Want to use courier for the first time - advice needed

kalsha

Till now I have only used Royal Mail for the odd parcel. I don't sell many big items so haven't given couriers any thought.
After the recent price increase, I think I will have to think of alternative to RM.

Soon I will have to post a parcel which weighs about 3kg. If I use RM, it will cost £13.35 as it will go as medium parcel. I could split the contents (there are 2 items) and each can go as small parcel @ 5.60 each so total cost will be £11.20.
Looking at My Hermes it will cost £5.10 (for both items).
Before I go and register with MyHermes, I need to know any pitfalls if any. I have been through the forum and some use it happily and some are against it.

My Hermes parcel shop is only 5 minutes further than the PO so it is not a problem at all.
How do I pay for the postage? At the shop? If I have to set up an account, do I pay by paypal? Will I need to print the label? Do buyers mind if we use Myhermes (somewhere someone had mentioned that they would not bid on anything that is going to be sent by MH).

When I list the item, there is the option of RM and couriers namely Hermes and Collect+. Are those the only 2 we are allowed to use? If I have already listed the item and was going to use RM, can I then use a courier or would that be wrong?

Sorry for all the questions, but till now I wasn't keen to use couriers but now looking at the RM prices, I will have to.

soolin

If you have stated your postage for RM you cannot change it now to a courier. You can use a courier though for future listings, I still offer both MyHermes and RM and let my buyer choose (they have all chosen the cheaper MyHermes so far).

Check out the MyHermes website for answers to all your other questions. It's easier to register an account as you then have easy access to all your parcels. You will need to print off labels.

kalsha

Thanks soolin. Sorry to sound dumb but when you list an item, it has 3 options flat rate, courier or no postage, collection only. So what do you choose? do you mention one and then mention the other option in the body of the listing? How do you give the options?

buglawton

Should be £5 via Collect+ where you drop off at a convenience store open long hours. Check if there is such a drop off point near you.

See
http://www.collectplus.co.uk/send
And
http://www.collectplus.co.uk/for_ebay/

ballisticbrian

What soolin says is technically correct, but all you need to do is add it to your terms and conditions that you choose the most appropriate courier method. It came in very useful on my own contracts in the 1990's fuel crisis when petrol ran dry.

soolin

ballisticbrian wrote: »

What soolin says is technically correct, but all you need to do is add it to your terms and conditions that you choose the most appropriate courier method. It came in very useful on my own contracts in the 1990's fuel crisis when petrol ran dry.

I think people were more understanding back in the 1990s. I am sure you are aware of the poster on other threads who would trash your stars for daring to use a courier at all, let alone when they were expecting it via RM.

I would not risk changing to a courier without maybe getting permission from the buyer first- and even refunding part of the postage and stumping up the balance myself.

I'm using couriers, but I make sure my buyers are fully aware I am doing so and still expect my stars to suffer.

kalsha

Thanks soolin,buglawton, ballisticbrian.
So for my new listings for parcels, do I show the courier price and offer RM in the body of listing or vice-versa? Which would be better?

Soolin, I am in contact with the prospective buyer. She/he wants to buy it provided the postage is reasonable. So even if I have quoted RM price, I can check with her and send it by courier and refund her the difference?

zerog

kalsha wrote: »

Thanks soolin,buglawton, ballisticbrian.
So for my new listings for parcels, do I show the courier price and offer RM in the body of listing or vice-versa? Which would be better?

Soolin, I am in contact with the prospective buyer. She/he wants to buy it provided the postage is reasonable. So even if I have quoted RM price, I can check with her and send it by courier and refund her the difference?

No you choose "flat rate" and then it lets you enter several different postage options, you can then choose several RM services as well as couriers. Then the buyer can choose between them when paying.

You can do whatever you want with the buyer, but they may leave you low stars even if they say they are happy.

porto_bello

It's amazing to discover that a courier will charge £5 for something that RM now charge £12-£15 to do - definitely time for change.

Are there any specific differences between My Hermes and Collect+?

Are their services signed for? (Presumably not for £5)

Assuming 'no' to the above, are (equivalent to) RM's free certificate of postage given out?

Presumably if something gets lost or damaged, the seller can refund the buyer and claim for the loss? [Is this straight forward?]

molerat

With the jump in RM pricing I am about to use a courier service for the first time. Do I need to use the Collect+ signed for option (+£1) or am I covered by the standard tracked option for a <£50 Ebay item? The Collect+ web page says it is OK but am I covered with both Paypal and Ebay ?

Froggitt

A few years ago, RM was saying the number of letters posted had gone off dramatically due to use of email, but their revenue was fine because of a similar increase in parcels due to the number of people selling on ebay and the like.

Looks like they now want to kill their parcel business.