Mail carriers and rates will vary a lot depending on where your package is going to and from, but there are three things everyone must consider when sending items:
Always send items using a tracked service and keep proof of postage.
Always share the tracking information with the buyer.
We recommend purchasing insurance, especially if your package is being sent internationally, or is high-value.
Always send items using a tracked service and keep proof of postage
This is extremely important. If something goes wrong (such as a buyer claiming their item hasn't arrived) you are the only party that can prove an item has been sent correctly.
On rare occasions, buyers forget to mark their transaction as complete within 3 days of receiving their package. Your tracking information is needed to prove that the item was delivered and when. Second Skin admins can then complete the transaction on your behalf.
Never accept a request from a buyer to use a cheaper untracked service as this will affect your protection should they raise a dispute.
Always share the tracking information with the buyer
If you share tracking information with the buyer, they can see the most up to date estimate for arrival. That way, if they need to be present when the package arrives, they can plan accordingly.
Sharing the tracking information also avoids the buyer having to message you for updates, useful if the delivery time is particularly long.
Purchasing insurance/delivery protection
We recommend purchasing insurance, especially if your package is being sent internationally, or is high-value.
Second Skin does not accept any liability for packages that go missing since we are not directly involved in delivery.
The cost of insurance/delivery protection should not be passed on to the seller since it is designed to protect you should your item go missing.
The shipping estimate on my listing is too low/high for my buyer's location. What do I do?
When you create a listing you will be asked to enter an estimate for domestic and, if you choose to offer it, international shipping. There's always a chance that these estimates aren't accurate depending on exactly where a potential buyer lives.
If a buyer makes an offer on your listing, here's what to do:
Find out the exact address where the package needs to be delivered.
Get an accurate shipping quote from your local mail carrier. Make sure you get a quote for a tracked service.
Message the buyer with the updated shipping cost:
If you both agree that the estimate on your listing is close enough to the real cost, you can accept their offer and proceed.
If your estimate for shipping is higher/lower than the actual cost, and the buyer is happy to pay the updated cost, you should reject their offer, amend your listing to reflect the actual cost, and have them make another offer. You can then accept and proceed.
If your estimate for shipping is much higher/lower than the actual cost, but the buyer does not wish to pay the updated cost, you should reject their offer. You can then update the listing if you want, or leave it as is and wait for another offer.