple of bucks for a tracking number, on all my orders."
To me, tracking is nothing more than proof of mailing.
As a seller, it would allow me to say, "It's not my fault. See, the PO acknowledges that they received the item."
If you've ever presented a tracking number at the PO and asked them to find out where the item is, you've been vastly disappointed.
Some time ago, nystamps went from charging $2.19 base shipping on each order (through eBay, with tracking) to offering free shipping on all orders. Great, huh? Only, they outsourced the shipping to someone who truly doesn't know what they're doing. The addressee labels are applied with packing tape, such that the sorter-printed barcode at the bottom edge is not properly printed and unreadable. And, so, transit times have become quite random, depending on how soon the PO gets to manually sorting these improperly prepared items.
I have made several appeals to nystamps to get their shipping outsource tuned up, to no avail. All I hear in reply is cricket chirping noises and nothing changes.
-Paul
""It's not my fault. See, the PO acknowledges that they received the item.""
"To me, tracking is nothing more than proof of mailing."
"Sellers have to take "on trust" that buyers have received the items they have paid for so why shouldn't buyers "take on trust" that the sellers have shipped the items."
"Yes there are "dodgy" sellers but there are also "dodgy" buyers."
i don't think a month delay is long for a UK package addressed to the US when Australia was the intended country.
I'm impressed that the folks at USPS know their geography well enough to recognize "SA" as a state in Australia.
Hmmmm. Sometimes I wonder.
On a Facebook group for eBay hobby sellers, they're whining about how many USPS packages they've lost, even with tracking! Maybe because you are using that eBay 53 Cents Indica with tracking included? It's an easy identifier that something small of value is in that envelope! As bad as that eBay tape they keep trying to give to me! It might as well be stamped STEAL ME! instead of eBay.
At the same time, I've shipped over 1500 lots worldwide without an issue. I have had people inquire about slow mails, but it all eventually turned up where it was aimed. And what do my packages look like? Number 10 envelope with my personal return address, a "Do Not Bend" handstamp and okay... yea, a turtle hand stamp too! I worried at first that the multiple older stamps I used might be an issue, but not so far.
And just today I got a sale to China. A dollar cover with $1.50 shipping. Buyer indicates "MUST DO TRACKING". I think it needs to be something like Registered Mail for $17.50 to get tracking... so guess what he's not getting!
"Registered Mail for $17.50 to get tracking"
" ... A dollar cover with $1.50 shipping. Buyer indicates "MUST DO TRACKING". ..."
Sample letter;
Dear sir,
I have checked the local cost of tracking, Penn's Woods to BFE, China, at your request. Please forward $18.50 USD ($17.50 +$1.oo added handling = $18.50). Meanwhile I will set your purchase aside until I hear from you.
Amen.
re: MIA
re: MIA
I had one of these a very long time ago. It was sent from Sydney to Blackburn, Melbourne, via Blackburn, Lancashire
re: MIA
I'm still waiting on a purchase from the UK on November 20. I figure it's stuck in a back corner somewhere. Ended up there right when Omicron emerged, and they're still working towards that back corner.
More recently, I've received shipments from the UK in 10 days or less.
I believe we're kind of at the mercy of space available on the (limited) intercontinental flights these days.
Note to international sellers: It's probably a good idea to retain some form of 'proof of mailing', even if it's just a PO receipt. As a buyer, that's always the first thing I inquire about, and I have yet to get a response with such a receipt.
Like I've been saying, I would gladly pay a couple of bucks for a tracking number, on all my orders. And, what better proof of mailing could there be?
-Paul
re: MIA
" I would gladly pay a couple of bucks for a tracking number, on all my orders."
re: MIA
To me, tracking is nothing more than proof of mailing.
As a seller, it would allow me to say, "It's not my fault. See, the PO acknowledges that they received the item."
If you've ever presented a tracking number at the PO and asked them to find out where the item is, you've been vastly disappointed.
Some time ago, nystamps went from charging $2.19 base shipping on each order (through eBay, with tracking) to offering free shipping on all orders. Great, huh? Only, they outsourced the shipping to someone who truly doesn't know what they're doing. The addressee labels are applied with packing tape, such that the sorter-printed barcode at the bottom edge is not properly printed and unreadable. And, so, transit times have become quite random, depending on how soon the PO gets to manually sorting these improperly prepared items.
I have made several appeals to nystamps to get their shipping outsource tuned up, to no avail. All I hear in reply is cricket chirping noises and nothing changes.
-Paul
re: MIA
""It's not my fault. See, the PO acknowledges that they received the item.""
"To me, tracking is nothing more than proof of mailing."
re: MIA
"Sellers have to take "on trust" that buyers have received the items they have paid for so why shouldn't buyers "take on trust" that the sellers have shipped the items."
"Yes there are "dodgy" sellers but there are also "dodgy" buyers."
re: MIA
i don't think a month delay is long for a UK package addressed to the US when Australia was the intended country.
I'm impressed that the folks at USPS know their geography well enough to recognize "SA" as a state in Australia.
re: MIA
Hmmmm. Sometimes I wonder.
On a Facebook group for eBay hobby sellers, they're whining about how many USPS packages they've lost, even with tracking! Maybe because you are using that eBay 53 Cents Indica with tracking included? It's an easy identifier that something small of value is in that envelope! As bad as that eBay tape they keep trying to give to me! It might as well be stamped STEAL ME! instead of eBay.
At the same time, I've shipped over 1500 lots worldwide without an issue. I have had people inquire about slow mails, but it all eventually turned up where it was aimed. And what do my packages look like? Number 10 envelope with my personal return address, a "Do Not Bend" handstamp and okay... yea, a turtle hand stamp too! I worried at first that the multiple older stamps I used might be an issue, but not so far.
And just today I got a sale to China. A dollar cover with $1.50 shipping. Buyer indicates "MUST DO TRACKING". I think it needs to be something like Registered Mail for $17.50 to get tracking... so guess what he's not getting!
re: MIA
"Registered Mail for $17.50 to get tracking"
re: MIA
" ... A dollar cover with $1.50 shipping. Buyer indicates "MUST DO TRACKING". ..."
Sample letter;
Dear sir,
I have checked the local cost of tracking, Penn's Woods to BFE, China, at your request. Please forward $18.50 USD ($17.50 +$1.oo added handling = $18.50). Meanwhile I will set your purchase aside until I hear from you.
Amen.