Ebay newbie here - help please

[OnePotato2Potato]

I'd be grateful for some advice please...

I'm selling a new girls party dress for £20. What would be the best way to post it so that I'm covered for loss or buyers trying to scam?
I've listed some stuff which will be cheaper so I've decided royal mail 2nd class is best. But as this one is pricier is recorded delivery best or even Hermes, as if the parcel gets lost I can get a refund? Or am I misunderstood with the claims process?

Thanks

Hi Iv a shop on ebay Id say yes stick to recorded well 1st signed for it is now and then you can track it.
That's about the best you can do whilst still being reasonable price wise I guess as special is crazy money 'all my items go tracked signed for as prior too in the early days I got so fed up with my item hasn't arrived!
You wouldnot believe how many sadly will scam
But then I have to say Iv fortunately as many nice customers as I have scammers so evens out
Just do the best you can list it well in hope of no return!

Always send recorded unless it's a low value item you don't mind being out of pocket for should it get lost.

In this case I'd send it second class "signed for". No need for first class, especially at this time of year as once the Xmas rush kicks in first class is no faster than second!

I agree, 2nd class signed for £3.95. Well charge the buyer £4.49 to allow for Ebay fees and packing.
Are you doing buy it now or auction starting at £20?

Thanks for the tips. I don't know why I am overthinking this!

Buttered it is an auction starting at £18.00

That's good then. I'd rather start my auction at a minimum price I'd be happy to get, I know a lot of people start off at 99p but that's too risky for me, I don't mind waiting things out. The only thing I find is buyers just don't want to spend a lot on clothes, well when it's not designer anyway but you never know.
How much was the dress new? Normally I find used stuff go for about half the new cost but clothes as low as a third or even a quarter the new equivalent.
I have a childs wedding out fit up for around £9, cost about £50 new, can't sell it though. They want stuff for pittance.

Send Hermes - cheaper than RM

I don't think Hermes is worth the risk for under 2kg, Royal Mail is £2.85 for basic 2nd class, is Hermes cheaper than that? I've had bad dealings with Hermes, I started a thread on here re over 2kg weight parcel sending and a poster kindly suggested CollectPlus, which I've used a couple of times with no problems so far.

You do get proof of delivery with Hermes, where as with the £2.85 service from RM, you don't.

I don't use Hermes unless it's for >2kg mainly because the delivery service can be a bit ropey (they claim parcels were delivered when they weren't), and also you have to print the labels yourself which is a bit of a faff.

So Hermes is £2.85 signed for under 2kg. Like you say though, service is ropey. Plus you have to wait in for courier, which sometimes don't turn up or take it to drop off point anyway.

you can drop off Hermes so don't need to wait in - and I have never found their service ropey at all.

Yes, you can drop off but my drop off point and post office aren't any further away.
Hermes failed to make a collection and chucked one of my parcels over a gate, had about four other good dealings though, the two bad ones P'd me off enough to want to try another company though.

You were right buttered it didn't sell as was too expensive!

Ah well I'm going to relist. I expected other dresses to go higher what with the demand for xmas dresses but my others didn't go for very high.