More than a year ago I wrote a blog post about shipping insurance where I gave details about the first and only shipment damaged during transit at Rare Puzzles. Since our puzzles always travel in First Class because I pack them very carefully, the chances that they get any damage are very slim, except, of course, when a major catastrophe takes place. So far, we have only had one package that received damage during transit. Fortunately, the buyer bought insurance and we recovered (after some work) all the costs.
When shipping puzzles, there is a lot of backstage work that buyers are not usually aware of. Packages normally arrive to their destination within the estimated delivery time. However, there is always something happening that requires attention.
Problems with shipping companies and Customs
One package needed 4 months to reach to its destination in the USA. We were able to track it and watched it cross the Atlantic Ocean three times until it finally arrived. Another box went to Italy, but they sent it to a storehouse of the shipping company... 300 km away from its destination. No wonder that they kept saying they couldn't find the street. In another occasion, they returned a box to me...
Tag Archives: Shipping
Should I Buy Insurance when Shipping my Puzzles?
01
Sep
When you buy a very rare puzzle on the site, perhaps a puzzle that you have been searching for years, you want to be sure that it arrives at its destination in the same condition it left Rare Puzzles. Some visitors or new customers encourage me to pack their puzzles carefully. After that, they have to decide whether they want shipping insurance or not.
We all have received very poorly packed shipments when buying on other online stores or on eBay. Are you familiar with these?
Puzzle boxes just wrapped with a couple of thin pages from a newspaper.
Wrapping paper that has been taped onto the original puzzle box and then it's impossible to remove.
Loose puzzles within too large cardboard boxes. The puzzle opens inside because they didn't even tape it closed and the pieces are loose all over the place.
However, if you have ever bought one of my puzzles, then you know you don't need to worry about packaging. Why? Because they will very likely be the best packages that you will receive. This is what a typical box will look like.
Two layers of palletizing plastic protect each puzzle, even puzzles that are brand new and also keep the...
Selling your Puzzles
03
Jan
The site will open for members to sell their own puzzles soon.
I have been doing a lot of research in order to decide what type of software would do the work. Although the platform will remain the same, the appearance of the site is going to change.
I hope it will be for the better.
What this means is that other users will be able to open their own "stores" at Rare Puzzles, list their own items, set their own prices, and ship to whatever countries they wish.
There will be some initial restrictions though:
Members will need previous approval through a simple request form.
Products listed will be reviewed for approval as well, at least in the beginning.
Only Factory Sealed and Sealed Bag puzzles will be listed for now.
Only out of catalog puzzles will be listed.
It will be something similar to listing them on Ebay, but without insertion fees, without time limitations, and for half of Ebay's commissions.
The payment preferred method will still be PayPal, since it provides the best protection for buyers and sellers.
Terms and Conditions pages will be inserted covering all these details.
And there will be some challenges, like creating highly customizable shipping options, or dealing with currency.
However, we will work it out.
Suggestions and ideas will always be...
Country Restriction Removed
30
Dec
There is an important change that Rare Puzzles needed.
When buyers outside of Spain wanted to get a puzzle, they contacted me first, then I reserved the puzzle for them, and finally I provided a shipping quote based on the size, weight, and country of delivery.
By default, only addresses within Spain could order directly on the website.
That was not usually a problem, except for a couple of times when several people requested the same puzzle. In those cases the puzzle was reserved for the person that contacted me first.
It was not a problem, but it was inconvenient.
From now on, any user will be able to register from any country and buy any puzzle without my intervention. However, they will need to add the shipping quote later.
You can always buy puzzles in different orders and I will keep them for as long as you need if you want to save on shipping costs.
Any suggestions and ideas for improvements are welcome at [email protected].