Posting items and your safety during the covid:19 epidemic

'how to' guides

17 Mar

Information-on-safety-of-parcels-and-deliveries-during-covid-19.jpg — Covid 19 and post

What do I do to help you to be safe?

I want you to be as safe as possible when you receive items from me by post and courier

These are worrying times for all of us, and I am so grateful for the loyalty and support of my customers. I continue to make my knitwear, and I will continue to sell it online while the government guidelines permit. Currently gov.uk states that ‘online retail is encouraged and couriers and Royal Mail will run as normal’.

“I continue to make and despatch orders, but I’m taking precautions as indicated below. Deliveries may take a little longer than usual but parcels and deliveries are still getting through. During this time I have extended the window during which you can return items for exchange or refund to 45 days from 30 days. You will find full details in your parcel and on this website under ‘delivery and returns’ (see footer).”

I want you to be as safe as possible - especially when receiving items from me.

I take a number of steps so that my customers and I are as safe as we can be. These include:

I will continue to make and send items only while I am well.
I will only despatch items when I am able to do so safely for myself and others, and while respecting social distancing requirements.
You probably already know that I am a one-person business. This has a benefit in the current epidemic in that the only person who touches my materials and knitwear while I design, knit, finish and prepare items for despatch is me.
I wash my hands frequently and thoroughly and follow NHS and WHO advice.
All public events I would have been taking part in in the next few months have now been cancelled or postponed, which helps reduce the risk of exposure to me and others.
To be absolutely on the safe side I still wait 24 hours before I open supplies I receive in card packages, on the very rare occasions that I receive items packed in plastic I wait longer.
I follow the best advice I can find to reduce my risk of exposure to the virus, so I am less likely to expose others to it.

How can you stay safe when you receive parcels by post and courier during the Covid-19 epidemic #knitwear #covid19 #womensknitwear www.susanholtonknitwear.com

What extra steps can you take to be safe?

The first thing to emphasise is that I am not an expert so I take advice from others.

In a recent interview, an expert in the coronavirus described the risk of virus being present on received parcels as ‘vanishingly small’. I find this very reassuring.

However, to err on the side of caution, the advice seems to be that the virus could stay active for up to 24 hours on paper and card - for example on packaging and boxes - and for up to three days on hard surfaces.

I use a mixture of paper envelopes, plastic mailing bags and card mailing boxes, depending on what I am sending.

Please see my notes below on ‘signed for’ and ‘guaranteed’ deliveries.
Once you have received a paper or card package - to be as safe as possible - wash your hands then leave it for 24 hours after receiving it before you open it.
I haven’t been able to get clear advice on whether plastic mailing bags should be treated as a ‘hard surface’. So to be on the safe side, if you receive something packed in a plastic mailing sack, wash your hands, wait at least 24 hours then wipe it over with alcohol or alcohol wipes. Or wait three days to be absolutely safe.
In either case it’s best to wash your hands after opening the package and before taking out your new knitwear.

A note on ‘signed for’ deliveries during the epidemic

Many of you will know that I often use ‘signed for’ delivery services, whether it’s by post or courier. During the epidemic you will not be expected to sign for a package - you will not have to handle one of the hand-held ‘signing’ devices.

The postman or courier will ring your doorbell and put your package on your doormat.
He/she will step back a little and wait for you to answer the door.
When you answer the door he/she will ask for and make a note of your name.
You won’t be asked to sign.

If you are worried about any aspect of your delivery, please don’t feel obliged to accept the package but get in touch with me as soon as you can so I can resolve any issues.

A note on ‘guaranteed’ delivery times

I have been advised that neither Royal Mail nor couriers are able to guarantee specific delivery times during the epidemic. This means that during this time please don’t pay the extra to use my ‘next day’ service. This service is not available during the epidemic.

Subject to the comments I have made above, I will continue to complete and send orders as quickly as I can.
As usual, I will get in touch with you as soon as possible if I anticipate any delay.
My standard delivery/shipping within the UK is free.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you would like me to advise you of the likely delivery date for your order in advance.
As usual, I will send you an email as soon as I have dispatched your order so you know it’s on its way.

***Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me to discuss any questions or concerns you may have. I’d love to help…***

Most important - please stay safe and well!

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All of the public events at which I would have been exhibiting in the next few months have now been postponed or cancelled because of the corona virus epidemic. Of course this is disappointing both to visitors and to exhibitors, but definitely the right action to take for everyone’s safety. I am using social media to keep everyone informed in the first instance, and following this with emails with more detailed information. The best way to stay in touch is to follow me on social media, and to join my VIP list. I won’t make a nuisance of myself, I’ll only email you when I actually have something new to say!

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