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missty4 · Oct 23rd, 2009, 11:09 AM

I was told by many different USPS agents that international tracking is only available through Express. So as a result, I always send my packages through Express insured for the full amount (and with the full claim value) and tell my buyers that I have to claim the full value to meet the insured value and feel more comfortable with tracking.

However, a buyer told me that she's worked with many US buyers that they ship through International Priority and it works better with her that it doesn't get stuck in customs like Express does, PLUS it has tracking. But I think they're also claimed as gift/low value - not sure if it's insured though.

I'd like to help my buyers out, but I want to protect myself too with insurance and tracking (and you can't claim lower than the insured value, right)?

Am I missing something here?

luvtami · Oct 23rd, 2009, 11:24 AM

For most countries, I've always been able to see tracking information with Priority Mail International.

itsonly4me · Oct 23rd, 2009, 11:27 AM

I shipped express to singapore recently and its currently 'stuck' in customs (over 4 days now!) At this point, I should have just sent priority even though it wasnt as 'fast'

missty4 · Oct 23rd, 2009, 11:45 AM

So if you purchase Priority International, does it come with tracking and would it appear on the receipt? It's just that everyone at the post office says you don't, unless you insure for a high value and there's some sort of tracking but not really.

missty4 · Oct 23rd, 2009, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by itsonly4me

I shipped express to singapore recently and its currently 'stuck' in customs (over 4 days now!) At this point, I should have just sent priority even though it wasnt as 'fast'

I shipped to Singapore with express in the past too and it was stuck for 11 days :/

TXGirlie · Oct 23rd, 2009, 11:48 AM

My Priority Int'l package just showed some movement after 4 days...so not sure if it really makes a difference if it's sent by Express.

TXGirlie · Oct 23rd, 2009, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by missty4

So if you purchase Priority International, does it come with tracking and would it appear on the receipt? It's just that everyone at the post office says you don't, unless you insure for a high value and there's some sort of tracking but not really.

There is limited tracking available...but it's not frequently updated. You can see it from the customs form number.

luvtami · Oct 23rd, 2009, 11:52 AM

^^ This. I never insure my international packages and still am able to track with Priority.

And for certain countries like Canada and the UK, you can use the Priority Mail customs number on their country-specific post office web sites and get really good detailed updates (once the item is in the destination country).

Canada:
http://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/ap...execution=e1s1

UK:
http://www.parcelforce.com

TXGirlie · Oct 23rd, 2009, 11:56 AM

^^ what about other countries?

luvtami · Oct 23rd, 2009, 01:11 PM

^^ Well there's a lot of countries in this world, do you have a specific one in mind? You can Google for the country's post office web site and if you have a Priority Mail tracking number, test it out.

karmenzsofia · Oct 23rd, 2009, 02:43 PM

Assuming you're in the U.S....

You have to make sure that whatever carrier you use offers online tracking, that is, documentation that can be viewed online about the date the item was delivered, the recipient's address showing at least city and zip code (or the country's equivalent), and signature confirmation for transactions worth $250 or more. (Don't forget to use a foreign currency converter if dealing in something other than dollar amounts.) PP has to be able to see this info online, so I would confirm and re-confirm that the carrier meets these prerequisites. Otherwise, you lose your seller protection.

pigalle74 · Oct 23rd, 2009, 02:48 PM

All international priority mail (except for the smallest flat box, the tiny one) comes with a tracking number (it's actually customs number)- it IS limited, just being updated at major cities, but it always showed delivery for me. Anything over $250 I send express though because of signature confirm issue.

deekai · Oct 24th, 2009, 02:22 AM

I only ship Express internationally and have never had anything stuck in customs. Started doing this after I shipped something Priority and it was lost........never again.

starkfan · Oct 24th, 2009, 03:26 AM

For Stateside tracking (i.e. via USPS alone), Express is definitely better than Priority. Express gives more step-by-step updates as it passes through the USPS system, whilst Priority seems to only update when the package has been despatched internationally. Both go into tracking "blackouts" after packages leave the US, but USPS's tracking will update for Express when it arrives in the destination country, whereas Priority doesn't seem to update until it's been delivered (unless there was an exception).

For tracking in the destination country, though, it really depends on said country's postal service's website. When I track packages (Express and Priority) in my country, the amount of tracking information available is largely the same, so the difference primarily lies with the level of detail when tracking Stateside, at least from my experience. I prefer receiving packages by Express, though, because of the better Stateside tracking. I've also only had one Express package caught in customs, but a bunch of others have passed through fine even though the value exceeded the tax-free limit here.

peski · Oct 24th, 2009, 06:53 AM

I'm in Australia and my aunt in LA regularly sends me boxes of stuff. She sends via Global Priority and she sends me the tracking number which is viewable on the USPS website.

I've often received my items from her sooner than from sellers who send via Express since it zips through Customs much quicker.

Our Customs taxes don't kick in till a value of AU $1000 is declared, and it doesn't matter if it's a gift or merchandise.

Hope that helps.

Oct 23rd, 2009, 11:09 AM	#1
missty4 OP Member Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,310	Getting international tracking through USPS - only through Express? I was told by many different USPS agents that international tracking is only available through Express. So as a result, I always send my packages through Express insured for the full amount (and with the full claim value) and tell my buyers that I have to claim the full value to meet the insured value and feel more comfortable with tracking. However, a buyer told me that she's worked with many US buyers that they ship through International Priority and it works better with her that it doesn't get stuck in customs like Express does, PLUS it has tracking. But I think they're also claimed as gift/low value - not sure if it's insured though. I'd like to help my buyers out, but I want to protect myself too with insurance and tracking (and you can't claim lower than the insured value, right)? Am I missing something here?
missty4 OP Member Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,310	__________________ I'm designing a bag with Hayden-Harnett!! Check out my project so far and feedback is appreciated Missty's Design for Hayden-Harnett Update 9/16: prototype arrived Update 10/5: Goldfish charm is here! Pictures taken! <3

Oct 23rd, 2009, 11:24 AM	#2
luvtami Member Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 659	For most countries, I've always been able to see tracking information with Priority Mail International.
luvtami Member Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 659

Oct 23rd, 2009, 11:27 AM	#3
itsonly4me LV Addict Joined: May 2007 Location: PA Posts: 4,857	I shipped express to singapore recently and its currently 'stuck' in customs (over 4 days now!) At this point, I should have just sent priority even though it wasnt as 'fast'
	__________________ Rachel

Oct 23rd, 2009, 11:45 AM	#4
missty4 OP Member Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,310	So if you purchase Priority International, does it come with tracking and would it appear on the receipt? It's just that everyone at the post office says you don't, unless you insure for a high value and there's some sort of tracking but not really.
missty4 OP Member Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,310	__________________ I'm designing a bag with Hayden-Harnett!! Check out my project so far and feedback is appreciated Missty's Design for Hayden-Harnett Update 9/16: prototype arrived Update 10/5: Goldfish charm is here! Pictures taken! <3

Oct 23rd, 2009, 11:48 AM	#6
TXGirlie Lovin Purple! Joined: Jul 2008 Location: North Texas Posts: 9,656	My Priority Int'l package just showed some movement after 4 days...so not sure if it really makes a difference if it's sent by Express.
	__________________ Looking for a MAGENTA MAC from the RM Fall 2009 Sample Sale! Plz. PM me if you see one for sale!

Oct 23rd, 2009, 11:52 AM	#8
luvtami Member Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 659	^^ This. I never insure my international packages and still am able to track with Priority. And for certain countries like Canada and the UK, you can use the Priority Mail customs number on their country-specific post office web sites and get really good detailed updates (once the item is in the destination country). Canada: http://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/ap...execution=e1s1 UK: http://www.parcelforce.com
luvtami Member Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 659

Oct 23rd, 2009, 11:56 AM	#9
TXGirlie Lovin Purple! Joined: Jul 2008 Location: North Texas Posts: 9,656	^^ what about other countries?
	__________________ Looking for a MAGENTA MAC from the RM Fall 2009 Sample Sale! Plz. PM me if you see one for sale!

Oct 23rd, 2009, 01:11 PM	#10
luvtami Member Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 659	^^ Well there's a lot of countries in this world, do you have a specific one in mind? You can Google for the country's post office web site and if you have a Priority Mail tracking number, test it out.
luvtami Member Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 659

Oct 23rd, 2009, 02:43 PM	#11
karmenzsofia Life is Plan Z Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Tarot Card Posts: 14,888	Assuming you're in the U.S.... You have to make sure that whatever carrier you use offers online tracking, that is, documentation that can be viewed online about the date the item was delivered, the recipient's address showing at least city and zip code (or the country's equivalent), and signature confirmation for transactions worth $250 or more. (Don't forget to use a foreign currency converter if dealing in something other than dollar amounts.) PP has to be able to see this info online, so I would confirm and re-confirm that the carrier meets these prerequisites. Otherwise, you lose your seller protection.
	__________________ Satisfied but wishing 4 a WTM Mini and an AP ~~* Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it necessary? Is it kind? Or, more importantly, is it funny?

Oct 23rd, 2009, 02:48 PM	#12
pigalle74 Member Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 918	All international priority mail (except for the smallest flat box, the tiny one) comes with a tracking number (it's actually customs number)- it IS limited, just being updated at major cities, but it always showed delivery for me. Anything over $250 I send express though because of signature confirm issue.
pigalle74 Member Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 918

Oct 24th, 2009, 02:22 AM	#13
deekai Member Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 299	I only ship Express internationally and have never had anything stuck in customs. Started doing this after I shipped something Priority and it was lost........never again.
deekai Member Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 299

Oct 24th, 2009, 03:26 AM	#14
starkfan Member Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 2,535	For Stateside tracking (i.e. via USPS alone), Express is definitely better than Priority. Express gives more step-by-step updates as it passes through the USPS system, whilst Priority seems to only update when the package has been despatched internationally. Both go into tracking "blackouts" after packages leave the US, but USPS's tracking will update for Express when it arrives in the destination country, whereas Priority doesn't seem to update until it's been delivered (unless there was an exception). For tracking in the destination country, though, it really depends on said country's postal service's website. When I track packages (Express and Priority) in my country, the amount of tracking information available is largely the same, so the difference primarily lies with the level of detail when tracking Stateside, at least from my experience. I prefer receiving packages by Express, though, because of the better Stateside tracking. I've also only had one Express package caught in customs, but a bunch of others have passed through fine even though the value exceeded the tax-free limit here.
starkfan Member Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 2,535

Oct 24th, 2009, 06:53 AM	#15
peski Sofa King Banned Joined: May 2009 Location: Down Under, Inside Out Posts: 93	I'm in Australia and my aunt in LA regularly sends me boxes of stuff. She sends via Global Priority and she sends me the tracking number which is viewable on the USPS website. I've often received my items from her sooner than from sellers who send via Express since it zips through Customs much quicker. Our Customs taxes don't kick in till a value of AU $1000 is declared, and it doesn't matter if it's a gift or merchandise. Hope that helps.

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