topic Re: Slow mail, what to do? in Selling

Slow mail, what to do?

cantik1978 — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 23:12:33 GMT

Hello..

I sell handmade cards with incl free postage (so very small cheap items)

i have got 3 requests last 2 weeks saying they haven’t received the cards.
1 lady - I have remake and prepared to delivery myself, fortunatey she received the cards on the day i was going to deliver, took 3 1/2 weeks by post. And we live few suburbs away.
another 1 in Melbourne too… havent got hers

what you suggest I do??
i never had this problem before. I assume will be more complaints in next coming days.
any suggestions will be really appreciated

thank you in advance

Re: Slow mail, what to do?

gutterpunkz05 — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 23:25:43 GMT

Use AP tracked letters

Re: Slow mail, what to do?

papermoon.lady — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 23:52:39 GMT

I bought something small not too long ago, and although the listing said "standard postage" it was sent express (in a small express envelope), and it even really arrived the next day (from Vic to NSW). The seller also had a handling time of 3 weeks, although the item was sent promptly the day after I purchased it. I think she or he might have had similar experiences to you in the past and feared delays.

Or you can just use tracked letters (cheaper), although sometimes people manage to get their money back even if an item is tracked if it does not arrive by the last day of the estimated delivery.

Re: Slow mail, what to do?

*sons_and_daughters* — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 00:52:46 GMT

There are buyers out there who know that if an item is coming untracked, they can get a refund by claiming it didn't arrive. As the seller, you can't prove it was sent, because there was no tracking, so they win every time. They know it, and they rort the system.

Nearly all my items go tracked, but every now and then there is one that could be sent as a large letter (no tracking). I have had 2 people of those who said they didn't receive it. Chances are they did, but as I couldn't prove it, I had no choice but to refund. Thankfully, they were only $6 items, so not a big hit.

Re: Slow mail, what to do?

curraone — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 05:49:25 GMT

Change your handling time to the maximum time - even if you post the next day, this will protect you from some of the complaints. I see you have 2 days or 3 days handling time on your listings, this is just not enough.

Re: Slow mail, what to do?

curraone — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 05:55:31 GMT

And even though tracking is a good idea - costing $2.95 each time will eat into your overheads quick smart.

Re: Slow mail, what to do?

davewil1964 — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 08:02:01 GMT

I have a 3 day handling time. I usually post the next day. For untracked letters eBay's estimate is 3 to 8 business days. So that's 2 weeks effectively before the buyer can claim INR.

I send 40% at least of my sales using untracked letters (which is 200+ pa). It is unlikely that sales to WA will arrive in that time. I can count on my fingers the number of INRs I've had opened in the last 13 years. None in the last 2.

Maybe book buyers are a bit more relaxed. Or maybe the buyers of personalised cards are time-sensitive and leave things to the last minute. Then blame you for their lack of planning.

Re: Slow mail, what to do?

cantik1978 — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 08:21:18 GMT

Yes. I sell card $4.25 including $1.10 regular postage. With tracking left me with nothing. I did mention to few customers can add tracking own expenses in the past, mostly declined . So i dont offer anymore.

Re: Slow mail, what to do?

cantik1978 — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 08:23:14 GMT

Oh thought buyer prefer a quick one. Thank you

Re: Slow mail, what to do?

cantik1978 — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 08:28:54 GMT

Yeah i had people messaged on weekend wanting the card by next weekend.
cant win

Re: Slow mail, what to do?

jellybirddesigns — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 08:50:56 GMT

As someone who hand makes the majority of my own items, I think you are well underpricing your cards.

I looked at a few cards and they all had FREE postage, so you might want to double check this.

My suggestion is that you never offer a buyer the choice of free or tracked postage.

Either add the tracked postage cost in one of 2 ways -

1) Build the price into your item (yes, you will need to charge more)

2) Increase the price of your cards (they are too low, as I mention) and also add tracked domestic letter postage.

Some of your cards are the DL size which is $3.05 (charge $3.50 to account for fees)

Some of the cards are the A5 size, which is $5.10 (charge $5.60 to account for fees)

Personally I would be pricing cards at least $8-10 plus postage as you're probably not even covering your material costs right now. Yes it seems expensive, but there's 2 ways to look at it - at your current price point you are literally giving them away, plus you're having to refund. At a higher price point, you may have slower sales, but if people want handmade, they will pay a premium. And you're protecting yourself in case the item doesn't "arrive".

Also, move out your handling time - mine is currently 10 days, even though I usually post within 48 hours.

Re: Slow mail, what to do?

cantik1978 — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 07:49:29 GMT

Thank you will change handling time on new listings.. is there a way to change all at one or i need to edit one by one?

Re: Slow mail, what to do?

cantik1978 — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 07:50:38 GMT

Thank you so much

Re: Slow mail, what to do?

jellybirddesigns — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 08:15:09 GMT

@cantik1978 wrote:
Thank you will change handling time on new listings.. is there a way to change all at one or i need to edit one by one?

I use postage policies which I can update at a click but if you don't have policies, you can select the relevant listings and do a bulk edit of the handling time