Best way to send a wedding dress?

Faerie

Hi, I have listed a wedding dress on ebay. It's got a few days left in auction but has a bidder already. I have said that I can deliver the dress if the buyer lives nearby or will send it in the post if they live too far for me to drive.

If I need to send the dress, which would be the best and safest method? Does anyone have any recommendations for couriers? Where do you buy your boxes from?

I have 2 days left in the auction but want to get ready to send ASAP. Any advice would be much appreciated!

elsien

If you deliver, you're not going to be able to prove the buyer has received the dress in the event of a dispute/scam so unless they're paying cash you might be leaving yourself open to a paypal claim against you. I'd be making sure I sent it via a trackable method/courier if I were you. What have you put on as delivery charges?
In the past I've used DHL as they can provide the box and it's a handy drop off point for me instead of having to wait in (they use some WH Smiths and Staples for drop offs.) There's probably cheaper but they suit me for the convenience as I only sell the occasional item.

ellies_angel

don't laugh but I rolled mine up and wrapped it in black bin bags, several layers so that it wasn't going to be torn. It meant it didn't add extra weight and also kept the postage and packing down. Arrived in excellent condition. Buyer was really happy. It was a designer dress so not a cheap one. Mine was just sent by Royal Mail, recorded delivery I think. Nothing fancy. The buyer didn't want to spend more on postage than was necessary.

Faerie

Thanks for your quick replies!

Elsien - I never thought about that, so dropping it off myself is out! I've just googled my local Staples and they do DHL delivery I'll pop down tomorrow to find out more.

Ellies Angel - it's a 1950's style short dress so it might be a bit 'poofy' with the petticoats for rolling up. I might try it later to see if it fits.

soolin

ellies_angel wrote: »

don't laugh but I rolled mine up and wrapped it in black bin bags, several layers so that it wasn't going to be torn. It meant it didn't add extra weight and also kept the postage and packing down. Arrived in excellent condition. Buyer was really happy. It was a designer dress so not a cheap one. Mine was just sent by Royal Mail, recorded delivery I think. Nothing fancy. The buyer didn't want to spend more on postage than was necessary.

I'm glad it worked out but you could so easily have had problems. Postage is always for the benefit of a seller not a buyer.

This thread explains what sellers need to stay safe
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3146680

Obviously_the_best

I get a nice (generally white) box, put the dress in nicely folded and wrapped up in tissue paper, then I put the lid on the box, tie a bow around it, then put it in a nice new mailing bag (preferably a nice colour) and seal it, then as it's probably quite an expensive dress I'd use https://www.interlinkdirect.co.uk to send it as they'll give your receiver a one hour delivery window and everything, the works, all included in the price, and make sure it's insured for the correct amount. This is what I do with all my higher end clothing, the cheap stuff just gets chucked in a mail bag.

Obviously_the_best

Faerie wrote: »

Thanks for your quick replies!

Elsien - I never thought about that, so dropping it off myself is out! I've just googled my local Staples and they do DHL delivery I'll pop down tomorrow to find out more.

Ellies Angel - it's a 1950's style short dress so it might be a bit 'poofy' with the petticoats for rolling up. I might try it later to see if it fits.

if you really have to drop your item off I'd use https://www.collectplus.co.uk, they offfer a reasonable service although my courier of choice for a wedding dress would be https://www.interlinkdirect.co.uk, as above

steveo3002

just make sure theres a bag inside or outside the box , good chance it will get wet this time of year

would the vacuum bags crease it badly , theyre often in the cheapo shop and would reduce its size

roses

If you drop it off, ask the buyer to pay you cash and refund the paypal. Offer a 5% discount on the total price since you'll also save yourself paypal fees.