Within the past few weeks, I've shipped a LOT of packages of varying weights all over the world; of course this was the Pagoda Style book. From a shipper's perspective (does not have to be a seller) here are some things you should consider as a
buyer.
1)
PROVIDE A CORRECT STANDARDIZED ADDRESS. This sounds simple enough, but you would be surprised how many did not. The USPS maintains a database of each and every legitimate mailing address in the USA. FEDEX and UPS have the same, and though there is a lot of duplication there, they are not the same. I myself have a second home which cannot, and does not have a USPS address. You cannot under any circumstance, "mail" anything there. It can, however, receive packages from Fedex or UPS. The USPS database is available for anyone who wants to standardize an address at
www.usps.com. When you prepare a Fedex package online, they can check the address in their database and standardize it while the form is being filled out.
2)
PROVIDE A VALID PHONE NUMBER. Much of the online shipping preparation, Fedex for one, and USPS for International shipments,
do NOT let you complete the shipping information w/o a telephone number. Of course the shipper can fill in all zeroes or something, or make up a phone number (as I had to do several times) but this is NOT in YOUR interest as a package receiver to make yourself hard to find.
3)
PROVIDE A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS THAT YOU USE. If you have an email you only check once in a while, or not at all, that doesn't count. I can't tell you how many people gave me email addresses in this category. I understand if you can't or don't want to use a work email for home use, or something like that--but if you don't check your email it's like not checking your mail box or front door for packages. While I have not yet encountered a shipping service that REQUIRES an email address, it is beneficial. Fedex for example, provides real-time package location and updates; this is again, only to your benefit as a receiver. Many times when I receive a package from someone sending it Fedex (and I always provide my email address), the doorbell rings, the Fedex drivers hands me a package after scanning it, and within seconds I hear the beep on my computer--and sure enough it is a real time email from Fedex telling me the package has been delivered. While this is useless when I have the package in my hand, the SHIPPER got the same email, and if there is a delay for weather or something--EVERYONE gets the email. To your benefit once again.
4)
ALL COUNTRIES HAVE STANDARDIZED ADDRESSES TODAY. While this is dynamic, there are standards that are helpful to learn for your specific country. I'm sure each country has some way of finding this out, some database administered by the local postal service or something.
5)
TELL SHIPPER/VENDOR WHETHER SHIPMENT IS TO A HOME OR BUSINESS. It makes a difference depending on how it is shipped. For Fedex, at least, they are on a completely different rate structure and different truck; might be the same for UPS. Doesn't not matter how big your business is, if it operates out of your home, it is a residence. Does not matter how small your business is, if you are in an office somewhere, you are a COMMERCIAL address.
While it all went rather smoothly (but not as fast as anyone would like) I spent a lot of time on international address checking and phone number websites, looking up and correcting addresses that were not all correct.
