I need some advice.

[triber]

I am disabled and don't drive, so my husband does my mailing every day. He is going to Arizona in a couple of weeks for 9 days, and I have no one to mail for me, maybe once during that time. What is my best option?

1) Shut down my store?

2) Change all my shipping times?

3) Put my store on vacation, if I do that, can buyers still purchase and can I let them know that shipping will be delayed?

[rose-dee]

I think your usual weekly volume may decide the best course.  

If you process a large number of sales/shipments every week, you may want to shut down the store "on vacation", i.e. show a nice vacation sort of message, but have the listings invisible until you're able to ship again.  If you have a lower volume, the "vacation with visible listings" setting would seem adequate.  

I don't know about changing the shipping times on a large number of listings - that could be a hassle, and frankly, might cause trouble if you get a complaint.  This was probably why "vacation" features for stores was implemented in the first place - less risk for sellers. 

Just my viewpoint, for what it's worth. 

[mr.elmwood]

Put your store on vacation and make your listings invisible. Come off vacation three days before DH gets home.

[reallynicestamps · Accepted solution]

Put your store on vacation. Do not allow anyone to buy during your husband's absence.

Open the store again the day before he gets home. 

If you leave your store open in any way while you cannot ship, you will end up with trashed DSRs and nasty feedback. Buyers will not believe that you are unable to ship. Nor will they care if they do believe you.

Enjoy your own vacation from all the work of taking care of a husband!

By the way, while your Store is On Vacation, you can still add more listings. They just won't show until you re-open the Store. This is also an opportunity to tweak older listings.

[msmaggie060 · Accepted solution]

Yes, I think with your amount of sales, you need to put your store on vacation. If not, you will be a target for low DSRs since people just want their purchases to get to them fast.

Sorry that I don't live closer to you or I would have offered to pick up your mail on the way to my post office. Unfortunately we live just too far apart. Possibly you could find another boardie who lives near you?

[triber]

Thank you so much for all the advice, I guess it's going to have to go on vacation. My reluctance has been that this is the time of year my crafts and yarn start selling, but it's not worth it to get low ratings.

Thanks msmaggie, I wish you lived nearer too. We don't know to many people since we are new to this city. Oh well, it can't be helped. I love that my husband can go and visit our son and family in Arizona, he deserves the break.

[snidley7]

Depending on your address you might be able to get postal pickups right from your door. I think it only costs a few dollars per pickup.

[zee-chan-jpn-books]

I agree with others; vacation sounds like the safest option.

Or get Canada Post to pick up your items every evening if your profit margin allows it. I don't remember how much it was, though... (I used it for free when they had a free promotional period 2 years ago and that's it.)

[mr.elmwood]

Snid and Zee nailed that one. You can schedule regular pickups from CP.

[i*m-still-here]

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@snidley7 wrote:
Depending on your address you might be able to get postal pickups right from your door. I think it only costs a few dollars per pickup.

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I was in a similar situation and unable to get out for some time.

Even though I got by, I checked out all the  options.

The PO will pickup at your door if your volume is large enough.

You could explain to buyers that shipping will be a little slower and why and do a once/week PO pickup.

However, I'll bet they'll also do that for you even with lower volume if you explain the situation to them.

I'd check that out first.

It's time for Christmas sales and do you really want to shut down and miss out?

[triber]

Thanks, I call Canada Post today and find the cost. My sales are very erratic, I can go a couple of days with almost no sales, then all of a sudden there are quite a few sales. I almost feel like sometimes my listings are less visible than at other times.

You are right, I don't want to miss the Christmas trade, but I am anxious not to get my ratings bashed.

[zee-chan-jpn-books]

I think you can schedule the pick up with a day ahead, so let's say you for a few sales today, you can schedule one today for tomorrow evening. I don't think a one-day delay for shipping would affect your rating significantly. 

[triber]

I called Canada Post, and was told that the cost for pick-up is $3.50 for however many packages, even one. He went on to explain that they had to have the postage done on them, so I said I would need to put stamps on all my letter mail, and he told me they don't pick up letter mail! That is about 70% of my business.

My husband is going to talk to a man he knows and see if he can come a couple of times and mail for me, and a daughter who lives a distance away is willing to come once or twice. I didn't want to ask her as she has two babies and a very sick husband, but she wants to help. So it looks as if I will be able to mail every 2 days with an explanation if the guy agrees to do it for me.

I will be so happy if I can keep selling, I have several specific Christmas items listed.

[zee-chan-jpn-books]

Oh, I didn't know that they don't pick up lettermail/letterpost... I remember back then I had a few parcels for the postie to pick up, and I gave him two letters (with stamps on already since I used to use those discount postage) and he was okay with taking them. I guess they wouldn't pick up lettermail/letterpost only. 

Glad to know that it's working out for you 😃

[anguscoinshop]

It is always a great thing to be in excellent friendly term with your local postmaster.

Last summer i had to park my car for a few days while i was doing repairs. I phoned Mark(postmaster) and very kindly asked if he could arrange regular pick-up free of charge. All because i fostered a business relationship over time just for this kind of situation.

My business never knew the car wasn't available.

[triber]

Thanks zee-chan, this is a good time of year for selling craft supplies I find, it has been very slow until a couple of weeks ago. I appreciate your comments. I am relieved that I can keep my store open.