Selling non essential items

[frostymornings]

Just wondering what people's thoughts are on this.

I sell hand painted crafts, I have only recently started this and had quite a lot of orders leading up to Christmas. During this time I offered free local delivery which seemed to be very popular, my deliveries were Covid safe in the same way as an Amazon delivery would be ie, sanitise hands, put in mask, put parcel on doorstep, ring bell, step right back.

I've now opened an Etsy shop which will involve going to the Post Office to send my parcels.

Obviously the stuff I sell is non essential. Same for pretty much every seller on Etsy I would argue.

So, what are your thoughts on me doing this? And sellers in general doing this? I would argue I'm doing nothing different to all the delivery drivers delivering non essential items, in fact I'm safer because there's only one of me.

But... a free delivery or a trip to the Post Office for a non essential item is probably not what should be happening.

Any thoughts very gratefully received because I am about the whole thing. Selling my crafts has kept me going both financially and mentally as it has given me a focus having lost my job.

You’re allowed to leave the house for work if you can’t work from home. You can’t post your items from home so you need to to leave the house to post them. The postman is also allowed out.

Maybe you could state on your Etsy that you you send all your items out on a certain day of the week so you are limiting your trips out? You could then combine this trip with your weekly shop or similar.

I sell random things on Ebay and take items to courier/PO whatever day suits me. I cannot see my max. 5 minute stop inside PO (mask on, distanced) is going to threaten anyone. You will get buyer ratings downgraded if you only post once a week OP.

Yes but am I allowed to work selling non essential items? Shops can't sell them so why can I? Am I just tying myself up in knots over nothing? Thanks for the input, I agree in principle but want to do the right thing.

We are still selling (second hand books so not essential). When Amazon is told to stop then so will we! I have reduced the number of trips to drop parcels off though. You could also use courier pick up (no contact) to minimize risk even further.

Shops can’t sell them because people congregate indoors to browse/ buy things and this spreads covid. Sending things by post is much safer than going into a shop to buy them.

Shops can sell for home delivery (or click and collect if not in Dictator Sturgeon land) so this is no different.

Could you combine your trip with a local walk, or use one of those post boxes where you pay online and drop off. If it would make you feel happier. Personally I think going to the post office is fine but those options might make you feel less on edge

It is your job, your source of income. No one is saying you can't sell fripperies*, just that you can't sell them from a physical shop.
*I might argue that fripperies for some might be essential. Heart-warming, mood-lifting, etc.

@frostymornings

Yes but am I allowed to work selling non essential items? Shops can't sell them so why can I? Am I just tying myself up in knots over nothing? Thanks for the input, I agree in principle but want to do the right thing.

Shops can sell them online or through deliveries in the same way that you can. It's going to non essential shops which isnt allowed, not the goods themselves.

Thank you everyone. Very helpful, and I agree @FlibbertyGiblets that making and selling craft items is good for mental health😊

And thank you for not mocking meand helping me make sense of it, bit of an overthinker/worrier at the best of times.

I understand.

OP- I think you are working yourself up. Its your job and you cant do it ALL from home! I agree with putting a note on your website about limiting delivery days etc. Some other options to reduce contact and travel:

• Have you got kitchen scales at home? Just weigh your packages, use the royal mail postage site and print off the label at home! There are larger post boxes which can fit parcels, so no contact with a physical person at all! www.royalmail.com/d8/parcel-post-boxes

• Apparently your postman/women can collect royal mail packages while on their round (with the pre-printed label on). I dont know if you need to pre-book it, or just give them the package, but worth looking into.

It's work. It's allowed.

And it's brilliant. Adds a bit of normality to otherwise awful times. Keep going OP, stay safe and good luck with it all x

Many couriers and I believe Royal Mail now offer pick ups from your home. I sold a few things on eBay after Christmas and had them picked up by Hermes, UPS and DPD without any contact.

Its work so I would say ok, if you can maybe limit trips until you have a few parcels maybe that would help a little.

And shops can and do sell online the larger ones
Good luck with your business.

I am selling smaller things so I can print postage and put them in the post box when I go walking. I am limiting trips to post office. As pp said if Amazon is still delivering then so can I.

Thanks again for all the supportive and helpful replies, it has put my mind at rest. I will look into doing my own labels at home, sounds great if I can get the hang of it

If this is regular have a look royal mail have started a parcel collection service or were about to, think your postie collects as he posts the daily mail. Might work better for you at the moment

Non essential shops are still selling online so no reason why you shouldn't

Of course this is fine. It's no different to next still taking orders online or whatever. You're a business, no you can't open a physical shop but you are also allowed to still be open and trading, providing it's done online like 100s of other stores right now.

It's fine OP.

@frostymornings

Yes but am I allowed to work selling non essential items? Shops can't sell them so why can I? Am I just tying myself up in knots over nothing? Thanks for the input, I agree in principle but want to do the right thing.

I sell and go to the PO with many items most days and have done during this whole pandemic. It’s how I earn. Shops are still selling non essential items, they too post them out. Not Via the post office, but they have warehouses and pickers / packers etc.

Royal Mail 'parcel collect,' service from your doorstep. Up to 20 small parcels at a time. Can highly recommend. Good luck