Most of the items I sell are cards and I’ve always sent these by first class post - charging customers £1.15 which is the large letter cost. I don’t charge more for additional items. An extra couple of cards don’t usually cost any more and if it does go into the next price bracket I’ve always thought I’ve had more money from the customer so don’t mind paying the additional cost myself.
My question is that due to the forthcoming postal increase the large letter rate will go up to £1.29 - which is more than some of my cards! The second class postage cost will go up to .96p, which I feel is more reasonable - especially as I don’t find first class is generally quicker than second class. I was going to change my listings to say I will post second class but wondered about adding a variation to give customers the option of paying an extra .33p for first class postage.
I’ve tried thinking of this as a customer too - when buying I’m happy to pay and receive second class postage. I’m still undecided whether to just go for second class or whether to add the variation and give customers the option of first class post.
Throughout this year I’ve avoided purchasing items that are sent by 2nd class; they’ve taken up to two weeks to arrive and I live in a city. Where as I find with 1st class I actually have a chance of getting it.
I’ve added the option recently to a few of my listings for the customer to upgrade postage and they were happy to pay it.
The majority of my items are sent out 2nd class, occasionally 1st class at customer request, and more expensive items 2nd class recorded delivery. I’ve had feedback on quite a good number of 2nd class postings which have arrived the day after I’ve sent them which means they have arrived as quickly as 1st class would have done.
As Liz above has said you could make a listing for an upgrade to 1st class then the custom could choose to add that if they preferred 1st class.
If you are able to get your items in the local post box then stock up with stamps now…you will only pay the current price but they will be accepted because they are just marked as “1st”
I get mine online from the royal mail website and buy 100 at a time…so if you post regularly and buy 100 you will have saved £14 on those stamps.
Until relatively recently I sent everything 2nd class as frequently items arrive within same timescale regardless of the class of post. A few months ago I had a rethink based on possible customer perception and started sending my more expensive free post items first class and also changed the items I charge separate postage on (jewellery making supplies so people can combine postage) to first class.
I might need to restructure this a bit and maybe switch the supplies back to 2nd class as a lot of the items cost less than the postage.
I have bought up loads of stamps prior to postal increases a few years ago when I used to have to use the post box. It is a really good idea but I don’t think I could go back to having to hand write the addresses and it’s much quicker in the post office when I buy postage online.
Thanks Lynn @erkinwald - I also find that some second class items arrive quicker than first. I’ve recently sent two parcels from Devon. One was posted Tracked 48 (at great cost!) to Staffordshire and took three days to arrive. The second parcel was Second Class Signed to Scotland and arrived the next day.
