First things first, 99.9% of all of my eBay/Website transactions are transported to customers via U.S. Postal Service (USPS). I would only send items such as framed posters, audio components or other such miscellaneous stuff by other transit means. (And that option would be mentioned in an item's description.)

      It's safe to say that one pitfall in Net/Mail-Order transactions is speed of delivery. This is true on both ends. The buyer most often wants to receive the item as quickly as possible in order to get the full impact of the purchase. ("I must hear that record right away, I mean, I just paid my money…now I want it!") On the seller end, there's the issue of getting paid and getting it packed and into the mail as soon as possible. Got to keep that customer happy! To this end I have signed on with the Pitney-Bowes people. It's working quite well. I can send most items very quickly.

      More than half of the items sold through eBay go out the day I receive payment. Another portion goes out the next day. If something like Delivery Confirmation or Insurance is desired, or if it must be Registered, that kind of thing, then it must be handled through an actual USPS location. These procedures can delay mailings up to 3-4 days, especially if payment is received on a Friday. But don't let this discourage you from taking precautions. Part of doing this kind of business is interaction with the USPS.

     For domestic mail, Media Mail (previously known as Special Standard or Special 4th Class or Book Rate) usually takes 7-10 days to get to the recipient after USPS gets it. Priority Mail usually takes 2-3 days after USPS gets it, not including Sundays. Occasionally 4 days, depending upon the destination.

      As to International Mailing, all packages must go through a Postal Inspection. We must take these to an USPS location for inspection and processing in-person. This cannot be done at our storefront location. Appropriate mail is taken to the Post Office at least a couple of times a week. So international buyers must keep this in mind when bidding. (We don't go to the Post Office on Saturdays or Sundays.)

       Insurance for International mailing is expensive. Not the necessarily insurance itself, but only Air Parcel Post, Surface Parcel Post or Global Priority are the only types of International mail that may be insured. The rates for both of these mailing options are sometimes 70-80% more than Air Small Packet or
Standard Surface mail which are the standard means of sending small quantities of records, CDs or books.

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Liability for Loss-In-Transit:

        I only take responsibility for making sure all packages are properly addressed, with appropriate postage applied and safely packed. I take no responsibility for non-delivery or loss-in-transit. If the package is not insured, or tracked by the Post Office in some other way, that would be the buyer's responsibility. I must say that I have had only a very few problems with this sort of thing. But it has happened. If you are worried, take precautions and use USPS-provided services. My rule of thumb is to suggest insurance for items worth more than $50. And Delivery Confirmation if you have had problems getting things in the past. You may have an inept people at your local Post Office or a thief in your building or neighborhood.

[See the previous paragraph for insuring International Mail.]

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Handeling Fees:

       There is a minimum fee of $1.00 for handling record albums. In some instances, the handling is $1.50, depending on packing requirements. These basic fees cover the costs involving corrugated paperboard mailers, packing tape & bubble wrap. All shipping & handling charges will be declared to the buyer via e-mail or telephone before payment is expected. In most eBay transactions the shipping/handling charges are described in the eBay item description. When bidding on large LP lots of say, six albums or more, keep in mind that due to weight & special packing, reinforcement is often required.
I reserve the right to charge up to a fifty cents per-record handling fee in multiple album shipments. These handling fees are usually reflected in the item's description.
There is no handling fee for CDs and other small items if U.S. Postal Service-supplied packaging is used. This usually means Priority Mail. Otherwise there is a small fee.

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Packing:

Packing Record Albums:
     I mostly use new corrugated paperboard mailers w/ appropriate packing material for up to six records. All records are separated from the jackets to prevent seam splits while in-transit. Also, I always put albums in a store bag for added safety. For larger shipments I carefully improvise with larger boxes.

Packing Compact Discs:
      For domestic mailing, I like to send things Priority Mail in the packaging that the Post Office supplies. The CDs are usually wrapped in appropriate packing material inside the box or reinforced envelope. Sometimes I offer a First Class postage option. In these cases I use a 5x7-manila envelope w/ some light cardboard or small bubble-pack material.
For international mailing I suggest that if the "jewel box" is not sent, if only the disc & inserts are included in the package, that mailing costs can be reduced. Note: the buyer MUST request this option via e-mail BEFORE a final shipping quote is tendered.

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My standard eBay Item End Statement for single record albums:

---/||||\----- Payment may be made with cashier's check or money order or with a personal check. MasterCharge/Visa/Discover accepted via phone or fax.
/\ Inside the U.S., handling/Special Standard mailing is $3.50; handling/Priority mailing is available for $4.95. /// Some International handling/postal rates: CANADA - $5.90/air;JAPAN/AUSTRIALA - $12.50/air, $6.20/surface; Much of EUROPE - $11.35/air, $5.95/surface.
/\ All other rates will be quoted via email after auction ends. (Listed International rates are an estimate.) // Please click on (& possibly bookmark?) my other auctions; I put up several new items each week, mostly jazz-related.

Thanks & good Luck, BT