Standard or Next Day Delivery??

[MarkPearson]

Hello All,

I am thinking of changing my delivery options on www.rosesbydesign.com

Currently ALL prices include 'FREE Standard UK Delivery' - which is royal mail first class,

With the options at checkout to upgrade all orders to

next day pre 1pm -£3.95

or

next day pre 9am -£7.95

My idea is that I raise all prices by a few pounds (£) and ALL products will include FREE NEXT DAY DELIVERY.

Because our product is fresh, this option is better all around.

Whats everyones thoughts?

[The_JinJ]

I think it's a good idea - just remind folks, as you said, that to stay fresh they need the next day delivery - not many would grudge paying a few pence extra for this :)

[Sarah-Ink Promotions]

I think thats a good idea, as its a fresh product I think most peple would prefer next day delivery

[Top Hat]

I'd leave it as next day optional.

[MarkPearson]

Hi Top Hat,

so you think its better to allow them to upgrade (have the choice to pay extra for next day delivery)

What delivery options do you use, if you dont mind me asking?

[Top Hat]

Hi Top Hat,

so you think its better to allow them to upgrade (have the choice to pay extra for next day delivery)

What delivery options do you use, if you dont mind me asking?

Yep I'd leave it as next day optional (but I could easily be persuaded), you'll soon get a feel for if you need to change once you start to make sales.

Both options will have problems, because as soon as you get customers you get problems, you need to recognise a recurring problem and find a way to minimise them when they occurs.

For example:
You may find that by promising next day, you get complaints that it hasn't arrived next day (and whilst Royal Mail are very good, they don't always get it there next day on special).
You may find that with first class, too many go missing and you get complaints.


We offer First Class, with the option to upgrade Next Working day, same day shipping on orders before 3pm.

[SillyJokes]

Another problem you will get is someone sending the roses as a gift and the receipient isn't in. They don't know what was attempted and don't bother to go to the post office for a few days. Presto dead flowers.

Also the sender often does not know the recipient's address and makes a stab at it. More errors.

At least with a recorded delivery a card should be left. If you send by first class they are not obliged to card and the roses could go unclaimed - we get parcels back every day from Royal mail unclaimed which the customer didn't even know had been attempted.
If you guarantee next day delivery can you be sure you will get all that day's orders out on time? If you make next day optional then you can prioritise the next day orders leaving you some breathing room with the rest.

[MarkPearson]

Our roses are sent with their own little water supply, so they do travel well, they are packed in tissue paper etc..

But the 2-3 days delivery is an extra 2-3 day that the customer could be enjoying his or her personalised roses.

We do advise that customers get the flowers delivered to an address that will have someone there to collect.

Do the post office follow any given instructions?

If we add this section to the delivery options....

To ensure your HOME DELIVERY of RosesbyDesign arrives safely, please select one of the following options:

A) Leave the order by the front door of the house.

B) Leave order by front door of an apartment in a security building.

C) Leave the order by the back door of the house.

The only other option is that the postman leaves them a card saying they missed the flowers and they have to collect from local post office.

[Top Hat]

Posties will leave first class, or return to post office, they don't card.

Specials, they will not leave without a signature, and they should card.

[MarkPearson]

It may have to be special delivery then!

[baybees]

Mark have noticed (due to a friend asking who I pointed to your site) that we can't find an idea of delivery price to other countries. I ask cos she was thinking of sending some to Germany.

[MinuWeb]

Have you tried sending any abroad yet ?

For example the Royal mail claims 3 - 5 days for delivery to Estonia, but in reality it often takes 7 - 10

[SillyJokes]

Sending goods to Europe takes ages by mail, I have to deal with far more people asking where their stuff is in Europe proportionally than I do from the UK.

I think the delviery aim of 2- 6working days is a joke. It is just as likely to take 10-15 or get lost.

Stick with just the UK to start with. You'll have problems enough without dealing with lost flowers in Spain.

[MarkPearson]

Realistically, I did not expect to be sending our personalised roses to europe in this early stage.

If someone require a delivery to a european country we ask them to contact us.

I will then check the delivery price and quote.

Seems like some bad stories on delivery to europe.

Has anyone delivered to France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands - surley they must be quicker?

[SillyJokes]

I send stuff there and they are not necessarily quicker. I have sent two identical boxes to Germany to the same address on the same day from the same place and one took two weeks longer than the other. Explain that.

France looses so many parcels I seriously wonder if it worth sending stuff there.

Some of the best post is to Australia!

But you are right to start slow and move onto Europe later once you have every other system working well.

[Argentice]

I send stuff all around the world. Just make sure you get "Signed for" option.

It's amazing how few parcels "go missing" when you have to sign for them :)

[MarkPearson]

Hi Argentice,

Who do you use?

How many days do european deliverys take?

[Future Freak]

Some of the best post is to Australia!

I'd agree with that - I had a customer there who loved my stuff - so whilst the cost was quite high, I was consistently getting 7 days delivery on First Class International Signed For post.

Sending post first class post to Lowestoft though seems to get routed through the Bermuda triangle. ;)