Category: Mailing

When ordering online you will need to check what your rights are in terms of returns, refund and postage. Most companies will accept returns unless the item was custom made or it is unhygienic to do so but they often vary in how long they give you to return the item. If the item is faulty then you have more rights than if the item doesn’t fit or you have simply changed your mind. Some retailers will only give you 14 days for returns for example on items that are in the sale and others will only offer you a credit note rather than a refund.

It is also important to check the delivery details before ordering especially if you are ordering an item for a special occasion. If you are ordering an item from abroad then you will also need to allow extra time in case the parcel gets caught up in customs. This can add weeks on to your delivery and you may also find that you need to pay import tax on certain items that are sent from other countries.

As well as the rights the retailer gives you, you are also covered by the sales of goods act. It is important to fully understand your rights before you speak to the company to question a return and if possible, get anything they say in writing.

Having a penpal was once a very popular hobby. You could send mail to anyone in the world and look forward to receiving a reply weeks later. However, with the Internet allowing us to communicate with anyone, anywhere, with just the click of a button, penpals have fallen out of fashion.

With the New Year upon us, maybe now would be a good time to give it a go? While chatting online is simpler and cheaper, it is somewhat impersonal when faced with a screen of black and white text. Writing by hand takes more effort, mistakes cannot be deleted with the quick tap of a key and each character has its own subtle differences. You can also include little gifts with a letter – coins, confectionery or other little tokens.

It is quite easy to find penpals nowadays too – the same thing killing off the pastime can also bring people together. There are various websites dedicated to matching penpals with one another, with the ability to choose based on country, interests or more. It also means that you can communicate in between letters to keep your penpal updated on when they can expect a new package or to let them know if you have been delayed in responding – although some may argue this spoils the concept a little!

With Christmas a little over 4 weeks away you need to start thinking about placing your online orders now if you haven’t already. Every year there seems to be issues with the post and couriers as Christmas approaches and unfortunately many customers are left with their presents for loved ones arriving after the festive season.

You need to place your order in time for it to be delivered but ideally also allowing enough time to be able to return it for a replacement or refund if it is not right. When placing an order online, check the estimated delivery date and also check to see if they say there are currently any delays. If there is only a few of the item in stock, then you may find that even though it lets you order it, they do not have enough stock to fulfil all the orders they have taken so you will have to wait for the new delivery to arrive.

Approaching Christmas, many companies give you an extended period in which you can bring items back, but always check what the returns policy is as if you try and return it after 28 days you may find that the company will not accept it.

In a world now dominated by the Internet, it’s sometimes easy to forget that it’s even possible to send things via post – unless of course you’re a keen online shopper. However, there may be occasions when you have to make use of postal services and it’s important to consider packaging when you do.

Whether it’s a letter or a gift you’re sending, there are various things to think about. For example, if you’re posting an important document that is supposed to be private, then ensure that you check the quality of the envelope you’re using – many of the cheaper brands are somewhat see-through, meaning anyone along the way can read at least part of the contents if they so wish. If this is the case, it may be worth including an extra piece of paper to keep the document confidential.

On the other hand, if you’re posting an object, package it well. Even if it’s a relatively unbreakable item, it is likely to get bashed around during handling so it may be worth spending a little extra time on packaging it well. If the packaging is torn during transit, the contents may fall out and the address lost, meaning the parcel will never reach its destination. Go crazy with the sticky tape if you need to!

Finally, even if you think your handwriting is clear, it may be helpful to write the address in block capitals. You should always include your own details on the back too in case anything goes wrong – house number and postcode will suffice, as long as they’re legible.

Many companies build up huge databases over the years and have hundreds if not thousands of email addresses and contact names which have opted in to receive information from the company. Unfortunately, not all companies use this data wisely and many simply send out an email a few times a year. In order to keep your audience engaged, you need to get the balance right and contact them enough to keep you in the forefront of their mind but not too much that your emails start to get annoying and cause them to unsubscribe. Many companies will allow a recipient to choose how often they are contacted such as weekly or monthly. This way, you give the control back to the customer yet still retain their data.

Sending out newsletters and special offers are a good way to interact with your customer database. It may be that you have a product launch coming up or that have a sale weekend approaching. Sending a quick email to your database may attract a large number of enquiries and even sales at very little cost.