If you are sending something U S Mail, and you want to be able to track it if lost, I think you have to do either registered, delivery confirmation, return receipt, one of those "extra" items. Otherwise, there is no way to track it.

Three years ago, I mailed kites to two brothers, their birthdays are 2 years and one day apart. One got his kite the day before his birthday, end of April. The other got his kite in August; his birthday was also the end of April. Apparently one kite slid down the side of the driver's seat in a delivery truck and it wasn't found until the truck was in the garage for some servicing! (Yup, Auntie Sandie was blasted at the time for not sending presents to BOTH boys! AND forgiven months later when the second one showed up, post marked clearly early in April. Whew!!!)