source=3D http://www.piclist.com/piclist/2004/08/21/104829a.txt?

Howard Winter  says:
> Is there no difference between traceable and insured? =20

Sure, but PayPal will not insure shipments outside the USA based on =
trace alone (as they will with shipments inside the USA to confirmed =
addresses, e.g. the billing address of the credit card)

Howard Winter  says:
> For an individual, why can't you just weigh the parcel and=20
> put the correct value of stamps on it?=20

Yes, but that implys that I have purchased (in advance) a quantity of =
stamps and that my wife hasn't used them all up without telling me or =
the kids used them to decorate a present they made "just for me."=20

Howard Winter  says:
> As a mat=3D ter of interest, do you never get proof of delivery=20
> for stuff you send within the USA?=20

Always. Automatically.

Howard Winter  says:
> If you're talking about things with significant financial=20
> value, then this is reasonable.  But if not, the extra cost=20
> that seems to follow on from insisting on insurance seems to=20
> =3D be out of all proportion=20
>=20
Very true. I will generally risk shipments under $50

Howard Winter  says:
> Tell me about this three clicks lark - do you mean you can=20
> print your ow=3D n "stamps" somehow?  How do they get your=20
> money for that?=20
>=20
PayPal.com does it all. I used to use Stamps.com but PayPal added this =
functionality reciently so it really is nice. And if the customer has a =
concern, PayPal allows them to track the shipment, register a complaint =
or whatever without me burning any cycles. PayPal funds the postage from =
my PayPal account.

Howard Winter  says:
> I shall just close by saying that I've *never* had anything=20
> get lost on =3D its way from the USA to here,=20
>=20
Technically true I guess, but remember I sent you a kit and realized =
after leaving the Post Office that the idiot clerk had specified the =
country to deliver it to as... Ireland? Or some such. You got the =
package eventually, but that just points out the "human error" factor =
involved in international mail. If I remember correctly, I screwed up =
something on that shipment as well. Hand writing lables is a bad idea.

Most of the stuff that I've had lost was "apparently" lost in customs. =
Some customs inspector decided they wanted it probably. Who is going to =
question it?

As I said before, some of these suppliers do seem to be over the top and =
UPS is just insane. But they give us little guys a bad name in a =
business that DOES have real problems to face.

---
James Newton: PICList.com webmaster, former Admin #3
mailto:jamesnewton@piclist.com  1-619-652-0593 phone
http://www.piclist.com/member/JMN-EFP-786
PIC/PICList FAQ: http://www.piclist.com

--
http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic:
[PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads