Starting weight calculation at more than zero

[consciouspnm]

I use weight based shipping, but that doesn't take account of the weight of the packaging. Is it possible to add an offset to the calculation before it starts adding the products up?

[leehack]

Only ugly surcharges and they do more bad than good. Why not up your prices in the weight bands slightly and keep it clear and easy?

[consciouspnm]

Only ugly surcharges and they do more bad than good. Why not up your prices in the weight bands slightly and keep it clear and easy?

I've done that for the First Class stuff, but I didn't for special delivery and got caught out when it went a few grams over the weight class due to the packaging. I was hoping someone could just point to a simple solution as SD goes up in quite big chunks.

[guccij]

I allow about 15-20g for the padded envelope (we use Mail Lite Plus), then 10g for the invoice and 2g for the franking and address labels. These weights are added to the product weights. Works for us, anyway.

And of course, most people order more than one thing so the weight calculation is more than it needs to be. It's definitely safer this way and we don't get caught out.

We do "force" the weights on some products which are more valuable, to ensure they go by Recorded or Special Delivery.

[consciouspnm]

We do "force" the weights on some products which are more valuable, to ensure they go by Recorded or Special Delivery.

How do you force items into Special Delivery? Do you limit the top weight for first class?

Ideally I'd like to force Special Delivery based on value, but I can't find an easy way of doing it.

[Golf Tee Warehouse]

Could you just adjust your weight band down by an amount equivalent to the packaging weight.

For example: Royal Mail 1st Class Post 501g-750g could be set with a weight limit of 0.65 Kg giving you 100g allowance for packaging.

Using this method means you can use accurate weights in Actinic and don't end up with a cumulative error

[guccij]

How do you force items into Special Delivery? Do you limit the top weight for first class? Yes we do limit it. The limit is set at 300g. Above 300g, customers have only Recorded or Special Delivery to choose from. Then above 400g Special only. Above 2 kilos it's Standard Parcels or DHL.

[consciouspnm]

Could you just adjust your weight band down by an amount equivalent to the packaging weight.

For example: Royal Mail 1st Class Post 501g-750g could be set with a weight limit of 0.65 Kg giving you 100g allowance for packaging.

Using this method means you can use accurate weights in Actinic and don't end up with a cumulative error

That's a good idea and what I've just implemented!

[consciouspnm]

Yes we do limit it. The limit is set at 300g. Above 300g, customers have only Recorded or Special Delivery to choose from. Then above 400g Special only. Above 2 kilos it's Standard Parcels or DHL.

Why are you differentiating between first class and recorded? The compensation is exactly the same. I used to send everything Signed For until the postman pointed out it was just a waste of 72p unless there was some legal requirement that you had to know if it had been delivered.

[grantglendinnin]

Why are you differentiating between first class and recorded? The compensation is exactly the same. I used to send everything Signed For until the postman pointed out it was just a waste of 72p unless there was some legal requirement that you had to know if it had been delivered.

It's not a waste of 72p if the postie does his/her job properly.

The signed-for option should, in theory, allow you to prove that somebody has received the item(s) and signed for the delivery. On many occasions (we use Recorded Signed-For a lot) the postie doesn't do his/her job and either self-signs it or delivers it without signing at all.

The sole basis of this allows you to prove they received the item, otherwise please point me in the direction of companies that sell relatively high value items which are sent via standard First Class delivery and I'll act innocent and say I never received the initial item, nor the replacement, nor the third replacement, etc, etc.

See what I mean? In 'online business' there are so many shady characters you don't know who you can and cannot trust. If all online sales were delivered to your local area you would know the delivery locations background and you could take further steps to reduce the risk of fraud (chargebacks mainly). Unfortunately as sales are UK (and world) wide, this is not a viable option - and therefore everything is sent via recorded or special delivery (depending on the items value) to protect ourselves as sellers. (Even if the postie self-signs, the burden is on himself if the recipient still claims they never received it)

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In line with your initial request, can't you factor in the packaging weight into the products overall weight?

[guccij]

Why are you differentiating between first class and recorded? Because CUSTOMERS like it. It's no skin off my nose to offer it and given that the CUSTOMERS are paying for it, everyone feels good.

[consciouspnm]

I was including it even though I was offering 'Free' delivery on some products. As those products were valued under £36 then I didn't see the advantage of knowing it has been delivered. If the customer says it didn't turn up, I'll just put a claim in to the Royal Mail. I have proof of posting so they have to either pay up or prove it was delivered. If you are getting the customer to pay for it then that's different to me footing the bill for no perceived advantage.

[consciouspnm]

The sole basis of this allows you to prove they received the item, otherwise please point me in the direction of companies that sell relatively high value items which are sent via standard First Class delivery and I'll act innocent and say I never received the initial item, nor the replacement, nor the third replacement, etc, etc.

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In line with your initial request, can't you factor in the packaging weight into the products overall weight?

I was using it for the compensation if offered. I'd never send anything that cost me over £36 i.e the replacement value, using just signed for. If the Royal Mail lose a £60 X-10 controller, I want £60 back off them, not just £36, so it would go Special Delivery. A £20 Appliance Module would just go first class and I'd get proof of posting.

If I add the packaging weight to each product and they buy two products then they are paying for the packaging twice...

[guccij]

I'll just put a claim in to the Royal Mail.Have you tried doing this recently? We gave up about a year ago. It's pointless. While we have proof of posting for every single item , that's not enough for RM.

The time it takes to submit a claim, with all the paperwork required, exchange rate proofs and so on, convinced us that it wasn't worth the candle. In any event, you only get back the cost price, not the retail price of the item.

It's unscrupulous eBayers who are to blame of course.

[guccij]

If I add the packaging weight to each product and they buy two products then they are paying for the packaging twice...This is only an issue if they are charged excessive rates for shipping or the weight bands are too narrow.

[Sean Williams]

We send everything on a signed for delivery - even a £10.00 order. We've always have trouble with people claiming they didn't receive the goods with ordinary 1st class - particularly in London; so we stopped it.
Mind you, most of our stuff is fairly high value, so it really isn't an issue with a customer - they expect to pay shipping and we always make sure we just cover our costs.

[bamboo]

On the very rare occasions I have had to claim for something lost or damaged by Royal Mail, just once early on this year. They really are streets ahead of all other UK carriers IMHO.
The paperwork and proof took less than ten minutes to fill out. It was all handed in on my next visit to the post office. I received a cheque for the full amount including delivery from Royal Mail fourteen days later.
Painless and simple. However I should add the caveat that not everyone in Royal Mail does what they are contracted to do espcially in the Christmas period.