CONGRATS on your expensive sale! Woo-hoo for you! Pat yourself on the back because you did GREAT work! The hard part is done, now all you gotta do is ship, and here’s how to make sure you don’t get scammed:

STEP 1: Protect Against “Not As Described” Liars - Photos are great but that cell phone in your hand also records video! Yes, it’s true, your cell phone isn’t just for cute selfies.

Before you start recording the actual product, start your video by going to google and typing in “Todays Date”, this way you can prove the day you took the video on… and this day should be the same day IT WILL BE IN TRANSIT… not the day before, or week before you plan to ship. Recording the video the week before still leaves room for the buyer to say “Something must have happened to the Prada purse in between!”

Take your time getting the video. Preferably, record OUTSIDE during the day hours (natural light kicks a**!) You don’t need to talk during it, just show the important parts of the item. Move the phone slowly so it focuses. If it’s rainy or foggy, find the best lighting in your home and record there.

STEP 2: Ship it with Signature Confirmation. Insurance doesn’t hurt if it’s a pricey item. You don’t need to insure the full sell-price, just insure the amount you absolutely need to make off of it, minus whatever amount is covered under the shipping method. For example, if USPS Priority Mail shipments gives an automatic $50 worth of insurance on every shipment, and if you sold the item for $450, the very most you would need to insure for is $400; no point in wasting money!

STEP 2 1/2: If you feel like dropping $10 on signature you can pay for “ADULT Signature”, this means a kid can’t sign for it. According to the USPS website, quote, “The recipient or a resident of the recipient’s address is required to show a form of photo identification to the delivery employee for age confirmation” - but let me interject; I have NEVER, EVER been asked for my ID, even when I order alcohol online that says right on the friggin package “ADULT SIGNATURE REQUIRED”. You could argue that I look like I’m over 21; ok, but that doesn’t prove I live there. So, I guess it’s worth the extra $7.50 to pay for Adult Sig if the item is super expensive, but don’t plan on USPS actually asking for ID or checking the ID for an address match.

STEP 3: If the item is crazy expensive, such as a $3,000 computer, it doesn’t hurt to reach out to the buyer and let them know they will have to sign for it. This allows them to plan in advance. If they tell you “I won’t be home to sign”, you can offer to cancel the transaction and have it sent to their work, or it can be held at the local USPS for pickup, or, USUALLY USPS will leave a slip on the buyers door that they can sign and USPS will leave the item the following day because they accept the signed form as signature. Either way, it counts as signature on your end.

If the buyer absolutely insists there is no way in heck they can sign for it, you can offer to cancel the transaction and invoice them so they can re-remit payment and use their work address or a family members address (someone who will be home to sign). If they still refuse to cooperate, personally, I would become exceptionally skeptical of the buyer.  

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