Shipping advice for new seller?

[dirtyfurbyslurbydoor]

Hello all,

I'm not an experienced online seller, and I want to ask some of you experts what precautionary measures I should take when selling and shipping a game to a buyer. I don't want to have to face a situation in which I sell a game (used, new/sealed, limited, or otherwise rare) and it arriving damaged or not arriving at all to the buyer. Though no effort is ever 100% risk-free, I want to guarantee as much as humanly possible that my buyers and myself will both be protected.

I'm aware a few key necessities, but my understanding could be inaccurate:

1. Adequately protective shipment packaging: Experience as a buyer has shown me that I shouldn't hesitate to overkill here (i.e. double-boxing with multiple layers of shock protection)

2. Shipping insurance: I've read in various places that third-party is the way to go here, though I'm not sure which company to use. Anecdotally, every claim/appeal I've ever filed with the USPS over damaged/missing items has been denied for inaccurate, trivial, or downright bogus reasons I really want to find an insurer that stands behind its policy and will come through in the event of a mishap.

3. Requiring adult signature confirmation: This seems like a no-brainer, as allowing a package to be left unattended seems like an invitation for theft and/or weather damage. Just about every shipping service considers its obligation fulfilled once a package is scanned as "delivered," regardless of negligence or questionable judgment.

4. Avoid USPS as much as possible: Between multiple lost/stolen packages, denied insurance claims, and abyssmal customer service, I pretty much have no faith in the USPS. The question is: Are other shipping companies any more reliable, and if so, which one(s) should I use?

I realize that my hopes may be too idealistic, but I want to take every possible precaution.
I appreciate any advice and/or feedback you all could provide, as my goal once again is to protect my buyers and myself from getting burned.

Cheers!

[Jmustang1968]

Ive shipped and received hundreds, maybe thousands of packages with USPS, and I have a very small % of issues. Now, I have had plenty get 'lost' for awhile, or delayed, however all but 2 or 3 have actually ever been completely lost in mail.

I would also discuss with buyer before getting signature confirmation, and even then, I only pursue it for high value packages. I have had people ship me items with signature confirmation before without telling me, and there was no one home to sign for delivery. Then I had to hassle with picking it up from USPS. It was a package valued under $20, had I known he would have shipped sig confirmed, I would've passed.

If you are worried about any fraud, you can always video placing item in package with label, and dropping at the postal service, but even then, that could easily be faked and isn't foolproof.

it goes without saying to always get tracking, but I think you are beyond that advice.

[ElkinFencer10]

I always use USPS. Never once had a problem, sending or receiving. Also signature confirmations are good for high price items, but they're a pain in the ass for your standard stuff.

[Ziggy]

You're on the right track with the old "treat those as you would want to be treated" cliche. As a buyer, you know how you want your goods to be packaged for shipment. This is one of the main things going through my head any time I package something for shipping. I think about how I would critique it if I were receiving it.

Don't go overboard though, you can overkill it. You have to take two main things into account. How fragile is the item, and how valuable it is. Personally, as a rule of thumb, I feel that the more expensive the item, the better it should be package. I sort of combine that rule of thumb with how fragile the item is. Even a low priced purchase is still annoying to get in damaged.

For example, NES and SNES carts are very robust. If I purchased a cart only off eBay for $20 or less, I have no problem receiving it in a simple bubble envelope. I'm not sure where my threshold is, but if I purchased a $100-200 SNES cart off eBay I would be pissed if it only came in a bubble envelope. I would expect it to be properly padded in a small box.

On the flip side, if I were buying a NES or SNES game complete in box or a Sega CD / Saturn game with case, even for $5 or less, I would expect it to be packaged a lot better. Those Nintendo boxes and Sega cases are extremely fragile, and I would be pissed if someone shipped one to me in just a bubble envelope or a flimsy box. Even if it arrived undamaged, I would still be pissed that the seller didn't put any thought into protecting it for me.

So I guess what I'm saying is, you just have to weigh these two factors and use your head. I would only double box things that are super fragile, whatever the worth is. And don't forget that the more packaging you have the heavier the parcel is, and shipping cost is largely determined by weight. Usually a little extra packaging material doesn't make much of a difference, but sometimes you can cross that threshold and make a significant difference. Also, as a buyer, it can be frustrating to unpack something that the seller went overboard with when it isn't exactly fine China. Still, as a buyer, I would never take points off from a seller that clearly put some thought and care into making sure something arrived safely.

As for avoiding USPS, to use another cliche, the grass looks greener on the other side. Honestly, they all have risk of damaging or losing your shipments. The major three in the USA are USPS, UPS, and FedEx. They all have pros and cons, if you ask me. Personally, for your average stuff, I never had any real problems with USPS. The only problems I ever had was from the seller not properly packaging the item(s), but it sounds like this wont happen to you.

I would avoid UPS unless your shipping larger and/or heavier items. Usually such items are less prone to damage, and you'll probably get better rates for such items with UPS over USPS. But if I were shipping a Sega Saturn game, I would absolutely avoid UPS.

With UPS, there's a certain combination of factors that lead to the perfect storm. If the route is especially heavy (or during peak!), the loader sucks, and the courier doesn't give two shits, your small parcels WILL be damaged. Even with an excellent loader, a heavy route plus a shitty driver will lead to small parcels getting fucked up. I've seen first hand UPS drivers stepping on small Amazon boxes while trying to find my packages. I cringe every time. Even the padded envelopes that are supposed to be up on the shelves of the truck will sometimes find their way to the floor (because of a shitty loader and/or driver). I've seen my fair share of padded envelopes with foot prints on them, and I've seen lots of small boxes or envelopes being crushed under big heavy boxes.

FedEx Ground is the same as UPS, from what I've seen. The exception is FedEx Express, which is an entirely different operation. From my experience, FedEx Express couriers treat everything like it's royalty. By comparison, the back of a UPS or FedEx Ground truck usually looks like a bomb went off. I've worked in the shipping/receiving world for a few years now, every pickup I've had UPS and FedEx Ground drivers literally TOSS the boxes onto their trucks. Doesn't matter how many bright red "Fragile" stickers you put on it, or even if the box is marked "GLASS", know one reads those warnings. FedEx Express, every time I've had a pickup they are extremely careful with everything. They NEVER toss a box, and they take the time to position everything on their truck so all the parcels don't bounce around during transit.

If I had something that was expensive and fragile, FedEx Express would probably be my first choice. The downside is that it's expensive.

[Jagosaurus]

Check out the thread below. Hobie's chart a few post down will help with weights:

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 15&t=21228

Personally, I've always had good luck with USPS. I avoid bubble mailers except for PS2, DS, 3DS, etc... games with no cardboard. Even then, they make me nervous. Box when possible.

I also recommend priority over standard/ground. Faster it gets there, less likely it is to sit around.

Speaking of sitting, I use zip locks in case that package gets rained on in transit or on a porch.

[Fragems]

My basic set of rules.

Shipping Rules Best Bang for your buck.

1. First class for items sub 15oz and sub $20. You will be using this for 99% of the stuff you are selling.
2. Priority flat rate for items over $20 with insurance if I feel I need it for $50+ items (Priority comes with $50 Insurance). Honestly insurance is a crap shoot I've shipped over 2000 items so far and never had to make a claim, but if I ever had to I figure getting my money would require jumping through quite a few hoops. It honestly might be better to just skip it on anything that isn't super pricey.
3. Sig con for $50+ items if I'm dealing with someone I don't know well.

Packaging.

1. Bubble Mailers for used sub $20
2. New boxes or sturdy used ones for new, fragile(cardboard boxes/jewel cases), or $20+ items.
3. Disc based games get a little slice of scrap bubble wrap in the case to prevent shifting.
4. Everything that goes in a box gets bubble wrapped with at least 1-2 layers.
5. Do not leave empty space in a box if you shake it and can hear stuff bouncing around it's going to have a rough trip. I usually have a ton of spare air paks from Amazon packages so I use those but you can also use shopping bags, paper, and etc.
6. If you are selling multiple items and don't want to use a ton of bubble wrap or take up to much space by wrapping them individually I recommend getting some of the stretch wrap with rollers and wrapping them in bundles before bubble wrapping them.

Really profit margins are insanely low on most games so choosing the most cost effective shipping is a definite must. Going with anyone outside of the USPS will usually eat up any profit that you could potentially make so you probably won't be using them much unless you are shipping a lot of high dollar or heavy items.

These are my go to guys for shipping supplies. If you are planning to sell a lot buying in bulk will save you a lot in the long run and make packing stuff a little more consistent. Plus with the perfect sized packages you will save money on weight.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/threerb/m.html? ... pg=&_from=

Bubble Mailers- 250 pack = $33.95 = $0.14 each (Perfect Size for a Single DVD case sized game or a few cartridge games.)
Boxes- 100 pack = $31.93 = $0.32 each. 8x6x4 fits in most mail boxes and fits 4-5 games with padding. Also fits in drop boxes at the post office so you don't have to wait in line as long as you aren't over the listed max weight(usually 13oz although people drop heavier stuff in all the time) for the drop box. Tried smaller boxes before but ended up going back to these since they are cheaper in bulk and much more useful plus the savings from weight were minimal. I just fill with more padding for smaller items.
Bubble Wrap 350 = $20.44 = $0.06 a foot

[Jmustang1968]

Or go even more frugal and re-use packaging from Amazon shipments and other ebay/online purchases, as long as they are still in good shape of course.

[dirtyfurbyslurbydoor]

Wow, thanks for all of your valuable input, everyone! TBH, I wasn't sure I'd get this many responses I appreciate all of you bringing to my attention many things I never would have thought of on my own.

Can anyone recommend any specific third-party parcel insurance? From my experience in the past, I've had to file damage/loss claims in 3 instances with the USPS. Despite providing everything required when applicable (photos, receipts, packaging, etc.), every insurance claim I've filed with them has been denied. Is there any other company that is more reasonable?

[Tanooki]

Insurance? Nope theyre all about not paying up. Thats the gamble involved with this stuff. Im pretty frugal as I have to be so reusing anything from a bubble bag to a box I will if the integrity of it is still solid. Just cover up an existing info or peel it off if it is a sticker.

[Ziggy]

No BST'er on the forums would mind receiving reused boxes and/or packing material from a fellow BST'er, but it's a little tacky for a business to be doing that.