1st Class Recorded are we trusting RM to get sigs these days?

greeneye

Haven't had much stock that would attract UK buyers for the last couple of years.

But have some now and wondering if 1st class recorded is still frowned upon on here as a waist of money or with the price increase are RM actually regularly getting signatures these days?

I remember Soolin was particularly vocal on this subject.

Sent 3 this week to test the waters and have got online signatures for all of them.... is this the norm?

soolin

greeneye wrote: »

Haven't had much stock that would attract UK buyers for the last couple of years.

But have some now and wondering if 1st class recorded is still frowned upon on here as a waist of money or with the price increase are RM actually regularly getting signatures these days?

I remember Soolin was particularly vocal on this subject.

Sent 3 this week to test the waters and have got online signatures for all of them.... is this the norm?

It has got better, but the real reason to use signed for now is the difference in compensation level . £20 for standard mail, £50 for signed for.

When I use signed for , which is rare as I tend to use MyHermes for tracking, I get sigs now in about 50% of cases, which is considerably better than it used to be.

mrcol1000

I really don't understand why people still use Royal Mail recorded when couriers can offer far better tracking normally for a lower price. The only time I use recorded now is when a customer especially asked for it.

Most of my items are collected from my home for £2.98 by My Hermes. I can see where it is all the time and when its been delivered. My items that fit through the door I can see have been delivered and do not have the pain of it being returned because customer can not be bothered to go to the sorting office for it.

I know people have My Hermes related horror stories but most of my bad experiences involve Royal Mail.

greeneye

Well it's 5 days myhermes versus typically 1 day delivery 1st class. Don't see any couriers competing with RM on that.
Interested if you know of any 0.9kg 30x40x8 cm.

supersaver09

I also use Hermes for low value items (and R. Mail Signed For occasionally).....but have to admit R. Mail are faster.
Hermes should try to speed up their service, as it can be a pain waiting 5 days to see if an item gets delivered.

soolin

supersaver09 wrote: »

I also use Hermes for low value items (and R. Mail Signed For occasionally).....but have to admit R. Mail are faster.
Hermes should try to speed up their service, as it can be a pain waiting 5 days to see if an item gets delivered.

Currently MyHermes items are taking about 3 days for me. The stuff I dropped off on Wednesday is showing out for delivery today

martindow

Does using Hermes with their slow delivery affect your star ratings? Buyers all seem to be quite impatient and want items immediately.

soolin

martindow wrote: »

Does using Hermes with their slow delivery affect your star ratings? Buyers all seem to be quite impatient and want items immediately.

Not at all- in fact it helps my dispatch times as ebay will insist on stating that 2nd class takes 2 days from purchase (even if item purchased in the late hours and is not shipped until next day). I do show both MyHermes though and Royal Mail and this year I think I have had one person opt to pay the much higher cost for Royal Mail.

mrs_sparrow

My friend had someone open up INR despite it showing delivered online buyer stated it had no arrived and got a full refund - even with a signature. Buyer claimed he did not have it and postie must have signed for it, my friend complained to RM who washed their hands of it and said there was no issue to report. WTH!!?? I don't like RM recorded delivery these days I am afraid and would not use it as a choice. Last RD item I sent went 'missing' for 14 days as well.

techspec

mrcol1000 wrote: »

I really don't understand why people still use Royal Mail recorded when couriers can offer far better tracking normally for a lower price. The only time I use recorded now is when a customer especially asked for it.

Hermes are fine for clothing etc - but they do not cover anything electronic - so mobile phones, laptops etc not covered. There are many more exclusions. In fact, the list of items they DO accept you could fit on the back of a stamp.

Also, they often dump in a 'safe place' and put left on porch on the tracking.

Any finally, if your not in when they deliver - they deliver twice more - usually at the same time of day. There's no depot to collect from like Royal Mail. The items are then held prisoner - until the seller pays postage AGAIN to get the item released for return.

RMS2

I know for ebay, that you must have an online tracking.


Now, I don't sell on ebay anymore, but do send out a lot of letters of complaint and always get proof of posting.


I started doing this some years ago, because either the firm got so many RD that they refused to sign for them, knowing they were bad news or the postie delivered them unsigned. Which then leaves you with nothing.


Proof of posting will stand up in court and it's good to see the change in reaction from some companies when you show them a scan of the POP.