Anyone has success with economy / no tracking shipments?

[Yasav]

I want to get into an area where it's wise to send by economy shipping. The item is 1 oz. and around 1.5" in diameter. The $2.66 would be out of question, as I would sell it at a loss. I was wondering if any of you guys use economy shipping and how you're managing the stamps and shipments? I am not worried about any PP/EB issues on this one, as the account is legit top rated with strong selling history.

Thanks.

[dachilla]

Almost never registering anything. Except it goes to a country where I know there are issued during import process or when customer claims it didn't arrive in the first place and I have to resend it. Most customers don't mind, they just want their stuff.

Would not recommend to do so with mid or high priced items tho.

[Kajunrook]

I have mailed about 100 similar items, 97 delivered and 3 "savvy" buyers told me they did not receive and I had to reship. Just have to chalk up to the "cost of doing business".

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by Kajunrook

I have mailed about 100 similar items, 97 delivered and 3 "savvy" buyers told me they did not receive and I had to reship. Just have to chalk up to the "cost of doing business".

Are you saying you sent 100 flats without tracking and 3 buyers claimed not to receive anything?

If so, that's about the average scam rate for no tracking shipments. I shipped all my orders without tracking when I was first starting out. I don't recommend doing it for a number of reasons.

[dachilla]

Yep, 3 % sounds about right. Not sure how much it is to ship stuff with tracking in the US, but from where I ship its about 3 $ more only for tracking. For a 15 $ item I'd rather save the money and resend/refund if a buyer claims to not have gotten it.

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by dachilla

Yep, 3 % sounds about right. Not sure how much it is to ship stuff with tracking in the US, but from where I ship its about 3 $ more only for tracking. For a 15 $ item I'd rather save the money and resend/refund if a buyer claims to not have gotten it.

It's $1 to ship a 1oz Flat. "Flats" are the only USPS class without tracking. They're technically supposed to be no thicker than 1/4" but tons of sellers sneak larger shipments through without problems.

Same package with tracking would be $2.66. So it can be appealing for sellers to ship without tracking to save that $1.66, but most of the time seller's realize it's not worth the savings a week later when buyers start asking where there order is and you, as the seller, have no earthly idea because you shipped without tracking.

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by Kajunrook

I have mailed about 100 similar items, 97 delivered and 3 "savvy" buyers told me they did not receive and I had to reship. Just have to chalk up to the "cost of doing business".

This adds even more confusion to the mystery of what you sell.

A small item somewhere in the 1/4" thick range that sells wholesale for $15 and sells retail for $100. Gotta be mouse pads.

[Kajunrook]

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

This adds even more confusion to the mystery of what you sell.

A small item somewhere in the 1/4" thick range that sells wholesale for $15 and sells retail for $100. Gotta be mouse pads.

Yep $100 mouse pads

[Kajunrook]

Originally Posted by Kajunrook

Yep $100 mouse pads

But I only ship the 85 cent $10 item regular mail. The $18 $100 item I send with tracking

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by Kajunrook

But I only ship the 85 cent $10 item regular mail. The $18 $100 item I send with tracking

Oh ok, that makes sense. I didn't consider that you may be stocking more than one item.

I know you aren't selling mouse pads, lol. I always bring up mouse pads when people starting talking about their uber high margins on here. I think you're selling accessories.

[dachilla]

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

It's $1 to ship a 1oz Flat. "Flats" are the only USPS class without tracking. They're technically supposed to be no thicker than 1/4" but tons of sellers sneak larger shipments through without problems.

Same package with tracking would be $2.66. So it can be appealing for sellers to ship without tracking to save that $1.66, but most of the time seller's realize it's not worth the savings a week later when buyers start asking where there order is and you, as the seller, have no earthly idea because you shipped without tracking.

In my experience most buyers are fairly honest. so a 3% lost rate on 10 $ items... I'd save the 1.5$ for 100 items you'll save 120 bucks for shipping. At least where I live that's a hell of a boys night out.

[Kajunrook]

Originally Posted by dachilla

In my experience most buyers are fairly honest. so a 3% lost rate on 10 $ items... I'd save the 1.5$ for 100 items you'll save 120 bucks for shipping. At least where I live that's a hell of a boys night out.

Lol I am retiring soon and will sell you my excess items

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by dachilla

In my experience most buyers are fairly honest. so a 3% lost rate on 10 $ items... I'd save the 1.5$ for 100 items you'll save 120 bucks for shipping. At least where I live that's a hell of a boys night out.

It's risky though, which is why I ultimately decided it wasn't worth it and started using tracking across the board.

It's not just buyers lying about not getting the item. It's technically illegal to use this particular mail class for anything other than documents. So, for me at least, about 10% of shipments would either be rejected and sent back or would require additional postage upon delivery. When a customer has to drive to their post office and pay additional postage to retrieve their order they get pissed and there's a high probability you'll get bad feedback. I also deal with tons of forwarding companies. Somewhere around 20% of our orders have always been international buyers using a US forwarding address. If you ship a forwarding company shipment without tracking it's almost guaranteed that the international buyer will open a case. In my experience.

I know I'm rambling on but I'm trying to point out the pro's/con's of shipping domestically without tracking.

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by Kajunrook

Lol I am retiring soon and will sell you my excess items

It'd be cheaper for you to just ship them to me stateside. I'm within a few hundred miles of you, judging by your name.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by Kajunrook

Lol I am retiring soon and will sell you my excess items

Not a joking matter at all

[Kajunrook]

Originally Posted by rsot

Not a joking matter at all

You in Florida too?

[rsot]

Originally Posted by Kajunrook

You in Florida too?

I go here and there great state

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by Kajunrook

You in Florida too?

rsot is in Canada dealing with the feuding Moose in his driveway.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

rsot is in Canada dealing with the feuding Moose in his driveway.

phaz knows the score

[Yasav]

So would you guys say it's a better idea to just add a few bucks and use $2.66 shipping? The item in question would cost me around 85 cents to obtain. I guess pricing at $5.5 would make sense?

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by Yasav

So would you guys say it's a better idea to just add a few bucks and use $2.66 shipping? The item in question would cost me around 85 cents to obtain. I guess pricing at $5.5 would make sense?

Your call. I personally don't ship order without tracking anymore - only replacement items being shipped post-sale. It's hard to say if it would be a good idea for you since all niches and customers within niches are different.

Do you have 2 accounts you can play with? If so, I recommend starting a listing on both accounts. Ship orders with tracking on one account and ship orders without tracking on the other account. After a month or two see which account is more profitable.

[greakf3eak]

Originally Posted by Yasav

So would you guys say it's a better idea to just add a few bucks and use $2.66 shipping? The item in question would cost me around 85 cents to obtain. I guess pricing at $5.5 would make sense?

5.5$ -14% for eb & pp fees means about 4.7$ sale value.
So cost of 3.5$ to sale value 4.7$
This is 33% profit .
Not bad at all to secure your business.

If its a high sales volume item off course.