Those of you selling in pre-loved - what method do you use to ship?

[Mreader]

I hope it's ok to ask this question and tag some folks that have successfully sold some bigger ticket items in pre-loved/LT such as @diamondseeker2006 @mrs-b @HS4S_2 and @elizat Because I read that Fedex, UPS doesn't have insurance on the item through the shipping company. I read that registered mail you can insure and it's the safest but also slow. But the literature is a bit confusing and can be contradictory. I just wondered how you ship these? Bc I have some bigger items that are listed (albeit have not sold) and wondered the best method if they do sell. TIA.

 

[mrs-b]

I hope it's ok to ask this question and tag some folks that have successfully sold some bigger ticket items in pre-loved/LT such as @diamondseeker2006 @mrs-b @HS4S_2 and @elizat Because I read that Fedex, UPS doesn't have insurance on the item through the shipping company. I read that registered mail you can insure and it's the safest but also slow. But the literature is a bit confusing and can be contradictory. I just wondered how you ship these? Bc I have some bigger items that are listed (albeit have not sold) and wondered the best method if they do sell. TIA.

Hi @Mreader -

The largest item I've sold was a Victor Canera 3 stone ring. I sold it to the most wonderful PSer, who lives about an hour's drive from me, and she drove up and collected it in person. That's the only really large ticket item I've sold.

Other items that I've sold that were in the 1-4k range I shipped insured, USPS, or sent to DKJ for checking and tweaking (eg resizing). The buyer then paid for shipping from them to him or her.

Normally I let the buyer choose their own method of shipping, but I make it clear - when the piece leaves me, my responsibility is complete. Having said that, tho, most of what I sell is under 1k, and insured and tracked.

ETA. I just remembered Boadicea! She was expensive, too, and I shipped her overnight, I think, and fully insured. The shipping on her was around $350. (I'm sure that's not completely accurate, but I remember it was hundreds to ship her safely across country. My wonderful buyer picked up that tab.)

I once shipped a ring to someone in Ireland, which was some thousands of dollars - 7 or 8k, I think. I will never do that again. The stress was horrific.

 

[elizat]

USPS works if under a certain value. I do mostly priority. For larger transactions, I have used registered as well.

I do call in a favor from a vendor that is more like a friend now though, if over a certain amount, for high value at times.

You can also use an appraiser as an intermediary to do the sale. I believe Neil Beatty will also assist for a fee and it offers additional assurance to the buyer that way.

Neil Beaty GG, ICGA - American Gem Registry

.Neil Beaty is Denver Colorado's most respected Diamond, Gem and Jewelry appraisers. Diamond Appraisal and experty witness.

americangemregistry.com

 

[Mreader]

Hi @Mreader -

T

ETA. I just remembered Boadicea! She was expensive, too, and I shipped her overnight, I think, and fully insured. The shipping on her was around $350. (I'm sure that's not completely accurate, but I remember it was hundreds to ship her safely across country. My wonderful buyer picked up that tab.)

I once shipped a ring to someone in Ireland, which was some thousands of dollars - 7 or 8k, I think. I will never do that again. The stress was horrific.

Yes I was specifically thinking of Boadicea when I tagged you But wow yes that is a pricey ship fee but then again for a ring that amazing it would be necessary I see

 

[HS4S_2]

I use ups and priority shipping with USPS. FedEx on smaller items. All of my stuff is insured in case of a loss. Luckily I have not had any issues. I also occasionally call in a favor from a vendor/friends on bigger items.

 

[Mreader]

When I have read up on it, when you do "declared value" on something shipped via UPS or Fedex, it isn't the same as insurance. But it seems it would still protect bc it's liability against damage or loss (which seems insurance-like non?). That's what is confusing about it when I try to read up on it.

 

[Efleon]

I agree.
I just completed a sale of a piece for $4800 and the usps ladies strongly encouraged me to send via registered mail which I had never done.
It got there safely but I do not recommend it.
It took exactly two hair-raising weeks!!!! I wasn’t prepared for THAT slow!
My heart is still recovering.
Everything else in the $1-3k range Ive sent usps insurance signature required and Ive only lost one package valued at $800.
It took 8 weeks and a lot of proof to recover that from usps.
Just my experience….

 

[mayaINaU]

I agree.
I just completed a sale of a piece for $4800 and the usps ladies strongly encouraged me to send via registered mail which I had never done.
It got there safely but I do not recommend it.
It took exactly two hair-raising weeks!!!! I wasn’t prepared for THAT slow!
My heart is still recovering.
Everything else in the $1-3k range Ive sent usps insurance signature required and Ive only lost one package valued at $800.
It took 8 weeks and a lot of proof to recover that from usps.
Just my experience….

I agree.
I just completed a sale of a piece for $4800 and the usps ladies strongly encouraged me to send via registered mail which I had never done.
It got there safely but I do not recommend it.
It took exactly two hair-raising weeks!!!! I wasn’t prepared for THAT slow!
My heart is still recovering.
Everything else in the $1-3k range Ive sent usps insurance signature required and Ive only lost one package valued at $800.
It took 8 weeks and a lot of proof to recover that from usps.
Just my experience….

As a buyer, I used Neil Beatty as escrow and I highly recommend it for peace of mind! He provided full insurance both ways (cost based on item value). I felt very secure in the transaction and he was a pleasure to work with.

 

[Mreader]

I agree.
I just completed a sale of a piece for $4800 and the usps ladies strongly encouraged me to send via registered mail which I had never done.
It got there safely but I do not recommend it.
It took exactly two hair-raising weeks!!!! I wasn’t prepared for THAT slow!
My heart is still recovering.
Everything else in the $1-3k range Ive sent usps insurance signature required and Ive only lost one package valued at $800.
It took 8 weeks and a lot of proof to recover that from usps.
Just my experience….

That is very helpful info. And yes I knew that registered is the safest but oh, the agony of waiting. Still, eight weeks waiting for your money from the lost package is worse.

 

[Mreader]

As a buyer, I used Neil Beatty as escrow and I highly recommend it for peace of mind! He provided full insurance both ways (cost based on item value). I felt very secure in the transaction and he was a pleasure to work with.

I looked into that. It requires an appraisal though so you hope that what you are selling the item for matches what he appraises it for . At this point for me it's neither here nor there as I don't have any buyers.

 

[Bron357]

I’ve bought Internationally for over 18 years. I think the most expensive thing was $12,000. I’ve had shipped fragile items as well as jewellery many times well over $5,000. Thousands of items. Yikes.
I never bother with insurance. Twice I’ve tried to claim, one for breakage the other for a pilfered item (that was an Apple item shipped in packaging advertising it was from Apple) without luck. With the broken item apparently I was supposed to know before opening that it was damaged and refuse the delivery or have opened it under video camera. Otherwise I couldn’t prove it wasn’t damaged by me. Ditto the Apple iPod. The package had been slit and I was supposed to have refused delivery.
So from my experience it’s not worth paying extra for.
I always have my items shipped Priority tracked with signed for delivery. I have never had an item go missing this way.
However due to Covid there is currently no facility for signed for delivery. So I’m not buying anything over $1,000. The mail currently is horrible. I didn’t see our mailman at all last week and have 4 packages still out there somewhere.
Im also not selling anything at present. If I sell via Loupe Troop it’s “family and friends” so the risk is the buyers but with the mail being so unsigned for , slow and unreliable at present it’s a risk. I wouldn’t sell on eBay presently and even my purchases are few and far between.
in summary, if the buyer pays via Friends and Family, the risk is the buyers. If you can’t obtain insurance and/or signed for delivery it’s the buyers choice and risk to still proceed.

 

[seaurchin]

USPS, insured and tracked. After a couple of hassles with shipping to other countries, I started limiting sales to the USA (where I live).

 

[yssie]

USPS Registered.

Yes, it can be very slow. But if USPS “loses” a Registered package they will turn every waypoint upside down to find it. And the paper tape and stickers explicitly guard against tampering.

It’s the most secure way to mail a package within the US (outside of a vendor label).

Edit - Note that Registered is as secure as it is specifically because it’s a US federal service - as soon as a Registered parcel leaves the US all guarantees go out the window (because the US government has no control over foreign authorities).

 

[Dancing Fire]

So from my experience it’s not worth paying extra for.
I always have my items shipped Priority tracked with signed for delivery. I have never had an item go missing this way.

Yup, agree. 5 months ago I shipped a $32K watch via 2nd day USPS ($26) priority mail w/o insurance. The watch reach its destination on time w/o any problem.

 

[Matata]

ETA. I just remembered Boadicea.

Whaaaat?! You forgot about the unforgettable Boadicea!!
If she wasn't such a classy broad she'd

 

[mrs-b]

Whaaaat?! You forgot about the unforgettable Boadicea!!
If she wasn't such a classy broad she'd

Awwww - I LOVE Boadicea! She was the most beautiful ring I'd ever seen for such a long time. May well still be, now that I think of it. Certainly the most beautiful ring I'd ever owned. Altho - does one ever really *own* a ring like that? Or does she just deign to reside with you for a short period of time? That's probably closer to it.

My apologies, B the V - it was for just a moment!