Safest way to ship a gift card?

[Yzzim]

My girlfriend got a gift card at Best Buy and she doesn't want. I can't think of anything I need there so I'm going to sell it on Ebay for her. The gift card is worth about $75 so I'm assuming I'll get about $60 for it on Ebay.

Anyway, once it's sold, how do I ship it? Seems like a lot of people put "Free Shipping" in their auction so I'm assuming they ship them through the regular mail, which doesn't seem safe. How much does Certified Mail cost? Should I just ship it Priority with DC?

 

[brian_riendeau]

Use regular mail. How often do letters and bills you send get to people???

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: brian_riendeau
Use regular mail. How often do letters and bills you send get to people???

letters don't have any value.

I pay my bills with checks. If the check gets lost I can cancel it. If the check gets cashed I have proof that they recieved the bill.

I can't cancel a gift card if the person claims they didn't recieve it.

 

[cherrytwist]

Text

 

[KingNothing]

Priority mail with delivery confirmation is the minimum I'll go for EBay sales. Will cost about $5 though. Maybe less for a flat rate envelope?

 

[brian_riendeau]

letters don't have any value.

I pay my bills with checks. If the check gets lost I can cancel it. If the check gets cashed I have proof that they recieved the bill.

I can't cancel a gift card if the person claims they didn't recieve it.

Do you really think anyone cares enough to go through your mail looking for gift cards??? If anything, putting delivery confirmation + insurance + signature confirmation makes your item MORE likely to get jacked in the mail because you are basically flagging it as, "Hey, something important in this envelope!!!"

 

[aircooled]

I would just use priority mail... You can insure it if you want, but standard priority would be fine.

 

[mwtgg]

Originally posted by: Yzzim

Originally posted by: brian_riendeau
Use regular mail. How often do letters and bills you send get to people???

letters don't have any value.

I pay my bills with checks. If the check gets lost I can cancel it. If the check gets cashed I have proof that they recieved the bill.

I can't cancel a gift card if the person claims they didn't recieve it.

Umm, yeah you can.

"Lost, stolen, or damaged Cards replaced only with valid proof of purchase to extent of remaining Card balance."

Right off the Bestbuy giftcard.

 

[FleshLight]

I wouldn't use anything else other than Fedex Overnight. I'd triple layer the gift card in bubble wrap and stick in the usual newspaper just to be safe. Don't forget to double box it and document everything!

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: brian_riendeau

letters don't have any value.

I pay my bills with checks. If the check gets lost I can cancel it. If the check gets cashed I have proof that they recieved the bill.

I can't cancel a gift card if the person claims they didn't recieve it.

Do you really think anyone cares enough to go through your mail looking for gift cards??? If anything, putting delivery confirmation + insurance + signature confirmation makes your item MORE likely to get jacked in the mail because you are basically flagging it as, "Hey, something important in this envelope!!!"

I was thinking of the Ebay buyer getting the gift card, buying something with it, then claiming he never got it.

Didn't know there was anyway to cancel the gift card. I was going to included the reciept with the gift card...guess I'm not anymore

 

[EyeMWing]

Remember that shipping it first class isn't a good idea because the idiot on the other end can just claim to have never gotten it. You NEED delivery conf with eBay.

 

[nageov3t]

in 23 years, I've never had a problem with a single piece of mail getting lost/stolen. I'd just drop it in a security envelope and throw a stamp on it. for all anyone else knows, it's just a letter.

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Remember that shipping it first class isn't a good idea because the idiot on the other end can just claim to have never gotten it. You NEED delivery conf with eBay.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Isn't there Ceritifed Mail or something like that?

BTW, I can't get into the USPS website

 

[neonerd]

envelope?

 

[brian_riendeau]

I was thinking of the Ebay buyer getting the gift card, buying something with it, then claiming he never got it.

Ahh, well just stick in in a Priority Mail box with Delivery Confirmation, done!

 

[Injury]

This is a much easier situation than you think.

It may be kind of "dickish" but state in your auction that 37 cents will be added to total for shipping in a standard envelope. You will not guarante the safety of this item and the buyer may add more for a different form of shipping/options.

Unload the responsibility on the buyer.


BTW, you will likely get more like $72-73 for this GC.

 

[tami]

send it in a christmas card. it will add thickness to the gift card.

 

[RossMAN]

I've sent up to $100 cash via US postal mail first class, no problems.

Two suggestions:
1) Remember to use a concealed envelope
2) Mail it to the correct and complete address as per USPS web site including ZIP+4

 

[Adica]

USP of course. It's the best and reliable for an inexpensive, small item.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: loki8481
in 23 years, I've never had a problem with a single piece of mail getting lost/stolen. I'd just drop it in a security envelope and throw a stamp on it. for all anyone else knows, it's just a letter.

Yes but you need proof that the buyer got it.