Hi, I just wondered what are people’s thoughts on whether items should be shipped via Royal Mail 1st or 2nd Class Post, and do you think it makes a difference to customers in terms of who they shop with? I tend to list everything with 2nd class postage prices, including a few pence to cover the cost of packaging, with some things listed with T48.
Or should I incorporate the cost of postage into the price of my items and list them all as free postage?
Thank you.
For everyday low value items (destination UK) I use 2nd class - I only use 1st class if it’s needed in a hurry or for some reason I’m posting it a day later than usual. High value stuff goes ‘international tracked and signed’ or ‘registered’ in UK this gives insurance cover in case of loss or damage. I used to offer free postage on lower value items but that made my greetings cards look rather expensive so I now display a lower price with postage to be added on. I think that most people understand that they pay for postage one way or another and that if they really want your item they are more than happy to pay.
I’ve gone with Royal Mail second class for my cards as they’re cheaper, but I do Tracked 48 for my baby blankets as they’re more expensive and take a while to make. I like to think someone would ask if they needed it more urgently or wanted upgraded postage.
I also just put the postage price on Folksy rather than adding packaging costs too, otherwise it all becomes a bit too expensive and I think it might look off putting. I’ve just figured out how to do the additional postage too, which probably makes it seem a bit better for buying multiple items (if I’m that lucky!).
Remember if you include the cost of postage in the items then Folksy fees come out of that too, whereas I don’t think they come out of the postage costs (I hope I’ve got that right, I find it all a bit confusing).
I send everything under £50 as 2nd class signed for. Over the £50 either parcel force or special delivery depending on what works out cheapest.
I’ve had 2nd class items arrive the next day and 1st class take 3 days so don’t see the difference really except in the price. If a customer specifically asked for 1st class though I would accommodate and charge accordingly (I add 20p to the stamp price. Doesn’t cover all packaging costs but it’s something)
I always use first class for the cards. Second for blankets.
I have been told in the currant climate that second class has more chance of arriving at the moment!! More first going missing.
I sent an item second class to the other side of the country…took 2 days…and the same day I posted a similar item first class to 20 miles away…took 9 days…
If you incorporate the postage costs into the item price you end up paying folksy commission on it (they don’t charge it on postage if its listed separately). It also becomes more difficult to update postage costs should Royal Mail put prices up - if postage is separate then you can use the bulk edit tool to change them, if its incorporated into the item price you have to change every listing.
I have started sending everything 2nd class (higher value items tracked) - it is getting there within 1-2 days most of the time. I might start using 1st closer to Christmas or maybe offer an upgrade. Will see how it goes - have to get the orders first!
I always use Second Class - not just for Folksy, but for any post.
Always second class, unless, as someone else has said, I’m late posting then I just send it First Class. I use recycled packaging to keep costs down.
I have gone to only 2nd class post at the moment. With all these strikes going on I don’t want customers expecting things quicker when paying for 1st class postage, only to have it arrive late. x
I use 2nd class, 1st class doesn’t seem to get there any quicker and client would expect it to. Ive tried adding postage to price and listing as free postage and didn’t help me either. So reverted back and plodding on 
Posted something second class the other day, just caught the evening collection at my local postbox, it arrived all the way up in Glasgow the next morning…
I always use First Class. People seem to like getting their items quickly. Though I have to say Folksy buyers are more flexible about this than elsewhere.
@bramleycards That’s the opposite of what I’ve been reading, which is that Royal Mail are prioritising 1st class and tracked items. It’s interesting that it’s so different in different parts of the country.
I also sell craft supplies (not here on Folksy) and we’ve had items taking almost 2 weeks to be delivered. It seems to take longer if they’re Signed For service. I have to assume they’re holding them at local sorting offices until they’ve got enough to justify the trip out, otherwise I can’t figure out any feasible explanation. It’s frustrating that their service is so inconsistent, from day to day and in various parts of the country.
As a possible explanation for some of the delays being reported - a delivery postie has confirmed that some are still working to rule so they are stopping delivering at 1pm even if they haven’t finished their route as that is when their shift ends. This means that properties at the end of the route could go for several days with out a delivery even though there is post to be delivered to them as posties aren’t getting to them before the 1pm end of shift.
Royal Mail have said they are prioritising special delivery and tracked 24 over first or second class (signed for or normal). They have dropped the price of tracked 24 so there isn’t much difference between that and first class signed for at large letter rates (if purchased via click and drop) and they are doing free home collection as well so you don’t need to go to a depot to drop off if there isn’t one close by. So that might be worth offering as an upgrade option (or as standard on orders over a certain value) when the strikes start back up.
I think that’s pretty poor on the part of Royal Mail. Poor customers at the end of delivery routes not getting their mail for days on end is so unfair.
How do you offer a postage upgrade option on listings?
I’ve seen people have a separate listing for ‘delivery upgrade’ or you could add a variation to the listing which charges the cost difference between standard posting and upgraded posting.
Hi @SashaGarrett, that’s a great idea. I am looking into it. Thank you 