Shipping to customers getting hit by storm?

[Former_Member]

I have a couple of custom orders (placed a week ago) that are supposed to be shipped out tomorrow and they are to customers who are in the "Sandy" path. :( Is everyone else shipping as normal to these areas or waiting and trying to contact the customers first to try to keep the packages from being lost in the chaos? I ship First Class or Priority and I'm hoping that 2-4 days is long enough to get things sorted with USPS over there....

[PiecesofMeCardsnMore]

Some areas were hit harder than others. I'm in Western Mass. and it was pretty wild this afternoon but now it's very quiet (even though they say we're going to get hit with winds again tonight, I haven't heard much). We had mail delivery today. If you feel more comfortable waiting a day or two I'm sure your buyer will understand. The mail may be delayed until flight schedules are back to normal.

[PebbleCreekStudio]

I'm shipping to the east coast. Worst case scenario, I will reproduce any damaged or lost items.

[SweetNSnappyDesigns]

I remember the USPS was experiencing delays when I shipped items to the south during Hurricane Isaac. None of my packages got damaged though. You should probably be ok sending your orders out, but just expect some delays. I have orders that need to go to Austraila and the west coast, and since I'm directly in Sandy's path I am unable to send them out. I just sent my customers a message informing them of the delays due to the storm.

[Former_Member]

I live on the east coast, I would say email your customers first. If you get no response wait til you hear, a lot of people on the coast have been moved, and many will not be able to return home for awhile. IMHO

[denisemcguire]

I'm from NY - though I'm currently stranded in Savannah, GA! They are evacuating near my home now, and I would strongly encourage you to try to make contact first. The winds and rains alone will make for possible damaged shipments, but also, people aren't home to bring their items in.

[DLpottery]

I just shipped a package to Staten Island, NY. I did add tracking and insured it just in case. I don'r want to be out the cost of the items if they do get lost in the storm.

[Former_Member]

Thank you, everyone! I will try to contact the buyers first and see what they want me to do (if they have internet). My thoughts are with all of you who are in the storm! Be safe!

[Former_Member]

I'd wait a week to send them - nothing is open over there, esp. in the NY/NJ area, so things are just going to sit somewhere anyway. Less chance of them getting lost if you wait until the Post Office is delivering again.

Also, chances are good that your customers aren't even home, or if they are, are out of power and not thinking about their Etsy orders. I don't think anyone will be upset if you pause on your order sending while this plays out. You can try emailing them, but remember that 4 million + people are out of power on the East Coast so... no email either.

[Former_Member]

If you don't wait to ship your items, I would certainly add insurance to the packages. That way, you're covered if you end up having to replace any items due to loss/damage.

[FizzCandy]

I am in Washington DC and not only did we receive USPS mail yesterday but a package I put in a mailbox on Sunday night is already in a local sort facility.

[themissingpiecepuzzl]

I would ship them as soon as you have them. We were in the direct path (18 miles from landfall) and our Post Office was open prior to the storm. There are sorting centers that will house them and keep them out of harms way.

Donna
The Missing Piece PUzzle Company

[Polar1Butterfly]

Karly from OffBeatBetty says Edited on Oct 29, 2012

I have a couple of custom orders (placed a week ago) that are supposed to be shipped out tomorrow and they are to customers who are in the "Sandy" path. :( Is everyone else shipping as normal to these areas or waiting and trying to contact the customers first to try to keep the packages from being lost in the chaos? I ship First Class or Priority and I'm hoping that 2-4 days is long enough to get things sorted with USPS over there....

````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
We were in the Sandy's path. Our post offices were closed yesterday, so I contacted my customer whose package was supposed to ship out yesterday and informed them about the delay.

[PIXELGRINphotography]

I shipped out a custom coaster order yesterday to NY, NY. I didn't want to, really but they are personalized for an event coming up in a few days and I needed to make sure they are there. I'm going to contact my buyer in a few to see if they have power. i don't want to be a nuisance otherwise. So terrible, i've been through 30+ years of Hurricanes here in Fort Lauderdale, FL so I know what a hassle they are going through.

[Former_Member]

I would at least email them... even if they have no power or internet now when they get it back they will see that you at least tried to make contact. As a buyer I know it would mean a lot to me to know that the seller had enough consideration to try and keep me informed...

[Former_Member]

Ship and insure the packages. The really hard hit spots will take longer to recover, but other areas will run mail fairly quickly. I can't remember our mailman ever missing more than one day of delivery in our area, and we have hurricanes pretty frequently here.