topic Re: postage in Selling

postage

loungeabout — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 02:13:33 GMT

We are about to commence selling via ebay direct to the consumer (kiddies lounge chairs) made in Ballarat and are trying to find the cheapest way to deliver australian wide.

Items will be boxed ready to go the following monday that the item is paid for.any help aor advice would be appreciated.

Re: postage

maconii — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 02:39:18 GMT

As a new seller, I would stick to Australia Post first and try other couriers when you're more comfortable with selling and postage.

Re: postage

chuk_77 — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 03:27:30 GMT

so if I paid on a tuesday I would have to wait til the following monday before you posted it?

Make that VERY clear in your listings if thats the case, it may also turn off a few buyers

Re: postage

ytwo000 — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 20:24:42 GMT

if you can,STAY away from couriers..

Re: postage

chameleon54 — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:13:27 GMT

Agree with Chuk on this one. If items are packed well and mailed quickly, buyers are usually very easy to please. Leave it 5, 6 or 7 days for postage and they start to get very aggitated indeed and other small issues suddenly start to become big ones. With internet sales people expect thier item to arrive promptly. If possible, it may work better for you to send items two or three times a week.

Re: postage

loungeabout — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 01:46:22 GMT

We would prefer to post on the monday as it give time to receive and keeps the item out of the system over the weekend..

Re: postage

loungeabout — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 01:47:25 GMT

The hope is to try and avoid items being in the system over the weekend.

Re: postage

chameleon54 — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 03:48:17 GMT

I usually mail daily and have never experienced problems with items in the system over the weekend, long weekend or public holidays. I take it these are parcel sized items which would automatically have tracking numbers. This helps if they get lost in the system. Some experienced ebayers had some good tips on sorting out lodgment reciepts including buyers address, on another thread this week. If you followed these procedures, you would be covered if the item went missing, and not out of pocket for refunds etc. I would be interested to hear your concerns and wether any other ebayers have experienced problems with items in transit over the weekend. I only lose around 1 % of parcels through Aust Post and most of these are international parcels. I factor a small bit into the price of items I sell and simply refund lost items without fuss. This saves my sanity and that of my customers, making it easier to front up to the computer each day.

Re: postage

chuk_77 — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 03:49:53 GMT

so realistically, I could buy from seller B on tuesday and get my item by the time you would be ready to post it. See where Im going?

Re: postage

k1ooo-slr-sales — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 03:59:35 GMT

I have posted items interstate by regular post on a Friday and they have travelled over the weekend and arrived Monday morning. I like Friday posting.

Re: postage

lane-ends — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 10:29:25 GMT

I like to have my postage paid and processed same day and marked as such, even if they go nowhere until next post, which maybe after weekend.

Buyer perception is everything. Doesn't mater what your reasons for delay are, even if clearly stated, as that is overlooked.

A grumpy buyer, whether justified or not, is going to nitpick little issues.

If a buyers first impression of your item is WOW that was quick, you have hit the ground running.

Be aware buyer are not always home, thats why they dont like couriers.

Re: postage

loungeabout — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 22:57:47 GMT

Our product is that good (so say us ) that a few days wait is worth it.(australian post last effort 17 days Ballarat to Sale.

Re: postage

k1ooo-slr-sales — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 00:26:53 GMT

17 days Ballaarat to Sale . . . . why would you only post on a Monday? Get it in the post ASAP I say.

Re: postage

chuk_77 — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 00:31:29 GMT

i could be wrong but if your produst is "that good" Id want it asap, not have to wait a week just until you post it.

I can see a few sales going pear shaped for you unfortunately

Re: postage

tstore — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 00:35:54 GMT

Don't care how great the product is. If it takes someone that long to send (also take into account you live regional which adds a few extra days!) I would definitely not be happy and 'good product' gets marred by a perceived bad service

Re: postage

k1ooo-slr-sales — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 01:14:35 GMT

"a few days wait is worth it" ... Begs the question .... If I bought on Monday night, would it be posted the following Monday? Now, what if the following Monday was a public holiday, would you post the Tuesday after the public holiday? If 'yes', then why not just post the Tuesday after I bought? OP, I will be interested in your reply.
Please don't think I am being picky, these are situations you will be faced with at some time.

Re: postage

loungeabout — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 09:27:25 GMT

Depends where you are tuesday /wednesday at the latest,we know that parcel post out of Ballarat is very poor.

Re: postage

davewil1964 — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 09:42:14 GMT

You're changing the parameters before you start.

I would recommend just trying to post every day. Especially before your sales warrant it. The best advertising on this site is green dots left by satisfied buyers. And a lot of buyers don't read the fine print. Especially re posting times.

Re: postage

k1ooo-slr-sales — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 11:13:26 GMT

@loungeabout wrote:
Depends where you are tuesday /wednesday at the latest,we know that parcel post out of Ballarat is very poor.

I think you need to seriously re-assess your intended posting policy. Your communication with buyers will need to be spot on as you will be punished by buyers for any vagueness or ambiguity in what you write. For example, in another of my posts I asked about a specific scenario regarding a Monday being a public holiday. The way I read your reply to that scenario is that you would post on the Wednesday AFTER the public holiday at the latest . . . . . NINE DAYS after payment outlined in the post scenario. If you are able to access the Post Office on a Wednesday then why not post the Wednesday after payment.

ALSO, if parcel post out of Ballaarat is very poor then you should be getting into the post AS SOON AS POSSIBLE after payment. What did you do for all the other children's loungechairs you have sold? Surely you have some prior experience with this sort of item.

I am beginning to wonder whether this whole thread is a wind-up . . . . . or pre-advertising for an upcoming listing of items.

Re: postage

digital*ghost — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 11:58:32 GMT

@loungeabout wrote:
Our product is that good (so say us ) that a few days wait is worth it.

If your product is that good, isn't it worth matching it with a high level of customer service? There doesn't seem to to have been any real reason for delaying postage, other than personal preferences that most buyers won't understand, and as others have pointed out, the latter can make or break you here, no matter how good your product is.