Is Northern Ireland mainland UK?

bafty_crastard

This may sound a stupid question but I've just sold an item and on the listing I've stated will send to mainland UK and only to paypal confirmed addresses. I've also put in the listing to contact me for shipping costs if not for mainland UK.
The buyer has just sent me a question through ebay after the listing has ended stating he's in Northern Ireland. I don't know if it's classed as Mainland UK or not.
If not I will need to contact UPS tomorrow to see what the shipping cost will be and then get back to him on the cost. He only has a feedback of 2 and I don't know if he'll have a confirmed paypal address.
I'm very new to selling.
Should this be ok?

blue_haddock

No it's not classed as mainland.

Nomad25

Suggest you go to our NI site and see all posts there about delivery charges! Sorry my smilies don't work.

If you are using Post Office for shipping, then rate would be same as to 'mainland', if you are using a courier - you'd be best off first checking how much they are going to charge you. It can be a very expensive stretch of water.

bafty_crastard

Thanks Nomad. I'm going to respond through ebay asking if he has a confirmed address and to tell him I need to check out the cost of shipping

steviebabes

Royal mail charge the same to all parts of the UK, mainland or not.

RFW

steviebabes wrote: »

Royal mail charge the same to all parts of the UK, mainland or not.

OP is using UPS. Most couriers surcharge for N. Ireland, highlands and islands of the UK.

May be worth checking if you can use Royal Mail special delivery as this can often work out cheaper than couriers to N. Ireland.

soolin

Also be careful of having terms and conditions that contradict ebay T and Cs. If you have entered £x as UK postage in the postage box and only stated that extra will be required if not mainland UK the invoice to the buyer if he goes through checkout will show the UK postage rate, and he does have a complaint to ebay that you are charging more.

Obviously if th epostage box is blank and your postage costs shown seperately on the auction page and differentiate between UK mainland and UK non mainland then you will be fine.

thetope

whilst i'm normally a grumbler about this sort of thing on the NI board, it does sound like you've stated clearly that it doesn't apply to NI. I mean, over here we even call GB "the mainland"

Do have a look at Royal Mail prices though

twistuk

I'd go with royal mail special delivery....never had any problems....I would never refuse anyone because they don't live on the 'mainland'.

bafty_crastard

Thanks for all the replies.

I will be sending the item royal mail special next day delivery-costs just under £20. UPS are looking for £35!

UPS are cheaper than Royal Mail within Mainland UK.

I did state clearly in my auction postage costs were to mainland UK and to contact me for postage costs if not on Mainland UK. The buyer contacted me after the auction ended saying he's from NI. When I replied thatI would need to check postage costs I got a snotty reply that his mate only paid £20 for an item from England. I have let him know that the original postage costs apply but he's not answered yet(or paid)
Aparently he does have a confirmed paypal address even though he only has a feedback of 2. I get a little concerned this time of year with all the new ebayers although I know everyone has to start somewhere.