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Offering a gift service
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Stacey



Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow
PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:12 pm    Post subject: Offering a gift service Reply with quote
    

Inspired by a certain Downsizers panic at a forgotten birthday I wondered if there's room for offering gift wrap and a printed message sent direct to the recipient with my felt etc?

Do any of you offer this already? Do you think it's worthwhile?

Penny Outskirts



Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....
PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I think it's a great idea (also inspired by the same Downsizer )

May think about it for the shop, and the website

Stacey



Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow
PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Would you charge or offer it as a free service ?( to the public not The Downsizer )

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Stacey wrote:
Would you charge or offer it as a free service ?( to the public not The Downsizer )


Absolutely not. Charge for it.

hedgewitch



Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ
PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Could you offer - at extra cost - the option of guaranteed next-day delivery or same-day delivery if the order is placed before a certain time? I'm sure some people would happily pay the extra if they were in a panic over a forgotten event, and it would be a good service.

hedgewitch



Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ
PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

tahir wrote:
Stacey wrote:
Would you charge or offer it as a free service ?( to the public not The Downsizer )


Absolutely not. Charge for it.


Agree.

Stacey



Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow
PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

hedgewitch wrote:
Could you offer - at extra cost - the option of guaranteed next-day delivery or same-day delivery if the order is placed before a certain time? I'm sure some people would happily pay the extra if they were in a panic over a forgotten event, and it would be a good service.



I wondered about that - I guess the tricky thing would be if they placed the order before 12 (for example) but I was out and didn't get see order until the afternoon/evening
I'll have a look at other people's sites and see what they offer I think.

Stacey



Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow
PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

tahir wrote:
Stacey wrote:
Would you charge or offer it as a free service ?( to the public not The Downsizer )


Absolutely not. Charge for it.

So, we're back to my bette noir which is what's a reasonable charge?

hedgewitch



Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ
PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Stacey wrote:
hedgewitch wrote:
Could you offer - at extra cost - the option of guaranteed next-day delivery or same-day delivery if the order is placed before a certain time? I'm sure some people would happily pay the extra if they were in a panic over a forgotten event, and it would be a good service.



I wondered about that - I guess the tricky thing would be if they placed the order before 12 (for example) but I was out and didn't get see order until the afternoon/evening
I'll have a look at other people's sites and see what they offer I think.


Yes - fair point. P'raps better not, then. Hadn't thought of that.
An emergency mobile phone that has email alerts to the service? Then you can drop whatever you're doing and go into "emergency pressie" mode?

Green Man



Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 5272
Location: Rural Scotland.
PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 07 3:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Penny wrote:
I think it's a great idea (also inspired by the same Downsizer )

May think about it for the shop, and the website


A personalised birthday/valentines night dress could be fun

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 07 3:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Stacey wrote:
So, we're back to my bette noir which is what's a reasonable charge?


A reasonable charge is what extra cost is incurred by you plus a reasonable markup. This should be based on at least double your labour and materials cost.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales
PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 07 4:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

How about a flat fee, maybe £2.50 for gift wrap and a suitable card, have it on a buy it button in the shop just like any other item, and say that choosing this option means it will go in the next post you can physically get it to?- that way you arent promising miracles just saying that if its chosen you will get it posted the next possible post after boxing up the order. I would imagine that should be enough to allow you to trial the idea and see if it makes any difference

Stacey



Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow
PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 07 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Good idea sally. I'll take a photo of something giftwrapped and a sample card etc and put it on a Paypal button ike you say.

Now, environmentally friendly wrapping paper............


sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales
PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 07 6:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Stacey wrote:


Now, environmentally friendly wrapping paper............



Recycled kraft paper and bribe a sprog to stamp stars in gold ink all over it? Tied with suitable arty farty looking twine maybe?

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45374
Location: yes
PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 07 6:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

make a deal with a courier firm

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