Free Shipping
One of my eBay customers sent me a nice note. They thanked me for treating their purchase with care. The note made my day brighter and gave me pause for thought. Apparently, they were a little surprised that free shipping included good customer service.
I listed the item with a very low starting bid and free shipping. As it turned out, I lost money on the deal. The item sold for less than what I paid for shipping alone – not counting the cost of the packing supplies and the item itself.
It never once crossed my mind to skip any of my usual careful packaging processes. When I offer free shipping it is an offer that is meant to have value. I always hope the auction will bring in more than enough to cover my costs, but it does not bother me to give someone a bargain. I look at any loss as advertising or PR expense. Perhaps the customer will come back to shop another time, tell a friend about my store, or maybe just pay it forward.
Very nice ideas. Doing the right thing should not be change for different situations.
You are right. Being consistant gives me peace of mind, too. I never have to wonder if I wrapped a book because I always do.