USPS shipping
From CAGwiki
Packaging and shipping are perhaps the most crucial parts of a trade/sale. If the item or items don't make it to the destination intact and undamaged, then the whole deal was for naught.
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Packaging
A console/system should ship with the original box, if possible, since that would have molded Styrofoam.
If the original box can't be used, then use a box large enough for the item or items, and with enough padding/packaging to make sure that it won't move around in the box during shipment, as well as rough handling of the box cause damage to the items inside. A rule of thumb is to use enough padding/packaging to allow for at least one inch's worth of protection around all sides of the items being shipped.
Bubble mailers are great for shipping games. Try to keep your packages tight! Game guides are even easier to ship, due to nothing fragile, though some measure of protection should be used, such as a bubble mailer.
Shipping
Domestic
When shipping an item, most CAGs will use the USPS (US Postal Service), due to a post office branch being in just about every town. The USPS offers numerous services for shipping, detailed below:
- Media Mail - the cheapest and slowest way for shipping, as it's not hand sorted. Media mail has restrictions on the types of items shipped, according to the official information about it, that it's only for pre-recorded CD or DVD media. Normally takes 5-10 days to arrive from being shipped. There’s also no weight restriction on media mail shipments.
- First-Class Mail - the next cheapest shipping method, though it's limited to items of 13 ounces or less. First-Class Mail is hand sorted, so it is quicker and more expensive than Media Mail, normally taking 3-5 days to arrive at the destination.
- Parcel Post - more expensive than Media Mail and about the same shipping timeframe for Parcel Post has no restrictions on what can be shipped, weight-wise or item-wise. Best used for items such as gaming systems that are much heavier than First Class would allow, and won't fit into the shipping criteria for Media Mail.
- Priority Mail - more expensive than First Class, though is guaranteed to arrive within 2-3 days from shipping. A flat rate for items up to 1 pound in weight, and ramping upwards in cost from there. Best used for semi-light items that need to be shipped quickly. You should be able to ship most games for under $4 using Priority Mail.
- Express Mail - most expensive, due to the built-in tracking number, which tracks in real-time, and guarantee of delivery the next day, including Sunday for items shipped on Saturday. Includes $100 of insurance for no additional charge. Only recommended for items that must arrive the next day without question.
There are numerous services that can be applied to the above shipping methods:
- Insurance - additional cost for protection against loss or damage. If an item is damaged or lost and has insurance on it, the sender is reimbursed the insured value of the item, once it is proven that the item is lost or damaged. The cost for insurance varies depending on the amount of insurance purchased. Almost always, an item with insurance will not be left at the recipient's door without a signature, so if there is no one to receive the package, the item may need to be picked up from the post office. -Recommended for expensive or irreplaceable items.
- Delivery Confirmation - additional cost for a "tracking" number assigned to the package. The item can be "tracked" from the USPS.com website, or via an 800 number. It isn't a real-time tracking number, like used by UPS/FedEx/DHL, though is different than the tracking number for Express Mail packages. It's primarily used to determine if the package arrived at the destination address. Some post offices won't leave an item with a delivery confirmation without handing it to someone, which means the package will need to be picked up from the post office. -Highly recommended; offers peace of mind to either party.
- Signature Confirmation - additional cost above delivery confirmation, and works as a delivery confirmation, though someone is required to sign for the item to be delivered. If no one is present to sign for the package, it must be picked up at the post office. A copy of the recipient's signature can be mailed or faxed to the sender, if desired.
International
Shipping to other countries is a whole different matter and comes up with other issues related to that. Best handled directly at the post office with a USPS postal worker.
See also
CAG links
External links
Categories: Shipping | Guides | Trading | USPS
