first time selling on ebay - do you always do signed for parcel?

[LexLoofah]

I just have a few nice dresses to sell having lost weight and after a bit of a clear out a few bags and a nearly new teapot

just deciding on start price and postage which I am going to incude in the price i.e. free p&P - is it recommended to always pay for signed delivery regardless of item value or can I do regular Royal Mail parcel mail, only about £1 difference but when you are only talking about £10-15 value for an item not sure it is worth it,

experienced ebayers what do you recommend?

thnx

[gatorgolf]

I don't bother unless I'm selling something that is at least £15

[2016ismyyear]

Yes unless you want to be prepared to lose the money. If paypal get a dispute and you have no tracking they'll refund buyer. So many buyers just claim not received. I charge the extra.

[EmilyPunkhurst]

Always! Every time. No exceptions. I include it in the p&p price - if people don't want to pay that they can choose not to bid.

[MissWimpyDimple]

No. Makes no difference. Only method that counts as tracked in ebays eyes is special delivery or courier.

If the parcel gets lost, all you need is the proof of posting to claim.

Either way if you did ever want to claim from the post office make sure you declare the actual value of the goods.

[blueshoes]

Not for low value items. I have bought quite a few clothes off eBay the value of which is below £15. The sellers don't use signed delivery either. It would be slightly irritating for me to have to collect it from the post office if no one is in that day.

[19lottie82]

My rule of thumb is, if it goes missing and you don't send "signed for" (previously known as recorded), you can claim up to £20 compo from Royal Mail. So anything value below this goes regular post and anything above, recorded. A small parcel (anything above 25mm thick and Max dimensions are quite generous but check RM website for details) second class is £2.80, signed for is £3.90.

[19lottie82]

PS make sure if you don't send signed for you get a proof of postage from the post office. You'll need this to make a claim of the parcel gets lost

[LexLoofah]

ok great thanks

[FMAngel]

You can offer 2 postage options one not signed for and the other signed for. Also make a note in the product description so that the customer sees they have the option to choose, so they are aware of the risk they are making on their own accord.

[19lottie82]

FMAngel..... Sorry but that's codswhallop! If the buyer were to choose not signed for over signed for, would make no difference to their rights to a full refund, should the item not show up. The "clause" that you would be asking them to agree to is utterly unenforceable and against ebays T+Cs. If the parcel does not get delivered, the seller must refund in full, no matter what postal service is used.

"signed For" is mainly for the benefit of the seller, not the buyer.

[nauticant]

Heh, I could imagine such a listing attracting the scammers. They'd think "there's a shipping option there to ensure me winning an item not received case, RESULT!".

[glammanana]

So true "Nauticant" there are too many scammers lurking about without giving them a leg up.

[WanderingTrolley1]

I always send signed for, no exceptions.

[FMAngel]

19lottie82 you are right it would make no difference to the buyers rights, but if I was a buyer. I would prefer to have that option. The truth is I have confidence in Royal Mail and so far haven't experienced purchasing an item and not receiving it.

[19lottie82]

FM why would you prefer the option....... And why did you mention being aware of risks, if not paying extra for signed for service?

[FMAngel]

19lottie82 if I was purchasing from abroad I would chose the tracking option, but I don't normally do this for inland as I said before Royal mail is reliable in my experience. I probably worded it badly, but make customers aware that if they particularly needed it tracked, there was that option as well.