Export items from the UK

[ResourceCoach]

If we can't send items out of the UK, why are we being marked as late on despatch. It's not my fault if neither ETSY nor Royal Mail will allow us to send items.  It is not viable to use other carriers as the postage price is much higher than Royal Mail.

[CryzalisDesigns]

All you can do for now is change the dispatch date and inform your customer of the situation, Etsy does not care about bank holidays, strikes, hacks or anything else that can disrupt the postal service 

[ResourceCoach · Accepted solution]

True but unfair on sellers!

[givemeacrown]

As annoying as it is, you need to change your shipping options if you would normally use Royal Mail for export shipping.

Etsy can't make a judgement call on whether to stop export sales for UK sellers because some sellers will use other providers to keep their international shipping options open.

[ResourceCoach]

Thanks for that suggestion.

I am unable to do this as shipping cost goes up from £3.25 with Royal Mail to £17 with other carriers!

[givemeacrown]

@ResourceCoach I wasn't intending to suggest that you should. Just that Etsy can't know who will and who won't so it's up to individual sellers to manage their listings and shipping options.

For instance, I'm in Australia and when international shipping got very messy during Covid some Australian sellers were able to switch to other shipping providers, some like me weren't.  It wouldn't have been fair of Etsy to stop all Australian sellers from selling internationally just because Australia Post wasn't accepting parcels to some countries - that would have negatively impacted those businesses who could adjust to the situation.

[dayspringcollectible]

The only thing you will be able to do is push your Ship By date out as far as allowed into the future, and hope things have cleared up by then.  If they haven't by that date, your only other option would be to cancel those orders.

[CraftyCornishMaids]

@ResourceCoach 

You are a trader,

You have taken orders, and have contracts with your customers, you need to dispatch, in your dispatch times, AND deliver in your delivery times,

There are various ways to do this,

mainly use another courier.

If you don't want to do that, you need to cancel the orders,

You could contact the customers, and ask them if they are happy to have the dispatch date extended, however, you probably still have unrealistic delivery dates on those orders, and will have to end up refunding, as when they do open up, things will take much longer than they have been taking.

If you are adamant you won't fulfil your contracts you have with your customers, (which include dispatch date and delivery date)  then cancel, and stop selling overseas, until at least a week after Royal Mail gets it's act together

It may not be your fault you are in this situation, for orders taken before Thursday last week, but it is your responsibility as a trader, and in UK law.

[MinnieMaudsAttic]

@ResourceCoach    It isn't your fault but you are the only one that can protect your business when something like this occurs.  If no other carrier is viable, you may have to stop selling overseas for now.  If you don't already do so, perhaps start selling on other venues within the UK such as Ebay or social media.

[WildCornflowerStudio]

I’ve completely stopped shipping overseas since to Cyber incident. Although I only have a small business it accounts for at least a 50% loss in revenue and is so frustrating! Can’t see much progress being made for exporting according to Royal Mail website this morning. Like you I simply can’t afford to ship any other way so just have to wait until it’s sorted. Thank goodness I’m not reliant on the income, although it’s nice to have! Sure it will be chaos when it restarts so I’m going to leave for a week or so after it’s back up and running. 

[PirateNinjas]

Isn't Evri competitively priced with Royal Mail?

[CraftyCornishMaids]

not for large letters