How to avoid post office

[GilbertMarkham]

Under lockdown, I'm presuming trips to the post office have to stop (not a business seller and finding it hard to justify it to myself).

I've never sent parcels any other way. I see some places have post boxes capable of taking parcels (presumably that you've printed postage for online yourself) bug we don't seem to have any in this area.

Would s courier like Hermes by feasible? Still some contact I suppose.

What are you guys doing or are you just suspending sales?

*but

Stop selling. Stop putting pressure on the courier services. Help reduce the demand for people to do something outside of their home so you can stay in yours.

The previous poster is right op

I've taken all my auctions down now till this thing is over
I don't want my Husband at the post office, all our stuff is sent tracked
And it's not tracked I don't think if it's just put in a post box

Post office is open

I plan to (what's the best way to."take down" auction s?) but a buyer bought something yesterday, I need to post it and an trying to find the safest (for everyone) way of doing it.

And it's not tracked I don't think if it's just put in a post box

Yes but I was referring to the new smart post boxes I saw online, l think they have featues. They were launched in certain areas but not here.

*features

Looks like, as a private seller I can't suspend listings so I've ended them all.

But am left with this one item I either need to send or cancel and refund. Reluctant to disappoint buyer esp as it's a baby item.

I could try to print postage at home and stick it in a post box but what if this is the one parcel that goes missing or the buyer that says they didn't get it and I have no proof of postage.

Have you contacted the buyer to explain why you don't want to go to the post office? I suspect that whatever they've bought isn't essential, therefore they will have to wait for it. I'm sure most people would rather limit what's coming through the post, both for the postal system and for themselves.

I've been trying to get a Hermes parcel collection (leave it at door for collection to avoid us having to have contact) but Hermes site is hanging - probably overwhelmed.

I might have to contact buyer and discuss but I have a feeling she wants a baby sling in order to go for walks places prams don't go easily.

Was it a high value item? I would just refund it tbh

I stopped all my listings but had 1 to post.

The post office is still open, I wasn't expecting that. They had a limit of people who could enter.

I am a daily regular. I had printed at home from the royal mail website- something that I never do as the post office get hardly any money. I intended to put in the box but they saw me and took it in and scanned it and gave me a receipt.

Contacted buyer and she's willing to wait for delivery as bought it before due date (it's a baby sling).

It's not high value but I don't like to cancel orders, can be v disappointing as a buyer.

Can you be left feedback on a cancelled order incidentally?

Not able to book a delivery on Hermes anytime I tried it today, probably not normal service

I’ve taken down all my listings - I sell on eBay to replenish my fripperies fund, so I don’t need to keep selling right now.

In a few weeks time I’ll think about it again and if I do decide to sell, I will only be doing one post office run per week. But I can’t see it happening anytime soon.

We need smart post boxes that can scan bar codes off postage you print online and show/print proof of posting.

Though maybe we do need to support our post offices in normal circumstances, ones near me always seem chock a block with older people doing things (not posting parcels) already though.

I am not listing anything new right now and the things I have active have been on there for months without any interest! I will be doing a lot of draft listings in the meantime.

The solution for you is probably to pack it as flat as possible then send it ‘small parcel’ using eBay postage.

I can (if needed) squeeze those into the slightly larger slot on the outside of my post office.

Essential post only I was told yesterday. Don’t think that applies to eBay selling. I have stocked up on £100 worth of stamps as my post is essential.

the things I have active have been on there for months without any interest!

If it's anything like my experience people will now start buying them!

The solution for you is probably to pack it as flat as possible then send it ‘small parcel’ using eBay postage.

I can (if needed) squeeze those into the slightly larger slot on the outside of my post office.

Still no proof of postage with that though (?)

What if buyer says they didn't receive it?

I think you just have to trust them, tbh.

Or cancel the sale and refund the buyer.

Trust me, no one will want my items. One of them is a cocktail dress ‘suitable for Christmas parties’...😂

Trust me, no one will want my items. One of them is a cocktail dress ‘suitable for Christmas parties’...😂

Well then it clearly must be edited as "suitable for weddings, the races and evening parties" - if any of them happen again in the next 13 months. Actually it could be Christmas again before people will be buying a cocktail dress.

That was supposed to be 12 months, 13 is a bit random.