Advice about using a courier

[247newdeals]

I am going to be switching from AusPost to using couriers soon. I would love some advice from anyone using a courier service.

What do yo add to your ads to make sure (as much as possible) buyer know you are using a courier service?

Do you offer ( at an extra cost) AusPost for those unable or unwilling to use a courier service or just stop selling to them? If so do you allow posting to PO Boxes or will ths just causse problems?

Any pitfalls/problems you encountered use a courier rather than AusPost?

[247newdeals]

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@digital*ghost wrote:

I've missed a few courier deliveries, but my orders are too high value (and I pay extra for insurance) to ever allow safe drop, despite there being almost no chance one of the packages will be stolen after delivery. All the couriers I've ever dealt with basically use ATL as acceptance of the package as is before receipt, thus negating the insurance (for damage, in particular). There's no way I'd absolve a courier (no matter how reliable) of liability for loss / damage before I've even set eyes on the package(s). 

(Not replying to anyone in particular, just putting a random 3c into the conversation :D).

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Sorry what is ATL?

[247newdeals]

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@digital*ghost wrote:

I've missed a few courier deliveries, but my orders are too high value (and I pay extra for insurance) to ever allow safe drop, despite there being almost no chance one of the packages will be stolen after delivery. All the couriers I've ever dealt with basically use ATL as acceptance of the package as is before receipt, thus negating the insurance (for damage, in particular). There's no way I'd absolve a courier (no matter how reliable) of liability for loss / damage before I've even set eyes on the package(s). 

(Not replying to anyone in particular, just putting a random 3c into the conversation :D).

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got it Authorize to leave

I agree and to me the only person who should be able to decide if they want to ATL is the buyer and if they do they accept responsibility for the risk, how ever small, involved  

[thesoulyearns]

Regarding the buyer knowing it's a courier and not AP, I'm not sure that would be a big deal. Just print it normally, fairly high up in the listing. Aslong as the item arrives, that's the main thing, as a buyer.

I've only recently used a courier (two, Fastway and Couriers Please), both with Sendle. The overall service from all three companies was fantastic. I just ordered the boxes from eBay and put the labels on the top of each box.

[247newdeals]

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@thesoulyearns wrote:
Regarding the buyer knowing it's a courier and not AP, I'm not sure that would be a big deal. Just print it normally, fairly high up in the listing. Aslong as the item arrives, that's the main thing, as a buyer.

I've only recently used a courier (two, Fastway and Couriers Please), both with Sendle. The overall service from all three companies was fantastic. I just ordered the boxes from eBay and put the labels on the top of each box.

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I must admit I do not see why it should be a problem, but there is even a small group, who are very verbal on this forum , about how couriers are inconvenient for them even though it would only take 1 minute to allow a safe drop for a city dweller and rural (which is unlikely I will sell there) would still go by AusPost as they are cheaper for them. I did actaully look at the sellers I but office supplies from and they do not say they use couriers but they all do and they are selling a lot of items so you may be right it may not be a big problem so I may just add a note about using a courier and stop posting to PO boxes 

One other thing how was tracking in regards for the buyer being able to track the parcel?

Packaging I currently use mainly 3kg satchels and bubbe wrap going to look today for plain ones hopefully with the window to put the label or may just buy a thermal printer. That keeps my postage cost down a lot

[lyndal1838]

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@thesoulyearns wrote:
Regarding the buyer knowing it's a courier and not AP, I'm not sure that would be a big deal. Just print it normally, fairly high up in the listing. Aslong as the item arrives, that's the main thing, as a buyer.

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Actually, sending by courier can be a very major problem for some buyers.

I always avoid sellers who use a courier service unless it is completely unavoidable.

I have mobility problems and often cannot get to the door before a courier leaves.  It can be a problem to pick up from the courier depot as they are not open weekends and are a lot further away than my local PO.

A few months ago I missed a courier and was advised that they would leave my parcel at a newsagent FIVE suburbs away.  After much arguing I was able to get them to safe drop at my home the next day.

I regularly get medications sent from Queensland via courier but the sender has the option for me to give them an Authority to Leave which is fine by me, but I have never had an ebay seller who was prepared to do that.

[247newdeals]

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

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@thesoulyearns wrote:
Regarding the buyer knowing it's a courier and not AP, I'm not sure that would be a big deal. Just print it normally, fairly high up in the listing. Aslong as the item arrives, that's the main thing, as a buyer.

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Actually, sending by courier can be a very major problem for some buyers.

I always avoid sellers who use a courier service unless it is completely unavoidable.

I have mobility problems and often cannot get to the door before a courier leaves.  It can be a problem to pick up from the courier depot as they are not open weekends and are a lot further away than my local PO.

A few months ago I missed a courier and was advised that they would leave my parcel at a newsagent FIVE suburbs away.  After much arguing I was able to get them to safe drop at my home the next day.

I regularly get medications sent from Queensland via courier but the sender has the option for me to give them an Authority to Leave which is fine by me, but I have never had an ebay seller who was prepared to do that.

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Well, with sendle, it is pretty easy to Authorise to leave, and I am sure most couriers have similar, not sure why the sellers you contacted would not. To be honest I would much rather lose a few buyers than be in the situation I am currently in where a buyer had no item, AusPost take no responsibly and I have no obligation to do anything, even though I will refund or replace it for them.

My local post office is only open office hours and does not open weekend absolutely no difference than a courier and a s far as you having to argue to get the parcel delivered the next day well AusPost want do that you would have to pick it up.  Sorry but losing you as a potential customer would be worth it to offer a much better service to the majority of my customers

[englishrosegardens]

It takes more than a minute to go online and organise an authority to leave!  I had a parcel come by courier a few months ago and I found the courier's website extremely hard to navigate.

An ATL might absolve the courier company of any responsibility but does it absolve you of all responsibility in ebay's eyes if the buyer chooses it?  Is an ATL proof of delivery in ebay's eyes, or paypal's?  That's the question I'd be asking.  

[lyndal1838]

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@247newdeals wrote:

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

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@thesoulyearns wrote:
Regarding the buyer knowing it's a courier and not AP, I'm not sure that would be a big deal. Just print it normally, fairly high up in the listing. Aslong as the item arrives, that's the main thing, as a buyer.

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Actually, sending by courier can be a very major problem for some buyers.

I always avoid sellers who use a courier service unless it is completely unavoidable.

I have mobility problems and often cannot get to the door before a courier leaves.  It can be a problem to pick up from the courier depot as they are not open weekends and are a lot further away than my local PO.

A few months ago I missed a courier and was advised that they would leave my parcel at a newsagent FIVE suburbs away.  After much arguing I was able to get them to safe drop at my home the next day.

I regularly get medications sent from Queensland via courier but the sender has the option for me to give them an Authority to Leave which is fine by me, but I have never had an ebay seller who was prepared to do that.

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Well, with sendle, it is pretty easy to Authorise to leave, and I am sure most couriers have similar, not sure why the sellers you contacted would not. To be honest I would much rather lose a few buyers than be in the situation I am currently in where a buyer had no item, AusPost take no responsibly and I have no obligation to do anything, even though I will refund or replace it for them.

My local post office is only open office hours and does not open weekend absolutely no difference than a courier and a s far as you having to argue to get the parcel delivered the next day well AusPost want do that you would have to pick it up.  Sorry but losing you as a potential customer would be worth it to offer a much better service to the majority of my customers

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Maybe with Sendle it is easy to arrange an ATL but it is a new company and I avoid sellers who use couriers so have not had any experience with them.  And believe me, ATLs are fairly new in the courier industry.   They are gaining popularity now but even 2 years ago they were not widespread. The way it is going now it will not be long before couriers offer no more security of delivery than AP does.

My local PO is open office hours Monday to Friday but it is also open Saturday morning....much easier to get to than a newsagent 5 suburbs away.   As I have a safe drop agreement with AP I rarely have to go to the PO but there is no way on earth that I could travel 5 suburbs because a courier company thinks it is a good idea to use a newsagent as a depot.

[247newdeals]

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

Maybe with Sendle it is easy to arrange an ATL but it is a new company and I avoid sellers who use couriers so have not had any experience with them.  And believe me, ATLs are fairly new in the courier industry.   They are gaining popularity now but even 2 years ago they were not widespread. The way it is going now it will not be long before couriers offer no more security of delivery than AP does.

My local PO is open office hours Monday to Friday but it is also open Saturday morning....much easier to get to than a newsagent 5 suburbs away.   As I have a safe drop agreement with AP I rarely have to go to the PO but there is no way on earth that I could travel 5 suburbs because a courier company thinks it is a good idea to use a newsagent as a depot.

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Silly me I should be asking for your advice, as your exactly the type of buyer I am trying to avoid, so what exactly would I need to put on my listing to get you to move on to another seller?

I suppose that is another bonus of using a courier for me

[lyndal1838]

I am not arguing with you so there is no need to get nasty.

My post was a reply to thesoulyearns who thinks that using a courier should not be a problem for buyers.

I was just trying to point out that it can be a great problem for some buyers and giving the reasons why.

I buy on line because I cannot get out to the shops....I need things delivered to my door with the least possible problems and that means avoiding sellers who use couriers.

As long as a seller states that they use a courier service then I don't have a problem with that....and the seller will not have a problem with me.  I don't ask or expect them to change anything for my benefit.

What does annoy me is sellers who state that they use AP and then end up using a courier without saying a word.

And don't worry....you are not selling anything that I would buy online so you will never have me as a customer whether you use AP or a courier.