Dealing with the Postal Strikes?

IP · #1 09-10-2009, 09:26 AM

I am aware we have touched on this in another thread, but wanted to hear how all of you plan to deal with the forthcoming Postal Strikes?

BenEddie1112 · #2 09-10-2009, 12:11 PM

Alerting customers to it with links to reliable news sources, luckily they have been quite receptive and I've managed to avoid being ruined reputation wise by it

.

RawRob · #3 09-10-2009, 12:56 PM

I touched on this in a previous post, but here is the full details:

Once the date of the strike is confirmed, I will stop sending anything with Royal Mail several days before the start of the strike (so nothing gets caught in the backlog).

I will offer courier delivery option for those who want to pay extra (already doing this), will use DHL booked through www.p4d.co.uk (and larger parcels generally go with DHL anyway)

For other orders I will use www.myhermes.co.uk Like I said before I've not used this company yet and it's 3-5 day delivery but it's only £3.47+vat for items up to 2kg and I can't find cheaper than that. (They also have a recommend a friend bonus whereby both the recommender and the friend get 20% discount from their first order so if you want recommending PM me your email address.)

If anyone has any better ideas, I'd love to know. I would like to use a faster service than 3-5 days if there is anything around that price point.

Edited to add: Forgot to mention international. For over 3-4kg I can send by courier which is what I usually do (booked via www.interparcel.com ), but for smaller parcels I don't know what to do.

Rob

Cathy · #4 09-10-2009, 02:07 PM

I do think information to customers is critical. Most people I think will understand provided they're kept informed.

Definitely agree about not sending things during the course of the strike, much more liklihood of them getting lost completely (in my experience) or just backlogged for days.

If you're planning on using couriers for the first time I'd look at getting accounts set up now as nearer to the time of the strike or during it the courier companies will no doubt be inundated with people wanting a new account.

We haven't, in the past, tried asking if customers want to pay more for a courier option during the strike. At the moment parcels over a certain weight/size we send courier anyway. I guess we'll just have to see how long it goes on for.

Laurafyp · #5 09-10-2009, 03:28 PM

Like RawRob we are going to be offering another, more expensive, shipping option, and those packages will be sent out via Fastway, who are able to give us our packages under 2kg for £3.95. We use Fastway for our items over 2kg at the moment and they have proven to be very reliable so Im glad to be able to use them as some sort of resolution!

sellladybag.com · #6 10-10-2009, 04:38 AM

we have suffered from the strikes.and have redeliver the items the our customes use the same method,worry about it will disappear again

IP · #7 10-10-2009, 11:09 AM

Never realised the Royal Mail operated in China

RawRob · #8 11-10-2009, 09:54 PM

Just found this Collect+ Has anyone used it? Might be useful to some of you. Collection and delivery from/to local PayPoint shops by HDNL for £3.99 up to 10kg. I can't see anywhere on the site how long the service takes.

Rob