Options for shipping from Europe?

Hmm, if I simply drop a letter in the mailbox, there is no tracking option, that's right. But as soon as I use one of the various Einschreiben (registered mail) options, from Documented Delivery to Return Receipt, tracking is included. Same with value mail or any kind of parcel. Some of these options work internationally, others do not.

Christian

 

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I expect anything but basic post costs more, though. The more special the more expensive I assume.

London diamond dealers used to use ordinary letter post to send packets or odd diamonds to each other because they considered normal Royal Mail very reliable and normal letters never got stolen, it was the special Registered Mail bags that post office hold-up men and mail van robbers went for.

 

My recollection is that 25 years ago it was common to allow buyer the option of ordinary post, but now registered is demanded. I've had cases where I've negotiated free postage and said I'd be happy with ordinary mail at my risk, but dealers have still used registered. I might be mis-remembering, but there seems to be less trust now.

 

Perhaps they've gotten burned before by arranging alternate shipping. But I might not have pursued it if, in the terms, they didn't state, "However, should the customer request and alternative route of shipping, there is the possibility to cater this request. For this, the customer must contact us. The customs duties must also be paid by the customer."

But the coin I am interested in is very reasonably priced. When all is said and done, it would be a more than fair price for the coin. Still mulling it over. It's silly how I get hung up over a few dollars more. But the pocketbook is rarely a place where simple logic reigns.

 

I know exactly what you mean, though. I know I'm being irrational, but I detest being made to pay for a plastic bag, or feeling over-charged for shipping.

 

I was going to put a post up about my experience as an occasional Ebay seller, that in all the years I have been selling I have never had a shipment go missing. I sell LRB's so nothing too expensive, probably $100 for the rarest and I have in 90+% of cases sent them all by standard, non tracked shipping without incident to the four corners of the globe. A testimony to the honesty of all the collectors I have sold to without exception and I applaud them all.

I was going to post that but purely coincidentally I have had a message today from a buyer that his package sent on the 16th May has not arrived in Brazil. Ok I knew this day would come, no big dramas, I agree with the self insurance statements made by other posters so over the years it will amount to a negligible effect, it's just a shame to have the record dented.

However......

The same buyer has also claimed that the packages sent on the 26th May, 30th May and the 19th of June have also not arrived.

You can understand that until a relationship is established why some sellers may well be unwilling to go for the money saving option.

 

Depending on the shipping method and the location it was sent from in Canada this is common. Tracking isn't cheap here either, usually costs around 12-15 US (I don't know exact prices anymore I haven't sold anything in awhile).