26 Postage & Packaging Tricks That Your Buyers Will Love
by Admin Joe
Published – Jan 26th 2018
Why are my deliveries not working? How do I perform a safe and fast delivery? If you want to know the answers to questions revolving around postage and packaging like these then you may want to read on.
Sellers tend to worry a lot about postage, packaging, shipping and delivery aspect of their online selling business. This is because of the fact that it is largely out of their control after the package has left their hands.
If Postman Paul loses your item in transit then there isn’t much you can do to remedy the situation. However, you can take steps before dispatch to ensure a smooth delivery.
“I should be a postage stamp, because that’s the only way I’ll ever get licked. I’m beautiful. I’m fast. I’m so mean I make medicine sick. I can’t possibly be beat.” – Muhammad Ali
Okay, this Ali quote might not be very helpful but I thought i’d include it anyway just because it’s cool. However, you should strive to be as beautiful, fast and mean as Muhammad Ali when it comes to shipping your product. Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, ya’ feel me?
Why not take a look at the points below to help you improve your chances of a safer and faster delivery to the buyer. If you can’t get the delivery right than all your other hard work will have all been for nothing.
1. Prompt Dispatch
You should worry more about how long it takes you to dispatch the item for delivery from the second the order comes in. This should take priority over how long the overall shipping process takes. The latter is out of your control and most buyers will understand that.
I have found that orders sometimes come in large bursts which can quickly pile up if you are idle. Process the order as soon as you get the notification to save yourself getting snowed under. Your buyers will love that you are on the ball and that you priorities processing their order immediately.
Doing this will avoid any late delivery disappointment coming from the customer. They will likely give you a great feedback for a speedy delivery too.
Aim to get the product to your buyer within 3 working days or less. Understandably, the shipping company of choice might delay your package for whatever reason. This is out of your control so don’t sweat it.
If this keeps happening you might need to experiment with different delivery companies. You can then gauge which one is most reliable for you.
Buyers love to get a surprise by receiving their item much earlier than they expect. Think about this when delivering orders. I sometimes state a generously long delivery time just in case of any road blocks.
If there aren’t any problems, then it will seem to the buyer like they are getting their item far ahead of time.
2. Correct Size Packaging
You need to preferably find a box that is a suitable size for your item. If this isn’t possible then you will probably be able to make do with a box that’s too large. This is fine as long as you pad the spaces inside with extra packaging such as:
- beans
- paper
- bubble wrap
- foam
If you neglect to do this then the item will rattle around the box like a pinball machine. It can potentially cause damage in transit.
Don’t make the same mistake as me and make it so the contents are bulging out of the seams. There will be a higher chance of damage if you do this. I can understand you might want to squeeze dimensions in order to save money but don’t. There needs to be some sort of exterior protection.
3. Secure & Thorough Box Packing
When you are taping a box shut then be sure to use strong masking tape instead of regular scotch/sellotape. Follow my example and tape over all the gaps and openings thoroughly. Ensure that there is zero damage and the structural integrity of the box itself is solid too.
This might sound odd but it’s better to give your buyer a tough time opening the package. The alternative would be doing a half-baked job and the shipping contents falling out on delivery. Make it almost impenetrable, like breaking into a bank vault (okay, maybe not that challenging).
4. Correct shipping Location
Always double and triple check the address on the postage label before you dispatch it. You will be able to find the buyer’s delivery address on the eBay postage label.
Failing that, it will also show up on your PayPal account. If you’re writing it by hand, It needs to be legible enough for the postman/woman to read it.
I know from experience that getting just one letter or number wrong on the zip/post code can make a big difference.
This is such a small thing but if you send it to the wrong shipping address then all the work will be for nothing. You will then have to process a refund. You will essentially be flushing money down the toilet.
5. Erase Irrelevant shipping & postage Information
If you are recycling on old box for delivery then you need to take precautions. Make sure that you have marked over and made void any previous details.
This can include shipping addresses, bar codes, numbers or logos. I always have to remind myself to do this. You don’t want any postal workers to see these and send it to the wrong address.
[bctt tweet=”Think about shipping costs when sourcing inventory. You can package a t-shirt into a large envelope and it will be cheap.” via=”no”]
6. Pack & ship in a Tube
You may be sending a poster or any other type of delicate paper item. The best thing to do is send it in a strong tube in order to prevent creasing. The corrugated cardboard shipping tubes are the most effective.
It would save money to fold the item up and send it in an envelope. If you do this then the creases will obviously lessen the quality and condition of the item. It really depends on what it is and if you think that folding or not folding will make a big difference. Use your best judgement in any case.
7. Stockpile postage, packaging & Shipping Supplies
Check that your shipping supplies are plentiful. You don’t want to suddenly run out of cardboard boxes when you are due to dispatch an item. Envelopes, tape and the like need to be readily available for when an order comes through.
Why not be like me and assign a specific spot in your home to store all your postage and packaging supplies. This could be a drawer or something similar so that you have everything in one place. You will then know exactly where it is when you need it.
It’s better to have too many packaging supplies when you don’t need them rather than too little when you really do.
8. Print Postage Labels Online from Home
For me, the advantage of home postage printing outweigh the disadvantages. You will only need to have a black and white printer
It will save you a lot of time and trouble if you print off postage labels from home. This is better than going backwards and forwards, to and from the post office every time you need to send something. This may well be an everyday occurrence if you are successful and accumulating lots and lots of sales.
It is much more convenient this way as you won’t have to wait in line to be served. There’s also the fact that you always seem to get stuck behind that old lady. You know … the one that likes to very slowly pay for everything with a big bag of loose change.
Although, home printing does have a few drawbacks. These flaws include having to buy Compatible Postage Ink Cartridges and paper for your exact make and model of printer. This is important as you will end up printing lots of postage labels.
If you own an old printer than it can be hard to get your hands on the correct cartridges that will fit and work. This has been a problem for me and maybe also for you.
Additionally, you won’t be able to receive certain postal services from home such as proof of postage or recorded delivery. These shipping methods require a postal worker to sign for them. This is particularly annoying because it forces you to interact with another human being hehehe.
9. Over-packaging
You should protect your products at all costs particularly if you’re sending something fragile. It’s always better to over pack with plenty of bubble wrap so that the buyer has nothing to complain about. Even if the item doesn’t receive any damage on delivery, the buyer may still complain about minimal packaging.
Make it into a fun game of pass-the-parcel if you will. Unwrap one layer, “Wait a minute, there’s more!” It’s better this way rather than under-packing and then risking disaster.
10. Offer Free postage
Buyer like getting things for free, just like the rest of us. One of the bonuses of offering free postage and packaging on eBay is that you will receive an instant and automatic 5 star rating from the seller for that part of the service.
Offering free postage and packaging might be a wise move. This is down to these listings ranking better on sites like eBay and Amazon
Sometimes having a separate item and shipping price can complicate things and cause confusion for the buyer. You could instead offer free shipping and then have the item price as being the full, complete price. This will allow the buyer to avoid any nasty, shocking add-on fees.
11. Mark package as Dispatched
You will normally have to mark your item as dispatched manually as soon as you can. This is in order to update the buyer of the fact that it’s on the way.
It’s good customer service to be prompt with buyers and keep them in the know. Being punctual with your updates shows that you appreciate the customers needs.
12. Printer-Friendly postage Labels
You might want to think about buying special sticky printer labels
Doing this will mean that you won’t have to cut out paper with scissors and tape it on to your packages. I did it this way for far too long and it ate up a lot of my time.
13. Check postage Expiration Dates
Store bought stamps last a long time. One of the weaknesses of printing off your postage labels online is the fact that they will usually expire the next day. This means that you can’t hang around or forget to post your packages because it will be void after expiration.
You can’t just print the labels and save them for another day, you won’t have time to wait. Packing and shipping needs to happen immediately after you print off the postage. Packages sent with void postage labels will never reach their final destination. They won’t be valid any more.
If you do leave it to expire accidentally then it’s not the end of the world. I believe there is a way that you can get your money back on eBay if you declare the postage label void.
They can check that it hasn’t reached its destination and give you a refund. For this reason, it isn’t a massive problem if you make this mistake.
14. Reprint postage Labels
You can always reprint the postage label if you get any details wrong without it costing you anything more. We’ve already talked about voiding postage labels to get a refund so that is always an option.
To rectify this you can always see a preview of the postage label before you go ahead and print it. You will be wasting paper each time you have to do this so try to avoid it.
15. Acknowledge the Public Holidays
There is more leeway when shipping a package over a public holiday. Many postal companies won’t be processing deliveries during this time. This is because these days don’t count as “working days” so there isn’t a lot you can do about this.
The buyer should be understanding of this. They probably won’t mind their item arriving a little later than they originally expected. Just keep these dates in mind so that you can prepare and plan ahead.
I’ve had bad experiences as a seller around Christmas time and other busy holidays. Buyers won’t always get their orders on time and they can take it out on you. I would advise putting out a notice out explaining the situation a few weeks in advance. This is so they are well aware of potential delays.
It’s also smart to recommend for buyers to overcompensate by ordering a long time before they actually need the item. Better for them to receive their order super early rather than super late.
16. Select Several Postage Companies
You may want to diversify your use of shipping companies depending on your needs. If you reside in the UK then royal mail may be a safe bet when you choose a postage companies.
In my experience, they offer reliability for the most part and low prices too. They actually successfully deliver 99% of first and second class mail with 3 working days so get it right for the most part. This is a higher success rate than most other mailing companies so they are hitting targets.
You can also try myhermes which is one of the cheapest services out there but not as consistently reliable. I’ve personally found that mailing companies are better at certain things and not so great at other things. You will have to pick and choose which one to use depending on the type of delivery.
17. Lots of Delivery Methods
You should try to offer as many different delivery options as possible. This will increase the interest from buyers and also hopefully increase your profits. Try to offer lots of shipping options such as fast/express delivery as well as regular.
People will be more willing to buy from you if they can choose how and when they will get their order. Certain customers like to have the choice of getting something shipped quickly. Others might like a cheap alternative that is a little slower so provide options.
Some people will want to collect in person while others will want it delivered. Buyer collection is a lot of times the best way to go for very large items like kitchen appliances. It will mean you can cut the cost of delivery which is one less expense.
[bctt tweet=”You can ship using a box that’s too large. This is fine if you pad the insides with beans, paper, bubble wrap, foam etc.” via=”no”]
18. Set Fair postage & packaging Fees
If you try to make an unfair profit from your postage and packaging prices then some buyers will catch on. They may then consequently give you a low feedback rating which will damage your business. Try not to overcharge for postage and packaging as buyers are smart enough to call you out on it.
19. Courier package Collection
If you are selling a large package then it may be easier to arrange for a courier to make a home pickup. This is a hell of a lot easier than lugging it to the post office for drop off. I shipped a huge landscape painting by courier not that long ago and it arrived at its destination without any hiccups.
A nice man or woman will turn up on your doorstep at a designated time. They will then take the package from your hands and that’s all there is to it. It’s especially advantageous if you live in a rural area, not in close proximity to a post office.
20. Buy Good Weighing Scales
It’s useful to have accurate digital scales
It has to be precise because just one gram of difference can mean two completely different shipping prices. If you choose the wrong postage out of the two then the delivery will fail.
21. Improvise your Packaging
Why waste money on packaging supplies when you can just reuse old knick-knacks lying around your home? It pays to be frugal about this. Old shoe boxes are really great for sending small packages. I re-use cardboard boxes all the time as long as they are in good enough condition.
You can also save money on packaging by improvising a brown paper bag instead of parcel paper. In addition, you could also make your own envelopes out of spare paper. I bet you can think of all sort of ideas if you search your home for scrap material.
22. Prepare postage Insurance
The insurance is there as a safety net if anything were to go wrong. If the mailing company doesn’t complete the delivery successfully then you will get your money back.
It’s not just the shipping companies that you have to be concerned about, you also have to be weary of the buyer. If you are sending a high value item then you would do well to get proof of postage and/or recorded delivery which is what I do. This will help to stop the cheats from claiming non-delivery.
This isn’t practical or worth doing for lower priced items sadly. It will eat into your profits too much for you to benefit.
23. Weigh the Fully Assembled Package
Have you ever bought what you mistakenly thought was the correct postage before packaging? Being the idiot that I am, I can honestly admit that I have. I point this out because I don’t want you to make the same mistake … not that I think you’re an idiot too.
Make sure that you weigh your product only after you have packaged it up and not before. The packaging material adds more weight than you’d think. You don’t want to purchase the postage and then discover that it’s not right. Apply the same rule for the length, width and depth of the package too.
The buyer may end up picking up the bill. This is if the size and weight of the package overlaps the value if the postage label you have paid for. If this ever happens then the buyer will obviously not be pleased with you.
24. Prohibited postage Items
Double check that you are actually selling something that is okay to ship. Some mailing companies as well as eCommerce platforms have items that they prohibit from postage. You will need to check this on an individual basis.
25. Choose inventory Wisely
You should factor shipping costs in when making the decision of which inventory you’re going to purchase. It can make a bigger difference than you think.
For instance, clothing is quite a popular item to sell online. You can fairly easily package a t-shirt into a large envelope without it being too costly.
26. Cater to the International Market
You may get a nasty shock if overseas buyers expect you to sell at your standard delivery price. It will clearly be more costly to ship to them.
It’s useful to think ahead and create a shipping/delivery guide for international buyers as a helping hand. This would be a table or something similar giving a list of prices for delivery. This will be dependent on where the buyer is in the world and also the size/weight of the product itself.
As I’ve said, If you don’t do this then they may assume that standard shipping fees apply to them. You may make a loss if they go ahead and order.
I hope you can implement some of these points to ensure a smooth transportation of your sold goods. We can learn a lot from this.
One lesson might be that it’s possible to save substantial time and money in shipping fees. You can do this through following the tips above as well as using your own ingenuity and thinking outside the box. We also know that giving the buyer delivery options is a plus.
I would suggest your next move might be to do some additional research based on the products you sell. Find out which supplies will work best for the items that you are selling. Also, look into different types of delivery and reliable shipping companies in your area.
Although, It doesn’t end here. There is plenty more to learn about online selling so why not check out my 47 eCommerce Online Selling Tips To Catch & Keep Buyers For Life!
Do you know any hints to guarantee a fast and safe delivery? What’s the easiest delivery you’ve ever made as a seller and why? Please don’t forget to share this with your friends and comment below. Thanks for reading!
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