Replying to shipping requests
Shipping is convenient for the buyer and risky for the seller. Three clear sentences settle it before it gets complicated.
The situation
The question is almost always the same: 'Do you ship?' Now it's about cost, packaging, insurance — and who carries the risk if the parcel never arrives. Settling that upfront avoids every awkward conversation afterwards.
Good replies — and why they work
„Shipping is possible: £5.49 insured, payment in advance by transfer or the platform's payment feature.“
✓ Price, method and payment in one sentence — nothing left to negotiate.
„I only ship through the platform's payment system, that protects us both. Shipping is paid by the buyer.“
✓ Names the protection for both sides, which defuses the most common objection immediately.
Better not like this
„Sure, just send me your address and I'll see what postage costs.“
✗ Without a fixed price you'll argue later and may end up covering the difference.
„COLLECTION ONLY!!! NO SHIPPING!!!“
✗ The shouting reads as hostile — a plain 'collection only, thanks for understanding' does the same job.
Three ready-to-copy replies
„Happy to ship: £6.99 insured, paid in advance. I'll send you the tracking number.“
„I ship via the payment feature — it protects us both and I'll cover the fee.“
„Collection only, sorry. It's too bulky for me to post.“
And what do you reply to YOUR message?
Templates are the start — it gets really fitting with your actual message. Paste it, pick a tone, get three suggestions.
Generate a reply for freeWho carries the risk
In private sales the risk generally passes to the buyer once the parcel is handed to the courier — provided the buyer requested shipping. In practice that helps little when a parcel disappears: the hassle still lands with you. So two things are standard: ship insured and pass on the tracking number immediately. For higher values, add a photo of the packed parcel and the receipt.
Platform payment or bank transfer
Integrated payment features charge a small fee and remove almost every classic dispute: the money is secured, the shipment documented, and there's a third party if something goes wrong. Advance bank transfer is free but requires trust — and should never run through payment services declared as 'friends and family', because that removes all buyer protection. If in doubt, use the payment feature and price the fee in.
FAQ
Do I have to offer shipping?
No. 'Collection only' is entirely legitimate and often smarter for bulky or fragile items.
Who pays for postage?
Usually the buyer. State the exact amount upfront or it gets renegotiated at the end.
What if the parcel doesn't arrive?
With insurance and tracking the case can be resolved. Without both you're exposed — so never ship uninsured.
Note: DatingPilot is a phrasing assistant. Review every reply before sending — there is no guarantee of any outcome, and real conversations beat any template.