Sellers are at the mercy of shipping carriers once they send their orders out the door. From packages gone astray to delayed scanning (which impacts tracking), it seems online sellers have seen and experienced it all.
In a discussion about recent problems with USPS, one seller described an interesting way to improve the service she received from the postal service – she advocated on behalf of herself.
The seller made an appointment with her local postmaster, showed him the volume of business she did and her Amazon seller performance metrics to show how easy it was to be suspended from selling. She asked the postmaster what she could do to ensure her packages were handled properly.
Her email exuded professionalism. It appears that in the meeting with her local postmaster, rather than ranting about past problems, she focused on the future. And she asked the postmaster for ideas on how she (the seller) could improve her business.
The result – the postmaster arranged for a big mail truck to pick up the seller’s packages on the way to the local distribution center rather than having her carrier pick them up. Since then, her packages have never missed a scan, she said – and her packages get a one-day headstart.
That’s not to say lower-volume sellers could get access to a distribution truck, but it’s a strategy worth considering for sellers having problems with any service provider.
Whether your business is home-based or operates from a warehouse or a retail establishment, you may need to remind your vendors in the most professional way that it’s in their best interest to help you succeed.
Note from the editor: the article has been edited to reflect that the seller is a woman, not a man. Apologies to the seller for the gaffe.
