Royal Mail recorded or not

[user1978]

I seem to be sending allot of items recently through the post office. I allways use recorded (allthough it costs 75p extra).

I was considering dropping the recorded and although i wont have proof of delivery on the items cost for replacement would be £2 so if 1 in 5 go missing i would still be in profit.

My only real big concern is that people may say they have not received when they actually have and wether the extra paperwork for proof of posting certificates would be worth it ?

[jamhun]

You should always get proof of delivery in case of charge backs and you have proof if you make a claim for missing packages



James

[user1978]

Yep but that is the point if the product costs me £2 and i can post for 47p (standard) or £1.22 (recorded) would i not be better off sending unrecorded and getting proof of postage from royal mail ??

Then if an item dose go missing i can claim from royal mail and send out a replacement or refund ???

[gordym75]

Proof of postage is no use on the event of a Paypal dispute though. What you need then is proof of delivery which recorded will give you.

[teenymunchkins]

I don't send any of my in-stock items by recorded unless it is a big order.  Usually the items are small orders so don't bother ... I just get a certificate of posting from the post office.  Touch wood .. have never had any problems yet  

Alison

[user1978]

See that is the thing i am quite happy to refund on transactions (or replace) but is the ratio to not received and the cost saved worth it.

I know it will go off areas etc but people must do this and know wether it is worth while ?

[user1978]

I don't send any of my in-stock items by recorded unless it is a big order.  Usually the items are small orders so don't bother ... I just get a certificate of posting from the post office.  Touch wood .. have never had any problems yet  

Alison

Thank you Alison do you use second or first class ???

[teenymunchkins]

Usually 2nd class as I offer free postage on my site anyway ... depend how generous I am feeling that particular day LOL

Alison

[user1978]

Usually 2nd class as I offer free postage on my site anyway ... depend how generous I am feeling that particular day LOL

Alison

Excellent thank you

[gordym75]

See that is the thing i am quite happy to refund on transactions (or replace) but is the ratio to not received and the cost saved worth it.

I know it will go off areas etc but people must do this and know wether it is worth while ?

It depends. There are some unscrupulous "customers" out there who might order something of high value then when they realise its not come via a tracked delivery service, they'll go for a chargeback or open a paypal dispute saying they never received it. If you cant prove it was received by them you're onto a loser which could hit your pocket hard. Its not such a risk for smaller value items but still pain if you lose the cost of your sale.

[user1978]

See that is the thing i am quite happy to refund on transactions (or replace) but is the ratio to not received and the cost saved worth it.

I know it will go off areas etc but people must do this and know wether it is worth while ?

It depends. There are some unscrupulous "customers" out there who might order something of high value then when they realise its not come via a tracked delivery service, they'll go for a chargeback or open a paypal dispute saying they never received it. If you cant prove it was received by them you're onto a loser which could hit your pocket hard. Its not such a risk for smaller value items but still pain if you lose the cost of your sale.

Yep i am just asking on the cheap items there is no way i would send anything in value over £10 unless it is signed for.

[pure-wicked]

Depends on what your selling really has to be the only answer.

If your prepared to make a loss by replacing the odd one then save some money, my usual argument is that the customer pays for the price of postage so therefore explain how you send parcels in your t + C and leave the rest to the customer.

If the price the customer pays allows you to send your item recorded then do so however recorded only means that you get a signature for delivery, these details are not often updated on the rm website and to be honest i've never had to chase the rm direct so can't really comment on that.

If you really want your item covered then a parcel specific company is the only option. dhl, tnt, hermes etc are the only way to go as you can track parcels at every step of the way. Also the tracking number is acceptable in a paypal chargeback, not even sure if recorded delivery number covers you with paypal.

Hope this helps.

Regards Dave

[user1978]

Depends on what your selling really has to be the only answer.

If your prepared to make a loss by replacing the odd one then save some money, my usual argument is that the customer pays for the price of postage so therefore explain how you send parcels in your t + C and leave the rest to the customer.

If the price the customer pays allows you to send your item recorded then do so however recorded only means that you get a signature for delivery, these details are not often updated on the rm website and to be honest i've never had to chase the rm direct so can't really comment on that.

If you really want your item covered then a parcel specific company is the only option. dhl, tnt, hermes etc are the only way to go as you can track parcels at every step of the way. Also the tracking number is acceptable in a paypal chargeback, not even sure if recorded delivery number covers you with paypal.

Hope this helps.

Regards Dave

Thanks dave i will bear this in mind.

I was thinking of speaking to dhl to see what i would pay and this might give me the push to do it.

[pure-wicked]

Its a great way forward, if you can put different options into your cart to allow customers to select different postage options then that would be the ideal way forward. At the end of the day if they want the item they will pay the postage anyway so your not really at a loss and it gets collected from where you request ie you don't have to take it to the post office. Don't forget that some of the smaller players in the parcel industry are fighting the big boys for business at the moment, if you can give them enough business they will surely do you a deal to stop you going to dhl or tnt but still offer the tracking facility.

Any item valued at over £20 then only the tracked can be selected for example, not sure how this can be incorporated into a cart but if anyone can do it and in particular in zen then please let me know because as and when i do get the time to set up a new site this will be the cart and the way i will be wanting to do things.

Thanks and Regards Dave

[user1978]

Hi Dave if i find the definitive postage mod for my zen cart i will let you know as it sounds like we want  the same things