Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

Megan Flores8 said:Hey there.

I have a question similar to the last one (Johnny Cash.). Someone from far-off Nigeria (?) contacted me regarding my laptop listing and is insisting we handle this via COD (cash on delivery).
Since I’ve never sold anything this way, I’m completely in the dark. I also went through your first post, but I can't find the specific info I need.
Mainly, I want to know: how safe is this really (is there a chance they won't see the cash OR the laptop)? Also, roughly what would the shipping cost me? Thanks.

A few months back, the USPS already posted a warning on their site about these kinds of listings.
http://www.usps.com/main.aspx?id=2442

On top of that, you can't even track this person down because they’re likely just using a P.O. Box. In most African countries, standard home mail delivery basically doesn't exist.

Melissa Phillips4 said:Actually, if you check the USPS website, they mentioned a few months ago that they don't respond to these kinds of inquiries.

On top of that, it’s pretty much impossible to track this guy down. He’s likely just using a P.O. Box, especially since standard home delivery isn't really a thing in most African nations.

Thanks for the info, have a great day! 👍

Drew Clark77 said:Honestly, stay away from scammers from Nigeria or anyone who reaches out through online ads using fake identities. We've all seen those fraud cases before. I've actually had people message me about my listings for laptops and phones, offering way more than I even asked for! They use all sorts of different names, but they always claim to be calling from Nigeria. Just do some digging online and you'll see what's really going on. Their whole goal is just to get your personal info and lure you into a deal. My advice? Stick to selling domestically and try to do hand-to-hand pickups whenever possible. So, my answer is—it's definitely NOT safe.

Thanks so much for the reply! I didn't catch your post until just now. Best regards! 🙂

Has anyone dealt with damaged shipments before?

So, I went to pick up my package, only to find the contents ruined by anti-theft dye. Apparently, the security spray triggered accidentally during transit. 🤷

What’s the standard procedure for filing a claim? How long does it usually take, and how do they calculate the reimbursement amount?

you should probably just get in touch with the USPS...

Quick question.

My package arrived today. The guy I ordered from sent me some sneakers, but he totally ripped me off and charged $17 more than what was listed in the ad. Oh well. To make matters worse, they aren't even the right shoes, and the return address isn't his—it’s some random place in Los Angeles.

I already paid the USPS driver for the delivery, so here's my dilemma: is there any way to ship these back and actually get my money back?

The guy I bought them from has since vanished from Tracker and deactivated his email entirely.

🙂

steelpanther6 said:Question.

My package arrived today, and honestly, the guy I ordered from totally ripped me off—charged me $17 more than what was listed in the ad, but whatever. To make matters worse, they sent the wrong sneakers entirely, and when I looked at the return address, it wasn't even his; it was some random warehouse out in Los Angeles.

I already paid the USPS guy for the delivery, so now I’m stuck wondering—is there any way to ship these things back and actually claw my money back somehow?

The guy I bought them from just vanished off Tracker and deactivated his email. He's gone.

🙂

I'm afraid you might be out of luck once you've accepted the package and handed over the cash. The whole issue is that you aren't allowed to inspect the contents before you sign for it.
We seriously need to implement a formal system of commendations and complaints for Tracker. 🙂

Olivia Green46 said:I'm worried you won't be able to do anything once you've picked up the package and paid. You can't check what's actually inside before you accept it, and that’s the whole issue.
We really ought to have a formal praise and complaint list for Tracker 🙂

So I just called my aunt over at the USPS, and she said unfortunately there isn't much that can be done. Which is exactly the problem right there.

Damn, I really hope they eventually let us inspect the contents first. And I'm with her on the whole praise and complaint thing—I'd love to publicly blast them, even if they probably don't care. What a headache. 🙂

I should probably send this keyboard and mouse via USPS. I was looking into it, and it seems like using HP ex might be my best bet. Since I haven't used that service before, I'm wondering if I pack it the same way as a standard package, or if there are specific rules I should follow. I guess I need to know how much extra padding I really need to "protect" it. Also, do I need to mark it as fragile, or does the service itself just handle things more carefully than regular shipping? I'm also curious if insurance and the fragile handling are already included in the price, or if those are extra costs.
Thanks in advance for any help 🙂

It seems like a massive amount of packages are going missing after they arrive at the Indianapolis hub?! I’ve been waiting on my own delivery since last Friday, June 8th—and according to the sender, the last known update shows it sitting right there at the facility. This thread is blowing up, honestly; lately, it feels like packages are just vanishing into thin air... shouldn't there be more accountability for this? And I can't help but feel a bit frustrated with myself for letting those boots go missing—I agreed to standard shipping instead of opting for something more secure. Take it from me, people: don't rely on standard shipping for anything important!

Linda Chavez14 said:She should probably just send the keyboard and mouse via USPS. I was looking into it, and it seems like using HP ex would be the best bet. I haven't actually used that service before, so I'm wondering if the packaging process is the same as a standard parcel, or if there are specific rules to follow? How much extra effort does it take to "protect" the items, and do I need to explicitly label it as fragile, or does the service itself imply extra care compared to regular shipping? Also, does the price include insurance for the shipment and the fragile handling, or is that an additional fee?
Thanks in advance for any help 🙂

You pack it just like anything else—you have to specifically flag it as fragile yourself, otherwise they won't slap that sticker on it immediately (which, by the way, adds a few cents to the cost)... The shipping rate for HP ex is a bit higher, thank goodness, but it’s honestly the most secure way to go because they deliver right to the recipient's doorstep, and you can even schedule it—same day or next day by a certain time (next-day delivery by 8 PM ends up being the most economical option, costing around twenty-something bucks)... When you get to the counter at the post office, just tell them you want to use HP ex, and they'll hand you that orange form to fill out; you can choose whether you're paying the shipping or if the recipient covers it, and whether it's COD or not... If you have more specific questions, just ask... I know I've rambled on quite a bit here, just giving you the general rundown... 😉

Linda Williams28 said:You just have to pack it right. You really need to emphasize that it's fragile so they put the sticker on immediately (which makes shipping slightly more expensive, I guess). Shipping via HP ex is pricier, thank goodness, but it’s probably the safest way since they deliver straight to the recipient's door on their schedule—same day or next day by a certain time. If you choose next-day delivery before a specific cutoff, it ends up being pretty affordable, maybe around $3 or $4. When you go to the USPS counter, you just tell them you want to use HP ex, and they give you that orange form to fill out. You can decide if you’re paying the shipping or if the recipient is, and whether there's COD or not. If you have other specific questions, just ask... I'm just rambling generally here... 😉

Yeah, I already looked at the rates. I don't think using HP ex should cost me much more than standard shipping. My main goal is just making sure that keyboard and mouse end up intact in the receiver's hands. I know regular parcel shipping has a "fragile" option, but when I was looking at the HP ex rates on the USPS website, I didn't see an option for "fragile" in the add-ons. So, I guess I'm wondering if that's just assumed, and if the package insurance is included in the price I calculated on the site? Thanks 🙂

Hey!
Quick question about shipping some small stuff and how much the postage costs. I sent out a little package tonight weighing about 890g, and they slapped a "fragile" sticker on it since the contents are breakable, then charged me $11 for shipping. Honestly, I feel like I got totally ripped off... I have no clue why the price was so high 🤷 given the dimensions were roughly 30x20x15 cm..
Does anyone actually know why it cost that much? I was in such a massive rush that I didn't even have time to ask why they charged me 😠

Thanks 🙂

EDIT: I was digging through the USPS website and realized they charged me $5.00 just for that fragile sticker... normally the shipping would've only been $6.00 aaaaah 😠😠

Linda Chavez14 said:Yeah, I’ve already checked the rates, and using HP ex shouldn't end up costing me much more. My main goal is just making sure this keyboard and mouse set gets directly into the recipient's hands in one piece. I know when you're sending a standard package there's usually a "fragile" option, but I didn't see that listed while looking at the HP ex shipping options on the USPS website. I was calculating the postage online, and the extra options didn't include anything specifically for "fragile" items, so I'm wondering if that's just implied? Also, does the price I calculated on their site already include insurance for the shipment? Thanks! 🙂

You can actually request special handling or fragile service with HP, though it'll be $5.00 a bit pricier
. The shipping rate stays the same for any value up to $1000
. So, the total value being under $1000 won't change what you pay for the label
.

Nicole Lee4 said:Can you send HP separately or marked as fragile?$5.00 It's more expensive.
Shipping costs stay the same for values from 0 to...$1000
So, that would be the value up to those... I guess. $1000 It won't affect the price.

I see. So they're taking those HP ex shipments too, I guess. $5.00 For fragile items.
I guess it makes more sense for me to just use standard shipping and mark it as fragile. 🙂

Thanks to everyone for the replies. 🙂

Hey everyone! I could really use some advice here.
I need to mail some glasses to a girl, but since the last time I tried using the USPS I basically got robbed by the shipping fees, I have no clue how to send this without getting totally fleeced 🤷

This is actually only my second time sending anything out, so if anyone has tips on how to avoid those insane shipping costs, please let me know. Thanks 🙂

Ashley Gonzalez80 said:Hey everyone! I could really use a little help here.
I need to mail some glasses to a friend, but since USPS just absolutely cleaned me out on shipping costs last time, I have no clue how to send them without getting ripped off again.🤷

Mind you, this is only my second time sending a package, so if anyone could recommend a way to dodge those massive shipping fees, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks!🙂

Well, if the glasses are already in their original "hard case," you can practically stuff them into whatever you want—an envelope, a small box you have lying around the house... anything at all.
But, if they don't have a case, you're going to have to fashion a little protective box to keep them safe during transit.
(For instance, maybe an old smartphone box with some bubble wrap inside, or something similar.)
Personally, I usually go with Certified Mail (Certified items always get delivered right to the door without extra fees, whereas packages sometimes require extra handling depending on the area, and you end up paying more for both yourself and the recipient).
😁

Nicole Lee4 said:if the glasses come in their own "hard case," you can basically toss them into whatever you want—an envelope, a small box from your junk drawer... anything at all
but if they don't have a case, you’ve gotta make one to keep them safe while they're traveling.
(like an old smartphone box with some foam inside, or something similar)
I usually just go with certified mail (USPS always delivers those right to your door without extra fees, whereas packages can be a pain depending on where you live, and sometimes both the sender and receiver end up getting hit with extra charges)
😁

thanks for the tip 🙂
honestly, for these girls—and for me too—it's just way too much when they have to shell out $6.00+$3.00 extra just because they chose COD. I have no idea how to dodge these insane fees 🤷

I have a question, and I’m honestly feeling pretty torn because this opportunity looks incredible.

I’m arranging a purchase through Craigslist, and since the seller doesn't have any other listings, I'm wondering if this one was just posted this morning.

We’ve been communicating via email, and we’ve already hashed out all the details..

The plan is for her to ship the item at 3:00 PM, and I’ll send the payment around 3:30 PM since I can't do it any earlier. I specifically asked her to use certified mail so there's a paper trail, and requested that she send over the tracking number once it's dropped off. I also told her I'd provide proof of payment immediately.

She provided her bank account info, full name, and the city where she lives.

I even reached out to Craigslist support, and they told me they aren't responsible if someone scams me, but they will hand over her information to the police so law enforcement can do their job.

I shop online all the time, but this deal feels almost too good to be true... which makes me suspicious.

I’m wondering, once she sends that tracking number, can I go straight to the Post Office to verify if the package actually exists and if it’s truly en route?
And has anyone here dealt with Craigslist scams involving the police? How does that usually play out? 🙂

I would truly appreciate any insight you can offer.🙂

coastalharbor6 said:I have a question, and I’m honestly feeling pretty torn about this, but the deal is just too good to pass up.

I’m arranging a purchase through Craigslist right now. The seller doesn't have any other listings; she just posted this one earlier this morning.

We’ve been communicating via email, and we’ve worked out all the details...

She’s supposed to ship it around 3:00 PM, and I’ll be able to send the money around 3:30 since I can't get to the bank before then. I told her to send it via certified mail so she can't claim it got lost. I also asked her to send over the tracking number—or whatever they call that little receipt you get at the Post Office when you send something certified. On my end, I promised to send her proof once the payment is cleared.

She gave me her account details, full name, and the town where she lives.

I reached out to Craigslist support, and they basically told me they aren't responsible if I get scammed. They said they’d provide information to me or the police, and then it’s up to the cops to do their thing.

Look, I shop online all the time, but this offer feels almost *too* perfect, which makes me suspicious...

I was wondering, if she sends me that tracking number, can I check with the USPS immediately to see if the package actually exists and if it’s already en route?
And has anyone here dealt with Craigslist scams involving the police? How does that usually play out? 🙂

I’d really appreciate any insight you guys can give me. 🙂

-Once you get that tracking number, you should be able to verify right away if the shipment is real and track its progress.
-Just remember, there are zero guarantees when you buy stuff through classified ads.
-Ultimately, you're the one taking the risk if it turns out to be a scam.
-I can't speak for Craigslist or the local PD, but from what I've seen, they tend to wash their hands of the whole situation.
-The safest bet is usually Cash on Delivery (COD)—you don't hand over the cash until you have the item in your hands, and she gets her money safely. Though, I've heard stories where people receive a brick instead of a laptop...
😁