tomwiii
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posted on July 13, 2001 08:31:14 AM
Or...Uncle Tom's Shipping Success Story!
I ain't no expert, but, over the past 18 months, I've shipped over 1000 items via USPS (Priority and Media Mail) and not one has been lost or damaged.
I've had 6 folks tell me that their items were never delivered. HOWEVER...as soon as I send them the DC web-site link showing delivery, a truly astonishing miracle occurs: all the packages suddenly arrive!
I read on the boards about items being lost or damaged, so, I thought now is a good time for everybody (including ME!) to re-examine our shipping procedures. Please feel free to add or critize my technique:
1) PLEASE PRINT the address! With da printer!
2) PLEASE use the official STANDARDIZED ADDRESS -- the PO is nuts about this! For every address in the US, there is a correct address! You can check it here:
http://www.usps.gov/ncsc/lookups/lookup_zip+4.html
You type in the address, & it spits out the STANDARDIZED ADDRESS PLUS the correct Zip+4!
a)ALL CAPS!
b)NO PUNCTUATION! (trivia..what is the only punct allowed?)
3) PLEASE use the BAR-CODE! MS Word will create it for you! Or, here's a cheap&easy program:
Use "ClickStampsOnline" program from PB-- just turn OFF the postage! You can print the verified & standardized address + barcode for every customer! Costs $1.50/mo!
4) PLEASE use DC! It covers your butt & it discourages PO pilferage! Get it FREE or 0.12 for MEDIA from a wonderful company:
www.endicia.com
5) I use FRAGILE labels...not for the PO workers, but for the customers -- it makes them feel ya care!
Well, that's about it! If you're having USPS delivery problems, I truly recommend following some, if not all, of the above! It works for me!
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keziak
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posted on July 13, 2001 08:42:02 AM
Hi Tom -- thanks for the great tips! I had an experience recently that made me think about this issue. I was getting down for a while about packages not being delivered. I did a few refunds . One in particular I remembered when to California early this year.
WEll, guess what I got in the mail the other day...that package, stamped all over it "not picked up" or something along those lines. Apparently the buyer's PO kept trying to get them to come pick it up and they never did.
With that recovery, I realized, looking back, I haven't had ANY truly lost packages this year, at least, and probably longer. Delays, yes. Nervous buyers, yup. I recommend DC for customers who live far from me and none of THOSE ever come back to me with complaints. Plus, those items I refunded, I eventually heard that they did arrive.
So...the big picture is pretty darn good. I will continue recommending that my West Coast buyers go ahead and get Priority or at least DC because media mail to that area from here truly seems to take forever, and noone likes things to just drag on and on. But one of my worst deliveries was to Pennsylvania, and I'm in Virginia, so there are no guarantees on fast shipping. I think I can safely say, though, by now that the PO WILL deliver...eventually.
keziak
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tomwiii
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posted on July 13, 2001 08:51:53 AM
keziak: that's pretty common! What I do is check the tracking every 2 days. If the PO says they attempted delivery, I email the customer & advise them that the item is at their PO! A fair number of them are very grateful, as their mailman NEVER LEFT THEM THE YELLOW SLIP!
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bunnicula
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posted on July 13, 2001 08:57:24 AM
keziak: I don't give my buyers a choice--the cost of DC is included in the shipping price I quote for every auction. In 2 1/2 years of selling on eBay I have *never* had a package "lost" or "never arrive." I had a few people try that route, but as soon as I pointed out that I could see on the USPS site that it had indeed arrived, they miraculously "found" the package...
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mrlatenite
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posted on July 13, 2001 08:57:46 AM
I've NEVER had a confirmed case of lost package (it magically appears after I have them go to the post office to file a report
I print out ALL of my address labels.
I use Arial 18 to 22 point font (depends on package size), ALL CAPS and follow the post office abbreviation rules.
I print them out on bright white paper and then cut them out with a good sized border, and then use super-clear packing tape and tape them directly to the label/box/envelope.
The post office (when I get a nice clerk) has complimented me on my boxing/labelling skills (even with reused ones that I make clean as possible first)
I have disagreements on the other points:
- Delivery confirmation (USPS DC) is worthless... it's scanned when it reaches the sorting area in most cities.. NOT when it hits the front door/mailbox. Plenty of chances for loss/stealing before it's delivered.
- Marking stuff FRAGILE. Non-scientific, but a larger portion of the items I receive marked fragile have much more damage than those that don't. I think the PO likes to see just how fragile it really is.
Just like the reason you wouldn't mark a box as "Laptop computer" when you ship it... why call attention to fragile when that means nothing nowdays?
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tomwiii
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posted on July 13, 2001 09:02:43 AM
Great points!
1) DC has saved my considerable butt at least 5 times!
2) DC is a necessay evil of PayNOT-MYPal!
3) DC is CHEAP! see note about endicia
4) DC enables me to advise folks that their items are at their PO's awaiting pick-up! As I described, the mailman OFTEN FORGETS to leave the YELLOW SLIP!
5) The FRAGILE stickers are for the BUYER'S psychological benefit...not the PO's! 
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quickdraw29
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posted on July 13, 2001 09:37:31 AM
To cover my butt, instead of using DC I get the receipt from the PO that has the zip, and weight of the item right on there. Added with my records indicating when the item shipped that is more than enough proof. If I was shipping multiple packages to the same city, DC would be more practicle.
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magik87
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posted on July 13, 2001 09:40:40 AM
Question regarding address labels:
I have some avery labels leftover from when I used Stamps.com. These are the "2859" labels where one has flourescent ink for the stamp and other label for the address. I have been using the address labels part, but when those run out, is there any reason why I can't use the flourescent label for addressing packages? Or would I have to cut off the orange part of the labels?
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smw
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posted on July 13, 2001 10:52:18 AM
Tom: Makes sense to me. I have sent stuff without the plus 4 zip code or the bar and I know the parcels take longer to arrive in most cases.
The fragile labels area nice touch.
BTW puncuation confuses the sorting scanners.
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tomwiii
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posted on July 13, 2001 10:55:46 AM
The trivia question...here's the answer:
The only punctuation "allowed" in a standardized address is:
The "-" (hyphen)between the zip & the 4...
02169-4442
[ edited by tomwiii on Jul 13, 2001 10:56 AM ]
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tomwiii
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posted on July 13, 2001 10:58:40 AM
Magik: here's my understanding of the FLUORESCENT label rule:
1) Labels for envelopes MUST BE the fluorescent type...
2) Labels for PACKAGES MAY BE either type.
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reston_ray
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posted on July 13, 2001 11:03:27 AM
What a waste.
I thought you were going to explain the trance like state I enter shortly after starting the packing/shipping process and it's connection to Zen and a greater meaning.
Is life really only about scotch tape, packing peanuts and trips to the Post Office?
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tomwiii
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posted on July 13, 2001 11:05:44 AM
Ray: way too deep!
OTOH...with me medications, I'm ALWAYS in a "trance-like state!"
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peiklk
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posted on July 13, 2001 11:07:22 AM
Tom --
You didn't get your medications off eBay did you?
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tomwiii
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posted on July 13, 2001 11:13:37 AM
Hell, NO! I go right to da source:
Gegy!
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misscandle
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posted on July 13, 2001 11:18:20 AM
Tom:
Great topic and information! While I follow most of it already, I have benefited from your suggestions. I'm going to start using a larger font and all caps. (I knew the answer to the punctuation question, but came in on the late boat so missed my chance to dazzle you with my brilliance.)
I'm also going to give Endicia a try, based primarily on your recommendation. So, if any of their reps are reading this, they might consider sending you a T-shirt or coffee mug!
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paperfan
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posted on July 13, 2001 11:45:41 AM
Sitting cross-legged on my floor, gazing into my crystal ball..........
Chanting.....
OHMMMMMMMMM OHMMMMMMMMMMM OHMMMMMMMMMM
HMMMMMMMM.....
I see Endicia in my future. Thanks Tom!!
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tomwiii
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posted on July 13, 2001 11:51:18 AM
A note on endicia:
As they try to accomodate many different labels and many different printers, set-up is a bit of a chore!
Fortunately, their telephone CS is extremely helpful! If ya run into any problems, DO NOT WASTE postage! Give them a call -- they got the program to run GREAT for me...one of the few companies left that actually seem to CARE!
Also, if in doubt, use the TEST PRINT button before printing REAL postage! You'll save moola & hair with this wonderful item!
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misscandle
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posted on July 13, 2001 12:00:07 PM
Hey, Tom. I'm looking at Endicia's site right now and they do have a referral program. If you want me to put you down as the Enlightened One who led me to postage Nirvana, e-mail me at [email protected]. Happy to oblige.
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MurphyBird
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posted on July 13, 2001 12:04:39 PM
How do you get MS Word to automatically enter this for you? I stick the Priority mail labels in my inkjet and print labels that way.
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tomwiii
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posted on July 13, 2001 12:11:19 PM
misscandle:
WOW! How nice of you!
I'm so happy, I don't know whether to or  !
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tomwiii
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posted on July 13, 2001 12:14:04 PM
Murphy:
In the LABEL box in WORD, there is a box:
"Print delivery barcode?" Just put a check in the box & WORD will generate the correct bar-code for you
[ edited by tomwiii on Jul 13, 2001 12:14 PM ]
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castlegree
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posted on July 13, 2001 12:17:00 PM
tomwiii
Same here. I will use them as well and if you give my your email, I will put you down as a referral. my email is [email protected]
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tomwiii
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posted on July 13, 2001 12:23:39 PM
Aw, gee, shucks!
I'm starting to blush!
Thank you very very much!
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misscandle
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posted on July 13, 2001 12:36:02 PM
See all the good Karma you get when you stop selling MP?
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chenillec
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posted on July 13, 2001 12:40:13 PM
If you sent USPS first class package like me. DC is out of luck for me. Wouldn't insurance work the same way? like U-pic? I find their servie troublesome by sending log each week. But insurance should work.
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yisgood
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posted on July 13, 2001 02:43:07 PM
Based on this post, I signed up for Endicia and printed labels for 6 boxes. My PO did not understand it and tried to refuse them. When I explained how it worked, they tried to scan the delivery confirmation code and it didnt work. Since I wasnt paying them, they wouldnt give me a receipt. What good is this if I have absolutely no proof that I mailed anything?
When I called Endicia support, they told me that the PO is not supposed to scan the confirmation and others had reported that the numbers didnt work. Since they could not offer any advice other than to pay 40 cents for DC, they left me with no choice but to close my account and ask for a refund.
Is there an Endicia user who can explain to me how this is supposed to work?
http://www.ygoodman.com
[email protected]
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peiklk
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posted on July 13, 2001 02:49:50 PM
You can add DC to anything shipping via USPS. It's .40 for priority mail, but .50 for anything else.
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tomwiii
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posted on July 13, 2001 03:33:33 PM
Yisgood:
Call endicia! They will have their PO REP call your Postmaster and nicely RAISE HELL!
I went thru the same thing with my PO...I even printed the POSTAL REGS for my idiot postmaster...he threw them in the trash!
After he got that wake-up call, I'm treated like royalty at my PO now!
Basically, the regs state that your mail is to be treated the same as METERED MAIL!
The PO DOES NOT (repeat! DOES NOT!) scan in your DC! All they have to do with your packages is...
THROW THEM INTO THE BIN!!!!!
I don't even stand in line anymore! All the clerks know to accept my items WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING to them!
CALL CS AT ENDICIA & immediately have Diane or Steve light a fire under your PM's butt!
[ edited by tomwiii on Jul 13, 2001 03:34 PM ]
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peiklk
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posted on July 13, 2001 03:43:39 PM
You'd think they'd be grateful as it saves them plenty of time and lets them get back to reading "Guns and Ammo" magazine.
Sorry -- cheap shot!
Oops -- another one!
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