Hi.
I am always looking for ways to use systems to make life easier and to keep anyone I sell to happy. (and me if I am buying an item with tracking).
I recently discovered the wonderful world of postal trackers. USPS have a good system which allows you to put in a tracking number and they will let you know by email:
What I like about it is that I can have any or all of these sent to both me and my buyer. I let my buyers know in advance that I will do this.
My buyers seem to be very happy with the system because we both know where the item is and you can guess from the emails when it is likely to arrive. Maybe yours would be happy too.
Key point is do let your buyer know that you are doing this. Otherwise, they might be surprised by the email from USPS!
I use Japan Post EMS and my EMS numbers work fine. I am sure any other international tracking numbers would work too.
Here's the steps
It's done! In about 30 minutes or less, you get your first email from USPS. Then you get another when it is logged at the next point of handling. If the system works at it's best, your buyer gets an email when the delivery van heads out for the run.
Canada has a similar system
http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/default.jsf?LOCALE=en
Many countries have great online tracking, but not all of them will send updates. I think that USPS and Canada may be some of the only ones that do.
Hope this is useful to you.
I am always looking for ways to use systems to make life easier and to keep anyone I sell to happy. (and me if I am buying an item with tracking).
I recently discovered the wonderful world of postal trackers. USPS have a good system which allows you to put in a tracking number and they will let you know by email:
- the full previous postal history of the item;
- the tracking from now on; and
- who signed for it - with a PDF image of the signature.
What I like about it is that I can have any or all of these sent to both me and my buyer. I let my buyers know in advance that I will do this.
My buyers seem to be very happy with the system because we both know where the item is and you can guess from the emails when it is likely to arrive. Maybe yours would be happy too.
Key point is do let your buyer know that you are doing this. Otherwise, they might be surprised by the email from USPS!
I use Japan Post EMS and my EMS numbers work fine. I am sure any other international tracking numbers would work too.
Here's the steps
- http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm
- You put the Tracking Number in and click on "Learn More About Track and Confirm By Email"
- Put in your name.
- put in your email
- put in your buyer's email.
It's done! In about 30 minutes or less, you get your first email from USPS. Then you get another when it is logged at the next point of handling. If the system works at it's best, your buyer gets an email when the delivery van heads out for the run.
Canada has a similar system
http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/default.jsf?LOCALE=en
Many countries have great online tracking, but not all of them will send updates. I think that USPS and Canada may be some of the only ones that do.
Hope this is useful to you.
.
