eBay Business - Changing from 1st class to 2nd class
Discussion
Hi All,
We generally send out all items first class post however as things become more competitve we are thinking of switching to 2nd class.
It also looks like to the consumer they don't really care if its first or second class as they seem to chase after making a 5 pence saving instead.
Has anyone else done this switch at all?
Thanks
We generally send out all items first class post however as things become more competitve we are thinking of switching to 2nd class.
It also looks like to the consumer they don't really care if its first or second class as they seem to chase after making a 5 pence saving instead.
Has anyone else done this switch at all?
Thanks
Dave_ST220 said:
ObSene said:
I run a small eBay business on the side and have only ever offered 2nd class postage. I've not had any complaints yet.
But how many people haven't purchased because you don't offer next day 
Plus its a vase of weighting up the saving against the potential loss of sales......
Funnily enough I usually seek out people selling first class post even if its quite a bit more expensive but I am sure I am in a minority.
When I used to sell a lot on eBay, my default postage was free 2nd class and the customer could choose the option to upgrade to 1st class (or even faster) for the price difference.
Not many (I'd estimate <5%) opted for the faster postage, but you could still follow this concept with your selling.
You'd get the price conscious business and the ones that wanted it faster could pay extra.
Not many (I'd estimate <5%) opted for the faster postage, but you could still follow this concept with your selling.
You'd get the price conscious business and the ones that wanted it faster could pay extra.
I list with free p+p which is 2nd class and offer an option of 1st Class and Special Delivery, priced accordingly. I ship 10-15 items per day and per week i get 1 or 2 1st class. To be honest though, a lot of items I ship 2nd class seemingly arrive the next day as people leave feedback.
As a customer I nearly always want my items next day, generally that's why I use Amazon for 99% of items that I buy for business and personal shopping.
The Amazon Prime membership was a no-brainer for me, the kids like the tv/movies and I like the prompt shipping.
I'm not trying to push you over to the other side, just giving my opinion as a potential customer.
The Amazon Prime membership was a no-brainer for me, the kids like the tv/movies and I like the prompt shipping.
I'm not trying to push you over to the other side, just giving my opinion as a potential customer.
CoinSl0t said:
As a customer I nearly always want my items next day, generally that's why I use Amazon for 99% of items that I buy for business and personal shopping.
The Amazon Prime membership was a no-brainer for me, the kids like the tv/movies and I like the prompt shipping.
I'm not trying to push you over to the other side, just giving my opinion as a potential customer.
I understand your point The Amazon Prime membership was a no-brainer for me, the kids like the tv/movies and I like the prompt shipping.
I'm not trying to push you over to the other side, just giving my opinion as a potential customer.
I am the exact same, I got prime membership for personal items and kept it as it was great for the business too for when I need things the next day. The excellent thing is that they allow you to order quite late the day before and you still get it next day.
I noticed Amazon now offer a click and collect service - not sure how much that will affect eBay. To make matters worse it looks like Amazon have cut a deal with RM to have items collected from post offices!
Moving back onto topic - when the business had a very healty profit margin on goods I was more than happy to offer 1st class but now as idiots come along and drive prices down I need to become more efficient. I have slashed most of my costs as I could, this is the only one left without compromising on the quality of the goods/service in general.
At the end of the day if 1st class was such a great benefit to the masses my competitors wouldnt be able to sell their items as well as mine by offering 2nd class so my thought process is why am I bothering.
Doesn't it depend on what you're selling and to who?
For instance I needed two oven elements (electrician diagnosed the fault at 15:45) for tomorrow, urgently before the weekend or I have an unhappy tenant.
Pretty sure with Amazon it'll arrive either DPD (brilliant), RM (usually very good) and hopefully not Yodel (utterly hopeless).
If I was after a knob for the said oven I'd quite happily wait until next week, 2nd class post wouldn't be an issue at all.
I don't know what you're selling, but if it's something that isn't considered urgent then by all means ship second class and save yourself some dosh.
For instance I needed two oven elements (electrician diagnosed the fault at 15:45) for tomorrow, urgently before the weekend or I have an unhappy tenant.
Pretty sure with Amazon it'll arrive either DPD (brilliant), RM (usually very good) and hopefully not Yodel (utterly hopeless).
If I was after a knob for the said oven I'd quite happily wait until next week, 2nd class post wouldn't be an issue at all.
I don't know what you're selling, but if it's something that isn't considered urgent then by all means ship second class and save yourself some dosh.
Let customers make the choice unless you're aware it's a product generally required next day.
The maths are scary. Let's say you send 365k items per year. Unnecessarily sending stuff 1st class at 10p - £1 premium - you don't need a calculator to see how much money you could spunk on this.
Try it. Plus at peak I reckon it all just goes through as fast as poss anyway! If they have spare capacity they just send the 48 through, no point backing it up another day..
The maths are scary. Let's say you send 365k items per year. Unnecessarily sending stuff 1st class at 10p - £1 premium - you don't need a calculator to see how much money you could spunk on this.
Try it. Plus at peak I reckon it all just goes through as fast as poss anyway! If they have spare capacity they just send the 48 through, no point backing it up another day..
I seem to have gone the opposite, i have been selling on Ebay/Amazon for two years and started with 2nd class post and then switched to 1st class. Large letters mainly as i sell phone cases.
All items get a nice "Fast & Free" logo on ebay and similar on Amazon which helps stand out. But it also says 1-2 days. Buyers then expect if they order an item at 4:59pm it will be with them next day because it says 1 day.
I think it all depends on what you sell and the the type of customers you sell to.
All items get a nice "Fast & Free" logo on ebay and similar on Amazon which helps stand out. But it also says 1-2 days. Buyers then expect if they order an item at 4:59pm it will be with them next day because it says 1 day.
I think it all depends on what you sell and the the type of customers you sell to.
As a buyer, I always choose a seller offering first rather than second class. The price difference is small and although second class deliveries can be as quick, sometimes they take 5 days.
As a seller I always offer first class, because using second gets me a few reduced stars on postage time.
As a seller I always offer first class, because using second gets me a few reduced stars on postage time.
Why not offer both?
As a frequent customer on ebay, i quickly reject anyone who doesn't dispatch same day, and offer 1st class/24H postage.
I don't care if your more expensive, i want the bloody item I've bought!
If you have a nice big banner saying "order by 3PM next day delivery" i will use you.
As a frequent customer on ebay, i quickly reject anyone who doesn't dispatch same day, and offer 1st class/24H postage.
I don't care if your more expensive, i want the bloody item I've bought!
If you have a nice big banner saying "order by 3PM next day delivery" i will use you.
IATM said:
So basically what your all trying to say is I am the only idiot who pays for first class out of my own business lol
We only do 1st Class and just build it into the item price (we sell clothing). Don't forget, if you don't do 1st Class "Free" then customers can't do the "Click & Collect at Argos" thing.2nd Class is ok for auction stuff I suppose, but not the majority of Buy-it-Now sales.
northwest monkey said:
Don't forget, if you don't do 1st Class "Free" then customers can't do the "Click & Collect at Argos" thing.
Confused? I offer dispatch within 1 day, free postage which is 2nd class, also qualify for Click & Collect @ Argos. One of my products below demonstrating:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hot-Air-Balloons-and-Pla...
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