Shipping Options

Sellers can choose from three shipping options when selling an item at GearTrade.

1. Option 1: Charge shipping based on GearTrade's Shipping Calculator. The buyer is charged shipping based on the weight of the item. The seller is reimbursed for shipping costs.
   
2. Option 2: Charge a flat rate. The seller charges the buyer a flat rate for shipping, regardless of the actual shipping cost. The seller is reimbursed to that amount.
   
3. Option 3: Free Shipping. The seller has elected not to charge the buyer for shipping. The seller will not be reimbursed any shipping costs.
   

In order to be reimbursed for shipping costs, you must ship the item according to the shipping option you have chosen. If you ship an item by an option different from that which you previously selected, you will not be properly reimbursed for shipping costs.

If you select Option 1, you will also select the carriers by which you can ship the item, including FedEx Ground, UPS Ground, and US Postal Service Priority Mail. As the seller, you have the option to select one or all of the given shipping methods. If you select more than one shipping method, the buyer will decide on the shipping method when the item is purchased. When you are notified by email that the item you listed has been purchased, you will also receive shipping instructions, including the method by which the item is to be shipped. You will be reimbursed for shipping charges, along with payment for your sale, in the form of a check issued 1 week from when the tracking number is entered at My Account.

If you choose to use GearTrade's shipping calculator, your charges may either be under-reimbursed or over-reimbursed. The calculator will be most accurate with an exact shipping weight for the item. Factors such as length, oversize charges, fuel surcharges, inaccurate weight, and unannounced shipping charge changes may cause the calculator to miscalculate actual shipping charges. If you use a third party shipping service (such as Postnet or Mailboxes Etc.), your shipping costs may be significantly more than those calculated by the shipping calculator.

GearTrade will not be held responsible for fluctuations in the cost of shipping, and you will not be reimbursed for discrepancies between calculated shipping costs and the actual shipping costs. GearTrade does not include shipping costs when calculating commissions.

Packaging and Shipping the Item

Once an item has sold, you will be notified by email of the buyer's name and shipping address. You will receive daily email reminders to ship the item until a tracking number is entered at My Account, or until 5 business days have passed, at which time the order will cancel and the item will expire from the system. In this way, GearTrade avoids billing buyers for orders that will not be shipped. Failure to ship orders will negatively affect your seller rating and may limit your future sales. If for some reason you cannot ship the item, cancel the order by contacting us at Customer Service. Managing your account and shipping orders as soon as possible will ensure that you maintain a high seller rating.

To ship orders, follow these steps:

1. 1. Package the item correctly. Items damaged due to improper packaging may be returned to you, along with shipping costs.
   
2. 2. Ship the item according to the method specified in the order email, or, if no method was indicated, by FedEx Ground, UPS Ground, or United States Postal Service. You are encouraged, but not obligated to insure your shipments.
   
3. 3. Obtain a tracking number for FedEx and UPS packages or a delivery confirmation number for USPS packages and enter it in at My Account. If you ship an item via US Postal Service, you must request a delivery confirmation number, as they are not issued automatically.
   
4. 4. Once GearTrade has a valid tracking number for the item, the payment process will begin and your check will be mailed 1 week later.
   

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