Does USPS Parcel Post have tracking?

[Ika]

I'm sending a box to someone using USPS Parcel Post (box dimensions = 9"x9"x4") and the buyer asked if there was either a tracking number or included insurance. Anyone?

 

[sygyzy]

LMAO. First of all, the USPS does not have any tracking. Best you can do is delivery confirmation. Seconnd of all, Media Mail is the absolutely cheapest type of service you can use. Do you think they'd provide tracking for it?

The short answer is no.

 

[Paulson]

I don't believe so... I only know of delivery confirmation or tracking with EMS... if you shipped it with media mail and didn't buy delivery confirmation (don't even know if you can with media mail) then it has no tracking.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
LMAO. First of all, the USPS does not have any tracking. Best you can do is delivery confirmation. Seconnd of all, Media Mail is the absolutely cheapest type of service you can use. Do you think they'd provide tracking for it?

The short answer is no.

I didn't think so, but I was browsing the USPS site and saw something about tracking numbers.

Erm, does Media Mail even ALLOW shipping of boxes? I'm shipping a TI83+ calculator and I'm not sure if that's allowed through Media Mail...

 

[aphex]

Nope, a calc does not qualify....

Parcel Post (i.e. First Class) is the cheapest/slowest.

 

[Ika]

http://pages.ebay.com/services/buyandsell/shippingcenter8.html

er, tracking with USPS? 😕

anyway so it looks like I'm going to have to go with Parcel Post. if there's no tracking, then how do I add insurance? I don't see any option on the eBay shipping page...

 

[jupiter57]

First of all, this IS NOT meant to be a thread Crap, just some friendly advice:

Why not spend the extra ~ $.XX or so and ship Parcel? Another $.XX more and go First Class.
(Personally, I ALWAYS use Priority)
2-4 weeks(or more) delivery time for Media mail and your buyer likely will be screaming Troll after about 10 days!
Is your reputation worth a few pennies?

Kindly disregard if, say, you're sending something NOT of value and the recipient is aware they may be waiting a very long time for their item. (I'm assuming it has some value, hence the inquiry about insurance?)

 

[Tom]

usps sells insurance for their packages. If you buy more than $50 worth, it will have a number that can be used to verify delivery, but you can't "track" packages the way you can with Fedex or UPS, where you can see where it is along the way. With less than $50 insurance, or no insurance, you can buy delivery confirmation.

Probably your buyer wants some proof of when you ship it, and the delvery confirmation ro insurance number will give him somethnig to "track" online.


btw, since this is probably a small package, it probably would be almost as cheap to send it first class or priority, wouldn't it ? It will get there much faster.

 

[acemcmac]

for an extra 60 cents you can get delivery confirmation on ANY usps package. DON'T SHIP WITHOUT IT OR YOU CAN'T PROVE THAT YOU EVER SHIPPED IT. It's the only thng USPS has that resembles tracking and you really should use it.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: jupiter57
First of all, this IS NOT meant to be a thread Crap, just some friendly advice:

Why not spend the extra ~ $.XX or so and ship Parcel? Another $.XX more and go First Class.
(Personally, I ALWAYS use Priority)
2-4 weeks(or more) delivery time for Media mail and your buyer likely will be screaming Troll after about 10 days!
Is your reputation worth a few pennies?

Kindly disregard if, say, you're sending something NOT of value and the recipient is aware they may be waiting a very long time for their item. (I'm assuming it has some value, hence the inquiry about insurance?)

I decided to ship Media Mail because the buyer asked for the cheapest shipping, and I've shipped Media Mail before. But anyway it doesn't matter, I guess i'm using Parcel Post now.

Anyway, thanks for the replies, guys!

 

[DeviousTrap]

Why not tell the buyer to add another $2? Priority mail starts at $4.15 and a calculator can't weigh much more than the base rate/