USPS Offers Premium Tracking for a Fee

by: donald

This year I started to use them a lot less. FedEx is offering lower shipping costs for 5 pounds and up. Not to mention that eBay doesn't offer usps cubic pricing

by: Chicago48

I know one thing.  Those higher rates are killing the little seller, like me.  Posh just increased their default price to 7.11.  You know, as a buyer, I would think twice before paying 7.11 for a (less than) 1 lb. item, that I know costs less than $6 to ship.   All the YT influencers are talking about slow sales, and I surmise that the higher postage rate (plus taxes) is a reason for (my) slow sales.

by: felyne

I was told by the USPS clerk if  you don't like something, to fill out the form on the receipt they give to you as to how they're doing. I personally want to be able to print first class labels again, so every time I take a pkg, I fill in the form. The clerk told me they really read them as they get feedback. So let them know an be persistent. The clerk said that as well.  

by: gregwhatshisname

That would mean USPS would actually have to scan packages. They can't even do that right.

by: Disgruntled_Seller

There is more than just numbers stored, USPS will also automatically store the images of the labels on the parcel or letter as the item is auto-scanned at waypoints in transit.

These image scans work well for cases involving "sent to wrong" address or "not my address" in disputes.  

by: Moonwishes

@Chicago48 - Currently with the latest increase in postage costs, Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope is $7.15 and the Legal sized flat rate is $7.45, so if there is only one cost shown for FCM below 15.9 ounces, That $7.11 isn't too weird since a 13 ounce FCM depending on how far it has to travel the cost is over $5.00.

For those that sell expensive items and are prone to lots of scammer types, paying for the extended tracking may be worth it but that is something that each seller has to decide for themselves. I don't know if this is what is doing it, but lately during the few times that someone claims the item shows delivered and they can't find it, I have sent them an email with places to check and the true statement that out of the thousands of packages sent only 5-10 of them have ever gone missing completely. My latest one, I got the email last night that they found it. I am fortunate that I have a great PO that is happy to scan outgoing packages and they are truly dedicated to their work and my orders get where they are going. Kind of like wanting your child to go to Harvard so you start them off in the best pre-school in town. Packages need that same good start.

by: Eagle

Since you can only file insurance claims online now, it would be quite advantageous. The last claim we filed took 8 months to complete and actually get a check in hand. To check on the status we had to re-enter all the tracking number, receipt number from when we purchased the label, and some other USPS reference number just to check status. Then we finally received a letter stating the claim had been investigated and for us to send all that crap (which had been downloaded online) in the mail to Insurance Claims Dept. We then had to pull up all the info again and actually print out in paper form to send back. The date we mailed out the items to customer was in March 2019 to Spain. After all the headaches mentioned above we finally received a check on the claim the first week of December, 2019.

by: nikita

Is it really required usps premium tracking feature.. ?


Thanks