Quick question about postage

[lapislazuli]

I just wondered how most ebayers choose to post their items? I don't mean particularly valuable stuff - just clothes/accessories etc.. that go for around £5-10.
Do you send just by regular post (1st or 2nd class)? Do you opt for proof of postage/delivery? Or is this too risky, and do you always go with recorded?
Am listing a few things and am not sure how much to charge, and want to be as realistic as possible.
Ta!

I always use recorded for items above a tenner, below that if the item does not arrive within 10 days I refund in full and take the loss. Generally most people are honest.

Thanks Fabby, just trying to gauge an idea of what best practice is, as the Ebay help pages don't really recommend as such.
Have been a buyer for ages, and only just started selling, and I have never really noticed how items have got to me, only very occasionally are they signed for.
But I would hate anyone trying to pull me up on overcharging for postage.

Royal Mail's website is down at the moment, but I think adding signed for to your choice or 1st or 2nd class is only an extra 72p or something. From my experiences with horrible buyers recently I think it's worth paying and charging the extra.

And if you do ever realise you've miscalculated and overcharged for postage, a quick partial refund through paypal usually makes a buyer very happy, even if it's only 50p or something.

I always send 2nd class and get proof of posting. I've never had anything go astray yet. If it was worth a lot I'd send recorded.

Definitely refund excess postage charges. Someone did it for me when I first started buying off eBay and I was so taken aback I never forgot it.

Always get proof of posting. You can claim up to 32 quid (I think?) without recorded delivery, to make it cost effective I mostly post by cheapest service possible & only get recorded delivery if it costs more than 30 quid. You can't get recorded delivery with parcels, btw, and (?I think) cannot send heavy items by 2nd class; recorded first class can be quite dear, though.

For some items I offer first class if I think they'll likely want fast delivery (I don't look at speed of delivery service when I buy either, but I think some people expect it fast no matter what you've said about how slow you'll be ).

I personally think charging 10-15% above actual postage is quite reasonable given that Paypal takes almost half of that margin, anyway, and I don't expect anyone to give all their time & parcel tape for free.

its £46 or a 100 first class stamps, I send second class or standard parcels add signed for if over £15-20

if selling vouchers etc must be special delivery which is about £5 extra, my Dh and I have sold over 350 items and have had only a couple of not received claims, each was an address fault by purchaser ... one put home postcode on business address another had moved i think 2 completely missing both small value less than £10 so just refunded, ( that is less than 1%) if you send everything signed for even if they paid 99p you may get low DSR for how reasonable were postal charges. I really don't think signed for for everything is necessary

I do think some areas like selling phones or software are more prone to complaints and non arrival than say clothes books and ornaments

for stuff heavier than 1 kg the cheapest way of getting signature is collect+ about £3,99
there is no point in offering first class unless you post the very next day

i think a small mark up on postage is ok for packing I charge about 40p extra for just a bag or envelope 75p for small box and bubblewrap ie china orif a large breakable like coffee set which needs loads of bubble poly chips and double boxing £1.50 extra

if you quote £4 and it costs £2.16 give partial refund as soon as you get home it earns you brownie points and makes you look very honest

if someone buys 3 items make sure combined postage is that; the 3 items individually may have cost £1,72 and you were charging £2 but together they will only cost £3.15 so dont think that charging £5 instead of £6 is doing them a favour its not you shoul charge £4 max still

some people try and use postage to make up for 99p sales

Thanks for all the tips. So far I've gone 2nd class + proof of postage for cheaper items and recorded for the more expensive and seems to have worked out fine - feedback is all positive.