topic Re: Hypothetically speaking... in Selling

Hypothetically speaking...

calsof — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 04:29:28 GMT

I often get orders from people who live in my area. When I got an order from someone whose house is closer to me than my local Post Office, I thought of saving the postage costs, saving the buyer a day's wait and throwing the envelope into their mailbox at home on the same day they ordered.

Would that go down well, do you think? How do you think it would reflect on postage DSRs?

hehehe

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

the3coopers — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 04:41:30 GMT

I am answering your questions and poll with questions :^O

Firstly, and really important - Who gets to keep the $$ that was saved in postage costs?

Also, if the buyer pays by Paypal, then you need a postal receipt if you want to be covered by Seller Protection. So, what would you do when you KNOW you dropped the item in their mailbox, but they raised a Non-Delivery claim?

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

digital*ghost — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 04:41:41 GMT

Well, there have been a few forum posts over the years where buyers have complained about sellers doing exactly that.... Mostly because the postage wasn't refunded, though.

I once had a sale where the buyer lived around the corner from me but I posted it as normal; however, if I was going to consider dropping it off myself, I would message first and ask if they would be ok with that, and refund the postage costs.

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

calsof — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 04:50:34 GMT

Just to make the discussion interesting:

The item was for around $8.00. Free standard postage that I self-insure against anyway. Only ever had one person claiming they didn't receive one of those after 200 sent and received and I just sent another one.

I know I'd be a bit disgruntled, though, if I knew I'd delivered it myself and they put through a claim just to be difficult 🙂

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

davewil1964 — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 04:57:38 GMT

I've done it a couple of times. I knock on the door first, but if nobody is home, I leave in the letterbox.

With postage refund inside.

Never had an issue.

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

dmh160161 — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 05:21:41 GMT

I had an occassion where the highest bidder lived in a house on my way home from work, so I asked them if ok, I would drop off and refund them the post, I delivered the item to their door (no-one home) and by the time I got home, I had an email from buyer saying he had just gotten home, and how delighted he was with delivery and items and to keep the postage. It can work out if you approach the buyer and they agree.

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

***super_nova*** — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 06:49:15 GMT

I do not think it is creepy, after all the seller has to know the address anyway. If I realise the buyer is local I would definitely contact them and give them choice; delivery, cash on pick up, or post.

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

the3coopers — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 06:53:46 GMT

The item was for around $8.00. Free standard postage

For that value, I reckon that it'd be a nice service to hand deliver.

But I'd add a note in the package that said something like "As I was preparing the postage, I just realised I had to drive straight past - so I decided to hand deliver"

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

calsof — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 07:27:12 GMT

I'm starting to agree with all of you commenting here that I should have hand-delivered. What throws me is the result of the poll: 50-50?

🙂

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

digital*ghost — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 07:56:53 GMT

I'm starting to agree with all of you commenting here that I should have hand-delivered. What throws me is the result of the poll: 50-50?

🙂

I wouldn't be surprised if some people did find it creepy. There's a certain level of detachment when purchasing online, so even though someone would be aware of the fact that they're handing over a postal address to a stranger, it's got an impersonal, perfunctory handing-over-N&A-to-a-faceless-business feel to it. Making it a personal -hey-I'm-another-person-and-I-know-where-you-live-nice-curtains-by-the-way thing instead would make a few baulk.

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

thesoulyearns — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 08:52:48 GMT

It's not really all that creepy or weird but as has been said, maybe a courtesy message beforehand to say - hey, we live nearby, I can drop it off to your door if you like and save you the cost of postage. It's probably about how you go about it and making sure the buyer is well aware that you dropped it off by hand.

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

calsof — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:04:15 GMT

Another one was when I got an address for a PO Box, a few boxes next to my own at the same Post Office. Really laughed that time while I was sticking the stamps on to hand it over while I was going to pick up my mail 🙂

I don't think the guys at the PO would have appreciated my going over with no stamps on the envelope saying "would you mind sticking it in box number 627?"

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

koalablue12 — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 10:46:33 GMT

Waves to Calli:-D

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

i-once-was-bump — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:09:05 GMT

Another one was when I got an address for a PO Box, a few boxes next to my own at the same Post Office. Really laughed that time while I was sticking the stamps on to hand it over while I was going to pick up my mail 🙂

I don't think the guys at the PO would have appreciated my going over with no stamps on the envelope saying "would you mind sticking it in box number 627?"

My local PO is happy to post mark any item that has correct postage on it and pop it straight into the recipients letter box.

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

i-once-was-bump — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:14:45 GMT

I have had a few sellers drop things off and the first time it was a bit of a shock when a stranger turned up at my door with a nicely wrapped parcel.

He knew my name and address and he lived nearby so after the initial shock I was happy with the personal delivery.

I suppose I was wary of opening my door to this man but I threw caution to the wind and accepted the parcel.

With any buyer picking up an item I always have someone in another room listening in and ready to step in if needed so to have a seller turn up I am not prepared for them.

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

beadingstore — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:10:40 GMT

Many years ago I once dropped into the letterbox (not the front door) about 10 houses up from us and sent the buyer a Ebay message to let them know I had. It was delivered within an hour of payment. I received a neutral feedback as a thank you! Even though that tenant has long gone, everytime I walk past that house it reminds me of that situation.

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

ausfast — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:50:16 GMT

I have a buyer who is about 100 metres from my house that I decided it easier to just drop the items in her postbox.

I let her know that I am just a street away and that I had done this. She was really happy with the service that she had become a repeat buyer of mine.

She never asks for any postage cost back.

I just throw in a few bonuses with her purchase. She seems really happy with that.

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

extra-keen — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 23:17:50 GMT

I occasionally get orders close to home, I hand deliver and automatically refund the postage cost, but still allow some cost for the packaging.

I've only ever had good feedback and several repeat buyers.

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

koalablue12 — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 00:45:48 GMT

I have done this twice now, but have always messaged the seller to ask if they would be happy for me to do so. Both were very pleased, but as Bump said just turning up out of the blue could be a little disconcerning.

For Calli (OP) you just pop yours in the letter box so I doubt anyone would have a problem with that. 😄

Re: Hypothetically speaking...

koalablue12 — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 00:46:35 GMT

messaged the buyer sorry