Silk Road forums

Discussion => Shipping => Topic started by: eddiethegun on October 15, 2012, 10:02 pm

Title: Cheapest Safe International Shipping
Post by: eddiethegun on October 15, 2012, 10:02 pm
I just got into the vendor game and I was unpleasantly surprised by the high cost of international shipping. In order to get a DCN for USPS International I have to ship International Express at a cost of approx $40 for a 1 lb package. That won't do. I could ship cheaply, International First Class, but I get no DCN and then what's to protect me in an escrow dispute?

So I've been checking out the other services offered and I see that I can ship International First Class and add a "Certificate of Mailing" for a nominal cost.  According to USPS:
Quote
Certificates of mailing furnish evidence of mailing only. A receipt is not obtained on delivery of the mail to the addressee. The fee paid for certificates of mailing does not insure the item against loss or damage.

Or for around $10 I could add Registered Mail
Quote
Registered Mailâ„¢ (International) is a service that allows you to register your international mail for additional protection and security.  Features of this service include:

A mailing receipt is issued by office of mailing, and a record of delivery is maintained at the office of destination (the recipient's signature is not required)
Registered Mail provides the sender with a mailing receipt, and upon request, electronic verification that an article was delivered, or that an attempt at delivery was made
Registered Mail is handled separately from all other mail, and records are kept by registry number

My question is, is a Certificate of Mailing sufficient evidence for an escrow dispute?
Anybody else come up with a solution to the high cost of international shipping?