selling your stuff on Amazon - part 7 - advice for newbies in the first post

mishkanorman

yup, had many a 2p profit book lately ,


mishka

larmy16

Was just having a nosey through the sellers discussion board and I know this is a topic we discuss every now and again. Very strange as I was at someones house this morning and they had received a parcel from Amazon by second class!


Have got a reply from Amazon as follows



Dear Customer

Thank you for contacting Amazon.co.uk Marketplace regarding the
dispatch methods you can use for your Marketplace orders.

Please understand that we do not have a fixed method of dispatch for
sellers. Marketplace sellers are required to dispatch items by first
Class. This is because buyers pay first class postage and also you
are required to dispatch the item within two working days of
receiving the order confirmation.

Please also understand that it is not obligatory for a seller to
send items via recorded delivery. We only recommend recorded
delivery especially in case of items that may be expensive and may
require to be signed for. Moreover, recorded delivery also provides
you with a tracking facility.

I hope this clarifies the matter. Thank you for selling on
Amazon.co.uk Marketplace.


Just posting to see if this may be of interest to anyone as we are always saying that it is not obligatory to post first class.

funkyfunkymonkey

larmy16 wrote:

Just posting to see if this may be of interest to anyone as we are always saying that it is not obligatory to post first class.

Hi Larmy

I still maintain that it is not obligatory to post first class, believe me, I have spent many an hour searching the T&C on Amazon looking for a specific statement to that effect.

I am the world's worst for following T&C - too chicken incase I get caught and banned

The only reference I can find is:

Sellers are expected to dispatch goods directly to the customer within two working days of the order being placed. Packages dispatched from the UK generally arrive within the following time-frames (depending on the postal service used):

UK: 1-4 working days
Europe: 3-7 working days
US and rest of world: 7-12 working days
For packages dispatched from outside the UK, you should allow 10-14 working days for delivery.

Even when you place an order as a customer you are not promised First Class, the only reference is 'Delivery Method: Standard Delivery'.

Amazon Customer Service Reps are known to give conflicting advice. I also disagree that £2.75 represents First Class P&P - it depends on the book.

However, I will not be pushing the point with Amazon, because if they are asked too often they will update their T&C - at the moment I am happily working within the Participation Agreement and not paying RM more than necessary.

FFM

larmy16

Yes FFM you are right. I mean how come it is ok for them to post second class and not sellers? I send mainly first class, but I wish I did use second more often - its just a habit now, and I have this thing that someone will complain the minute I do send one second class.:o

Sammz

Re postage - I mostly post second class if I can get it out in one day but first class if it's later than that.

larmy16

I had a nice result today. My local charity shop is selling off videos 5 for £1.

Bought two Paul Mckenna hypnotherapy ones, both still shrink wrapped. Sold the slimming one almost immediately and today the other on priced at wait for it £19.99 (Sleep like a Log) sold today! I will make about £15 profit after post etc. Hope I am not jinxing myself by bragging!

Had a great week last week, but only sold a £2.50 book this week, so to come home to the video SDN was very heartwarming.

Keep an eye out for the Sleep like a Log one, they usually go for good money on Ebay too.

larmy16

Sammz wrote:

Re postage - I mostly post second class if I can get it out in one day but first class if it's later than that.

I think I will start doing that again with my cheapies. I have been very lucky of late with quite a few of my books going as large letters - which is nice.;)

jo_b_2

larmy16 wrote:

Marketplace sellers are required to dispatch items by first Class. This is because buyers pay first class postage and also you
are required to dispatch the item within two working days of
receiving the order confirmation.

I don't see that this explains the policy at all, to be honest. Being required to dispatch the item within two working days doesn't mean that the item needs to be sent First Class, just that it needs to be posted within two working days.

I post the vast majority of my books Second Class and I have always had feedback that comments favourably on the speed of delivery. :rolleyes:

I'll switch to First if Amazon makes it mandatory within the terms of the sale.

Esoog

jo_b wrote:

£4 profit on one item is quite impressive! I'm normally happy with about 50p.

My first was £10.. better not get my hopes up I guess

hornetgirl

It's ages since I've posted on here, so thought I'd just say hello and a rather belated Happy New Year to all you Amazonians.
My sales have remained at much the same levels, so I've taken a deep breath and gone for the pro-merchant thing to try and give myself a kick up the backside to put in a bit more effort.
I've always sent second class by the way, and the only comments I've had about delivery have been favourable.