Can someone explain the D-V postage "tracking" thing?
When I make a D-V purchase and product is shipped to the US, I get a choice of "standard shipping" or "shipping with tracking" for a bit more money (both "to the rest of the world"). For my first order, I chose standard shipping. It took over a month for the disks to arrive. And because I eschewed tracking, there was no tracking number supplied and I had no way to find out where they were. I also wondered, if the package got lost with no tracking, who is liable? It eventually showed up, in 32 days.
For my second order (the Derringer & Guess Who releases) I paid the extra fee and chose to have it shipped with tracking, hoping to avoid all the extra time and anxiety. When I received the shipping confirmation I was surprised to see that there was still no tracking number supplied. The confirmation email implied that a signature would be needed upon delivery.
I'm not sure how the postal service works in the UK, but in the US "tracking" means just that. You are given a number with which you can track the package. No signature is required on delivery, although you can get that too if you need it (I think its called registered mail here). I don't know if the extra fee D-V charges includes any insurance. I also don't believe the extra fee is going to get the package here any faster. The only thing I am reasonably sure of is the postal carrier is going to be looking for someone to sign for it when it arrives. Of course no one will be home and I will have to make a trip to the local post office to pick it up (which is a problem in itself due to the limited hours they are open). I'm also assuming, somehow, this shipment is insured (else why bother with a signature?).
So anyone know for sure how all this works and what the extra D-V ship charge buys?
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