Our ebay shop: https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/thehillsarealive
Our etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/RedPriscilla
Thrift Map Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbNm2pzGx5eTof7GpR8RDwA
Thrift Map Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thriftmap
OR if you can’t find what you’re looking for, contact Andrea for a private sale at:
https://www.instagram.com/_andreahills_
You can buy us a ‘coffee’ here: https://ko-fi.com/nicandandreahills
Or Take a look at our t-shirts and other merch which should display under our videos…
CONTACT US:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NicandAndreaHills/
OR VIA
Andrea’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/_andreahills_/
Nic’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nic_hills_reseller/
Andrea’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRRe8qQuwoJmVc-KiX_Hxw
Nic’s Music Channel : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLJFMcuvZ4ri9SC76-Hrcmg
Below are links to products we use in our business: (Affiliate Links)
Large Letter Size Boxes – https://amzn.to/3bwbFBY
Brown paper void fill – https://amzn.to/2MiuM9J
Large letter size guide – https://amzn.to/2MdjVNA
Helix compact postage size guide – http://amzn.to/2l8I8q9
Trolley we use at boot sales – https://amzn.to/3wBTxiT
Zebra Thermal 6×4 Label Printer – https://amzn.to/2JLvJDP
Samsung Laser Printer – https://amzn.to/2WI0ahR
Poly Mailing bags 100 x Mixed Sizes (ideal for clothes/soft toys) – http://amzn.to/2mHKCIe
Poly Mailing bags (Medium) – https://amzn.to/2Hs3ZB0
Poly Mailing bags (larger size) – https://amzn.to/2HqMSQb
Jiffy Bubble Mailer D1 Envelopes (DVD size – large letter) – http://amzn.to/2mBEOAM
Larger F3 Jiffy Bubble Mailer Envelopes (fit 2 x DVD side by side as a large letter) – http://amzn.to/2m4fPbJ
Brown Packing Paper (that I use for wrapping board games) – http://amzn.to/2l8Ofef Quality Tape Gun – https://amzn.to/3zu9UzU
Packing Tape (Brown 36 rolls) – http://amzn.to/2mHLM6B
Packing Tape (Clear 36 rolls) – http://amzn.to/2lloVwv
Black Clingfilm Packing Wrap – https://amzn.to/3o7Jay6
Bubble Wrap small bubbles – http://amzn.to/2mHDETM
Bubble wrap large bubbles – https://amzn.to/3o5HtRZ
Sticky-off Sticker/Labels Remover Liquid (Amazing stuff!) – http://amzn.to/2l8ICg1
Quality Salter Scales for weighing packages (up to 5kg) – http://amzn.to/2mBIbYw
Heavy duty weighing scales (up to 200kg) https://amzn.to/2XYOae2
Ziplock bags for boardgame parts etc – https://amzn.to/2Hs2rqG
LED Photography lights we use – https://amzn.to/2VojhMf
The compact light stands we use – https://amzn.to/2WJdoe9
Softbox lighting set up (bulky option) – https://amzn.to/2WEMiow
PS1 & PS2 Controller Tester – https://amzn.to/2JLwpsu
Screwdrivers to open Nintendo carts & systems – https://amzn.to/2HrxlQ1
Items Andrea uses when reselling clothing:
Mannequin for Clothing Photography – https://amzn.to/2VswWSJ
White Rollerblind for photography backdrop – http://amzn.to/2CM0Nfm
Handheld clothes steamer: https://amzn.to/3g0nAc3
Floor standing clothes Steamer – https://amzn.to/2JEEQG1
Clothes Folder (these are amazing!) – https://amzn.to/2HnJ6al
Shoe Shapers (For taking quality pictures of shoes) – https://amzn.to/2JG64w0
De-Bobbler ‘Fuzz-Off’ lint remover – https://amzn.to/2EbYplD
Gold and silver testing kit – https://amzn.to/3vDAW4U
Products we use when selling at Amazon FBA:
FBA product barcode labels – http://amzn.to/2llhoho
Suffocation warning labels – http://amzn.to/2m9YXAA
Quality double wall FBA boxes 20″x20″x20″ – https://amzn.to/2HoOTMY
Large Clear Bags for bagging FBA products 20″x30″ – https://amzn.to/2EavpdV
Medium Clear FBA Product Bags – https://amzn.to/2EazTl3
Small Clear FBA Product Bags – https://amzn.to/2JGk6xN
Ziplock Bags For Game Carts & Other Small Items – https://amzn.to/2Hs2rqG
Heavy duty weighing scales (for FBA shipments) http://amzn.to/2l8KUM6
Clear Round Seals for Sealing Board Games etc – https://amzn.to/2EavUVl
Items we use to make our YouTube videos:
GoPro Hero Session compact camera – https://amzn.to/2HtQMYr
Blue Snowball Microphone – https://amzn.to/2JG3TbO
GoPro accessories kit (chest mount/Head mount etc) – https://amzn.to/2LJwIXz
source
So many of my parcels don’t get scanned. It’s frustrating. Luckily most people are genuine and don’t open cases. I have actually been using evri for the last week.
Well you know what to do. Stop using Royal Mail 🤷🏻♂️ they blatantly don't care about their customers so stop using them.
I sell up to 100 item a day on eBay & Etsy, the amount of cases I have open is a joke. Spoke to person who collects my parcels, they don’t touch letters or 2nd class (48) they prioritise just cardboard parcels (his words) that are specials which are; 9am next day, tracked 48 & all first class… so I’ve had to move over to tracked 48 it’s cost me 1000’s in extra postage costs. EBay will refund buyer but NOT recover funds from you if postage is *tracked*, as most my standard 48 parcels end up being refunded and costs recovered from me. Deffo worth sending everything 24 or tracked 48 to save cases being opened. Can’t wait for all the cases after Christmas that people were expecting before Christmas!!!
Due to working full time and being a part time reseller, I don't have time to go to the post office, never really used them. 95% of my parcels ship through Evri so I can drop parcels off up to 10pm 7 days a week. I get the odd lost parcel and I have to refund, then about 2 months later i receive a surprise parcel in the post, the item that got lost. I use next day for higher value parcels at cost to me. Evri have some bad press but overall been quite reliable for me.
I've been refunded 2 times from ebay but I did wait 2 weeks before saying I not received. On one item wheir I got refunded I got the parcel days later but I was honest and told them and I got it sorted so he got his money back. I understand about the strikes but one seller got my address wrong only slightly but wrong. Said it delivered but not to me. No royal mail the best,never use yodel they smash items up.
Royal mail uses lazy Africans to sort your post. That's the delay
Yep the shipping with Royal mail has just been crazy. Put my own ebay on holiday mode early so avoided lot of issues ,but have a company I work with who sends around 100 orders a day out and they stayed with them for the same reason that did not see any bad effect over the first strikes and last week or 2 was just too late to change over to Evri. But now they just get hammered with claims and messages. Its just wild stuff gets refunded and then 2-3weeks past dispatch stuff gets delivery confirmation. Luckily eBay and amazon are working with sellers to keep the accounts in good standing ,but have not seen much support from RM, like you guys said over the past month its been like lose lose lose for sellers who stayed with RM . And I kind of feel like one of the only winners coming out of it is Evri as so many have gone over , personally have preferred myHermes / Evri over RM for the past few years already. But tricky times for sure. Anyway happy holidays guys.
Don't use royal mail and have had zero problems
Worst month i have ever had, 40 missing claims, loads of unscanned parcels, and to top it all have been sent 30 surcharge postage invoices from royal mail totalling over £150 because the automated sorting machine is not being manned on strike days and the Royal Mail computer is generating invoices for OBA when parcel are getting court up with others on the conveyer belt. have had to take a hit and start using EVRI, Really not Great. contemplating shutting until the new year.
It's diabolical royal mail also wanting signatures now which is fine but made 1 attempt at delivery in 19 days then item was thrown so annoying and my postage fee and item down the toilet ,royal mail are false advertising now these postage dates
I’ve switched off my sales this week as I’ve lost a few. One Royal Mail got there eventually but Evri is just as bad, I expect they have been overwhelmed too. One parcel was sent to Kent via Evri, tracked to courier then stopped. Not able to speak to a human at Evri, but I see a courier has been arrested and bailed for dumping parcels in a wood in Kent.
I've had 4 so far. I'm Dutch and all shipments to Ireland and the Uk have major delays packages not arriving after 3 weeks and not being scanned at all. No where else do i have this issue.
The worst part is that Those 4 items are over 1200 euro worth of sales so if they never arrive and i never get a refund i'm basicly out of business
Less than half my revenue.
Hi Guys, you are so right & Evri are struggling because they are taking on the backlash from the P.O . None of my P.O are scanned at the other end, but have received good feedback . We have switched to Yodel, always arrives & tracking is always up to date , may stick with them .
I have to use UPS for over £20 items which eats up alot of profit 😢 but atleast gets there
We've been striking since September. If you haven't made alternative arrangements for your business by now, we all knew Christmas was coming. It's not the strikes that's doing this, it's deliberate under staffing and wilful delay of mail by the management. Unless you work there you would not know the truth.
Right there with you. All the items I sell are hand made, and the hardest part for me is having to explain to customers – who have not received their Christmas gifts. I am not so understanding about the workers striking- they are definitely not thinking of their customers. If they think they can get better pay they should quit and go work for another company – plenty of competition out there.
Greedy bosses can get millions of bonuses but workers can't get a few pounds more .
Thanks for sharing your experience. I've noticed all my non recorded items are not being scanned as delivered. I wait until well over 30 days before leaving feedback. I've only just started using everi during the strike but I'm still causious and RM is still the best price for large letter.
The gain will compete the quixotic emotion.The package talk the fixed news.
Hi,
I have been messaging customers to ask if they would like it sent by courier instead of Royal Mail and all but 1 said yes. Guess which parcel posted 26/11 hasn’t arrived? Yes the Royal Mail parcel. I feel for the customers but have also taken the decision not to sell anything and I’ve put my shop on holiday mode. Good luck with the delayed parcels and hope you don’t have to refund them all.
I stopped selling on eBay years ago. But bargains are to be had when buying. I’m still waiting for items I bought in November… I will never use Royal Mail again and might request sellers sell by other service providers.
Nik and Andrea i am a postie based in Winchmore Hill,North London today my PDA packed up on me on my route i had to take photos on my phone,not making excuses but last weeks snow/ice hasn't helped and strikes but i hope you get all your items delivered/received best wishes Eddie O' PS All photos on my phone will be downloaded on a fresh PDA
So what’s happens when item arrives legally it has to be returned as it’s been refunded
I sent a gift set to Belfast on the 1st Dec via eBay,still showing as in transit on the tracking,buyer puts a not received claim in and eBay so kindly paid him out after 2 days,so he will probably get the gift set and cash as well win win,I'm stopping selling on eBay till the strike action is resolved,as using other couriers they are mostly all rammed at the minute due to the royal mail ,so need to allow extra time as well from other couriers.Have a great Christmas to you both and all the family not forgetting Geoffrey
I'm not even gonna say it because it'll jinx it but the only thing I've had was something I ordered which was posted on the 28th still hasn't arrived and I've had few things arrive which I ordered after
I have actually stopped selling items for the time being.
Hi Andrea and nic what a carry on with rm I have had 2 people asking where there order is from the 1st December and yesterday the 19th December I had a customer ask where is my parcel it was paid for on the 13th December I sent the 14th which they were on strike 14th and 15th so it was not picked up till Friday I get a customer on Monday 19th I have not received yet and don’t forget they don’t deliver on a Sunday lol 😂 and it was second class what can you do do they think we deliver ourselves are Royal Mail are sitting on there doorstep with all there parcels before we have even sent them out I emailed back and explained with everything that is going on it will probably be after Christmas now what can you do lol 😂
Had a few cases where it's taken around 19 days for 2nd class parcels to arrive.
I sent out 8 parcels on the 28th Nov by rm 48 signed for. 1 landed 2 days later and the others still MIA until today nearly a month later and now out for delivery. Those 7 parcels all got refunded by ebay. Hopefully I can appeal and send completed tracking and get my money back
i am finding that sadly royal mail are not even showing they have picked items up when they collect from us, in those cases its in a limbo state of leaving seller but not within royal mail and they are staying that way for some time sadly. The other problem making things worse is ebay uk decision that saturday is now a shipping day yet despite our collections only being mon – fri we for the last 2-3 weeks have had saturdays included as a ahipping day…. we called ebay to query this and were told thats our choice to not pay extra for saturday deliveries but they will still include saturdays as a shipping day in our turn around times hmmmm thanks ebay!
Don’t forget you can claim though on Royal Mail .
I sell trading cards and have 13 heavily delayed cards, even one from over a month ago
Royal mail is a dinosaur of an organisation, losing one million pounds a day, but we don't want all parcel deliveries to go to the gig economy !
I think the reason packages aren't getting scanned when they're delivered to the customer is I think agency staff are also delivering. Had a young guy today in RM jacket and a red lanyard handed me my packages but then wasn't sure if he needed to scan it. I suggested he did as that's what the usual guy does. So it seems they're not training up these agency staff to a good standard and adding to all this frustration we're all experiencing
Mistletoe and Wine🎵🎶🎵
Royal mail is wrecking its own company. It's not the staff. They are destroying the workforce and they are leaving in their thousands.
Support your posties 👍
Also if you send it Tracked 24 Tracked 48. It will get scanned. Normal postage it may not.
I purchase all ebay sales postage from ebay, just now it gives various postage options and prices and I can go into ebay Postage Labels to check progress however as you said mostly only tracked if delivery is attempted however I see quite a few that are "in transit or label created" and already had feedback from some items apparently still in transit, at least when I get item not received I contact ebay and they can see date etc I have purchased postage.
To all the small / medium sized businesses out there, who are angry about the Royal Mail strikes. Please take time to actually look the proposals of this CEO and board. These proposals will have serious consequences for your businesses. To give just one example. RM want to close Customer service points (CSP). This will mean that RM will try to automatically redeliver parcels for 3 days, then RTS. If one of your customers has the first delivery on Monday (but works Mon to Fri) then the parcel will be returned. That means disappointed customers and logistical problems for you, including probable refunds.
The CWU is not exaggerating when they say this dispute is about the very future of the Royal Mail and the services it provides to you.
Please direct your anger at the CEO and The RM board and not at the people trying to defend their jobs and your services.
Full disclosure, I am a CWU Rep.
#StandByYourPost
CWU and Proud ✊️
How do they expect people to carry on supporting them when small business are being so badly impacted. If everyone wants payrise where does money come from for god's sake.
Your ebay user name please
I feel your pain! Have just about managed to resolve all my item not received cases, had around 12 at one point. All but one have been delivered eventually and luckily I have had very understanding buyers. Has anyone here claimed for delayed items, if so any idea of compensation rate? Have only ever claimed for lost items through Royal Mail so wondering if its worth the effort? Most of my delayed items have been small parcels sent signed for delivery. Whilst I really dont want to, I will have to consider alternative couriers in the new year, this is a side hustle for me, but has consumed far to much time trying to keep buyers updated, responding to countless messages, time and energy I wont have when I return to work.
Sales have been significantly affected by their action. We closed our store after the 3rd refund and when royal mail stopped collecting our parcels for 3 non strike days. We are now 14 refunds in 🙄. We might reopen in the new year depending of the strikes continue.
We have used other companies in the past but had nothing but trouble with damages etc.
People have decided not to shop online due to the media coverage. This is the busiest period for most online retail and most realy on the q4 Sales to stay afloat.
We have been kept afloat by our own website advertised on Instagram. We don't need to be held to ebay refund policy on there.
I have been doing everything Tracked 48 (Small Parcel £2.85 currently) and have had minor delays, with only one item not received case opened. Feel I may have been lucky.
Don't use roymail simple