Right thats it - everything's being posted recorded..

clarkey3262

I only offer Recorded Delivery these days, special on certain items and at Christmas/New Year etc. I don't offer 1st class only anymore to stop people trying to claim they havent received them, had a buyer try that one when I had an online signiture to prove they got it, that soon made them shut up.

welshsue

I had a faulty ebay item which I sent recorded back to the seller. He never ever received the item and the tracking on Royal Mail said "still being processed through our system" for about a month after being sent back.
I submitted a claim for £15.00 being the cost of the item and the only thing I got back was a book of first class stamps. Not very impressed.

soolin

clarkey3262 wrote: »

I only offer Recorded Delivery these days, special on certain items and at Christmas/New Year etc. I don't offer 1st class only anymore to stop people trying to claim they havent received them, had a buyer try that one when I had an online signiture to prove they got it, that soon made them shut up.

In the spirit of competition I urge all my competitors to use enhanced postal services as that increases my sales, as I look cheaper and rank better than them in best match.

I listed something in direct competition with another seller (I tracked down their source). Their item £9.99 plus £2.99 1st class recorded. My price £9.99 plus £2.25 1st class standard. They are paying extra paypal fees on the additional 75p so lose even more so I make more on my sales and can outsell them consistently.

soolin

welshsue wrote: »

I had a faulty ebay item which I sent recorded back to the seller. He never ever received the item and the tracking on Royal Mail said "still being processed through our system" for about a month after being sent back.
I submitted a claim for £15.00 being the cost of the item and the only thing I got back was a book of first class stamps. Not very impressed.

The problem is that Royal mail know they don't update their online tracking, so you still have the issue of proving item wasn't received.

However, it is always worth appealing RMs decision in sending stamps and not the full amount claimed.

MattCharlton

I was sure I read somewhere that you HAD to offer 1st class as an available option.

Just going through the same thing with two items I sent out that never arrived with the person. I sent them 1st class (offered recorded and special delivery) but the items sold for £6 each - not worth paying the extra. Got a Certificate of posting.

I'm having to refund them and I guess the best I can hope for is a book of stamps

custardy

Newbird wrote: »

Dave - just on your point above, as far as I'm aware the postie HAS to get a sig for Recorded Del, for the paperwork they are responsible for. If the person it's addressed to isn't in, someone else can sign, INCLUDING the postie themselves.
My post lasy told me this, as she often has to leave items for me, and often signs for recorded items for me. It is just to confirm the parcel has been delivered to the address it was sent to.

For Special Delivery, I think it does have to be the receiving person, not the postie. They would then leave a card if no one is there to sign.

HTH

only someone in the address should be signing for the ite
i know some posties sign for RD's(i do not) but they shouldnt
as for the 'paperwork'
no such thing.back in the day when doing PHG work(the posties who work indoors) we used to cross reference the signature cards with the signed for items the day before on whatever duty.
like so many things in RM this is long gone

clarkey3262

soolin wrote: »

In the spirit of competition I urge all my competitors to use enhanced postal services as that increases my sales, as I look cheaper and rank better than them in best match.

I listed something in direct competition with another seller (I tracked down their source). Their item £9.99 plus £2.99 1st class recorded. My price £9.99 plus £2.25 1st class standard. They are paying extra paypal fees on the additional 75p so lose even more so I make more on my sales and can outsell them consistently.

Unless you happen to be selling 2nd hand darts I doubt either of us are competing in terms of ebay sales. If you are then you are not hurting my sales in any way shape or form as I haven't failed to sell something on there for a while (excluding the item I decided not to sell last week)
Also I offer 1st class recorded for about the same as your 1st class standard which can gain trust from potential buyers because they feel it is more likely to get to them quicker (however right or wrong that assuption may be)

cyberbob

clarkey3262 wrote: »

which can gain trust from potential buyers because they feel it is more likely to get to them quicker

Maybe the odd one of the less intelligent buyers. The majority of buyers it wont make any difference as there not that stupid.

If your offering 1st class recorded for less than cost as you say your only effecting your own profits

clarkey3262

But I am not a business, I'm a private seller not looking for profit. I only sell on ebay because I want to get rid of something. I am a darts player and have a collection of darts, some of which are not rare or difficult to get hold of or I have a couple of sets, as a result I would rather 1 set go to someone who will use them than sit in a box gathering dust(I grant you it may seem odd but other darts players I know feel the same). Also normally it is to fund a new set I fancy trying out. Also £2.50 for 1st class recorded isn't difficult to cover on the small amounts I sell anyway, 20-25p for a jiffy bag from poundland (pack of 4 or 5) and about £2ish for the postage with 25p to cover the printing the label (I use the libary for printing).

soolin

MattCharlton wrote: »

I was sure I read somewhere that you HAD to offer 1st class as an available option.

Just going through the same thing with two items I sent out that never arrived with the person. I sent them 1st class (offered recorded and special delivery) but the items sold for £6 each - not worth paying the extra. Got a Certificate of posting.

I'm having to refund them and I guess the best I can hope for is a book of stamps

There is no requirement to use 1st class on ebay, we can use what service we want. In fact 90% of my goods are sent 2nd class as that reduces my costs even further and my stuff still usually gets there in 2 days. The line I referred to above is sent 1st class as that is what my main competitor is using and I wanted like for like .

clarkey3262 wrote: »

But I am not a business, I'm a private seller not looking for profit. I only sell on ebay because I want to get rid of something. I am a darts player and have a collection of darts, some of which are not rare or difficult to get hold of or I have a couple of sets, as a result I would rather 1 set go to someone who will use them than sit in a box gathering dust(I grant you it may seem odd but other darts players I know feel the same). Also normally it is to fund a new set I fancy trying out. Also £2.50 for 1st class recorded isn't difficult to cover on the small amounts I sell anyway, 20-25p for a jiffy bag from poundland (pack of 4 or 5) and about £2ish for the postage with 25p to cover the printing the label (I use the libary for printing).

Don't mistake business sellers though as anything other than cut throat. You have the luxury of selling a fairly unique item, my business sales are in direct competition to others so I win hands down by undercutting them. It makes no business sense at all for me to waste money paying for a RM service that doesn't work.

On my private sales I have even less incentive to use recorded, I just want to make as much money as I can and therefore can't afford to use recorded.