Another issue is that just because it was supposedly "delivered", it does not mean that the package was brought to the correct address. The post office sometimes makes mistakes.

All the tracking shows is that the mailman delivered it to some location, and he pushed the button on his device to show that it was left.

Unfortunately, we no longer live in a world where friendly neighbors will bring the package over to you. If it was delivered to them, the cards are GONE forever.

Although it's still not an absolute guarantee, you have to ask for and pay for a signed delivery. In my neighborhood, if packages came either by the postal service trucks or UPS and no one was home, the packages went back into the trucks and a notice was left on the door. They then either re-delivered the next day or you had to go to the PO to hand pick up yourself.

Not anymore. If no one is home the packages are laid at the door. Anyone can see them and take them. In certain areas this won't fly well, but they don't care. They don't want to take the deliveries back and store the stuff until someone shows up, so it's delivered, it's put in the system and it's your problem if you didn't get it. I'm not sure if insurance will even pay once the PO claims proof that it got to the destination.

We learned of a local incident, this occurred 2-3 years ago. Driver worked for UPS for 30 years

Despite the rules that a signature was required, he left packages on doorsteps when no one was home, as "everyone knew him", and he had friendly relationships with customers on his route. Everyone had his personal cell phone #

Well, one day that backfired. He left a package on a porch with $ 30,000 worth of silverware inside (knifes and forks), despite the signature requirement. The older lady complained that she never got it

He was fired, after 30 years on the job

Just to add a thought, it's also a result of the free shipping and reduced shipping that a lot of companies are now offering to stay competitive with each other. Those types of packages used to require signed delivery and now they don't either.

I don't even think the mailman rings my bell most of the time when he has a package in with the regular mail. They just leave it and go.

Just a friendly reminder that U.S. postal rates increase again in June 23, 2019.

quote:

Originally posted by Studio-Hades:
Just a friendly reminder that U.S. postal rates increase again in June 23, 2019.

Whatever the problems we have with Royal Mail in the UK there is no doubt USPS is far worse, certainly in terms of cost. I have just completed a single sketch card trade with a collector from the USA. His cost just for sending his card regular airmail was $14.25 while I sent my card tracked, signature on delivery, and insured up to £50 ($60) for £8.65 ( about $10 ) .

A seller from the UK sent me 2 cards in an envelope, July 2, and still nothing has come as of July 19. He did not use tracking

Does this seem like it's taking an unusual amount of time to get to the USA ?

Last month, the same seller sent me 2 other cards and they came within a week.

With July 4th holiday in there and the weather, no. You'll still probably get it.

quote:

Originally posted by David R:
A seller from the UK sent me 2 cards in an envelope, July 2, and still nothing has come as of July 19. He did not use tracking

Does this seem like it's taking an unusual amount of time to get to the USA ?

Last month, the same seller sent me 2 other cards and they came within a week.

Unfortunately, shipping to the USA from the UK can be like that. The worst case I have had, to date, was a regular airmail shipment taking 28 days to arrive at its destination in the USA. Most things take 7-14 days but there is no certainty of that. Without tracking, you just have to cross your fingers and hope....patiently.

quote:

Originally posted by David R:
A seller from the UK sent me 2 cards in an envelope, July 2, and still nothing has come as of July 19. He did not use tracking

Does this seem like it's taking an unusual amount of time to get to the USA ?

Last month, the same seller sent me 2 other cards and they came within a week.

And I bet the shipping was cheap! If you want it guaranteed in a week pay the $20+ for tracked postage. If you want cheap untracked post wait up to 28 days for postage. I sent Christmas cards to USA last year and they got there in 5 days a birthday card took 28 days. Cheap post means variable delivery times (from USA too)

quote:

Originally posted by hammer:

And I bet the shipping was cheap! If you want it guaranteed in a week pay the $20+ for tracked postage. If you want cheap untracked post wait up to 28 days for postage. I sent Christmas cards to USA last year and they got there in 5 days a birthday card took 28 days. Cheap post means variable delivery times (from USA too)

To be honest, paying extra for tracked postage doesn't mean it will arrive any faster but at least you can usually see where it has got to along the route. Well, apart from the time it spends in the Black Hole known as US Customs. I've had tracked items disappear into that for anything from two to 14 days

Found a nice sketch the seller is asking $32 to ship to the

quote:

Originally posted by wuher:
Found a nice sketch the seller is asking $32 to ship to the

Virtually given up collecting now when a $12 card costs $25 to ship

I'm having the same problem, i've lost track of the number of cards i would just buy straight off but one look at the postage and that's the end of that.

$1 promo cards with $15 postage = no sale.

Yet I just purchased a card from topps card group on Facebook and cost was $4.50 no tracking or insurance but for a cheap card I was willing to take the risk

quote:

Originally posted by wuher:
Yet I just purchased a card from topps card group on Facebook and cost was $4.50 no tracking or insurance but for a cheap card I was willing to take the risk

you maybe willing to take the risk but the ebay sellers are not although why they should be worried about losing a 1 dollar promo i've no idea.

When it comes to sending cards from the US to UK, the only cheap method appears to be to maybe put it in a hard plastic, throw it in white envelope, put on an airmail stamp and kiss it up to God. No tracking, no insurance, no buyer protection and little to no protection from PO machines or mishandling. If it gets there, it gets there, and no one blames anybody if it doesn't.

Obviously this would be insufficient for any card of any real value, but if it is worth little, then two parties might directly agree to do it. No eBay seller would agree for any item sold on eBay. They might agree if you had direct contact and it was a private sale off eBay. Even in a private sale or trade, the minimum for a padded envelope with some form of tracking is around $15 now from the US to UK.

I know its a very frustrating situation, but sellers do want to get rid of these cards and most have no interest in ripping off anyone on mailing. It's just the cost and the forced rules involved. If the buyer is willing to assume all risk, you might talk someone into just letter posting it, but not through an eBay sale. They won't risk problems with eBay and I don't blame them.

quote:

Originally posted by wolfie:

quote:

Originally posted by wuher:
Yet I just purchased a card from topps card group on Facebook and cost was $4.50 no tracking or insurance but for a cheap card I was willing to take the risk

you maybe willing to take the risk but the ebay sellers are not although why they should be worried about losing a 1 dollar promo i've no idea.

Do bear in mind that with an eBay sale if it goes missing the seller has to refund the $1 for the card AND the postage paid by the buyer. So the loss to the seller can quickly mount up.

quote:

Originally posted by Raven:

They won't risk problems with eBay and I don't blame them.

I don't blame them either.

But still $32 for 1 card that could sell at $1 or $100
I won @$25 shipped to a friend in US for $4 then on to me tracked and insured Still $16 cheaper that's a massive saving go figure
?