Shipping Secondhand Items So They Arrive Intact and Without Disputes
Updated 2026-08-13
A seller's shipping guide: choosing the right method, packing by item type, handling damage or loss, and understanding when you actually get paid.
Match the delivery method to the item and the distance
Standard in-app delivery covers most things — clothing, small electronics, books, collectibles. It's inexpensive, tracked, and works both within Bangkok and upcountry. It's the default that fits nearly every case.
Lalamove urgent delivery suits items that must arrive same-day within Bangkok, fragile things you'd rather not have transferred between depots, or pieces too large for the normal parcel network. It costs more but arrives faster and passes through fewer hands. Meeting up still makes sense when the buyer wants to see the item first, or when it's genuinely awkward to transport.
Pack for the handling the parcel will actually get
Parcels get thrown, stacked under other parcels, and rained on. Pack assuming all three. The simple test: the item must not move inside the box. Shake it — if you hear anything shifting, add more cushioning.
Bag clothing waterproof before it goes in the mailer, because Bangkok rain soaks bags easily. Wrap electronics on every face and use a rigid box, not a soft envelope. Wrap breakables individually and leave a couple of inches between them and every wall of the box, then mark it fragile. Sheathe anything sharp so it can't work its way through the packaging in transit.
Photograph the evidence before every shipment
Before sealing the box, photograph the actual item you're sending, photograph it sitting in the box with its padding, and photograph the sealed box with the label and tracking number legible. It takes under a minute and it's the evidence you'll need if condition or loss is ever contested.
For high-value items, an unbroken video of the whole packing process — from the item's condition through to the sealed, labelled box — carries far more weight than stills, because it shows that this item went into that box and what state it was in when it left you.
When you get paid, and what happens in between
When the buyer pays through SOI Pay, the money is captured at checkout, so you know the funds exist before you pack. After successful delivery, it's released to you once the buyer confirms receipt, or automatically when the 72-hour window passes.
That 72 hours is the buyer's inspection window. If they open a dispute inside it, the payout is frozen until it's resolved — which is exactly why photographing before shipping and describing condition honestly in the listing matter so much. Those two things are what protect you here.
If the parcel is damaged or lost in transit
If the buyer reports damage on arrival, ask for photos of the outer box, the padding inside, and the item itself — the box's condition tells you whether the damage came from handling or from insufficient packing. Then file with the carrier, attaching the photos you took while packing.
If tracking stalls for days or the parcel drops out of the system, contact the carrier with the tracking number and keep the buyer updated in chat as things develop. Communicating during the wait is what keeps most buyers patient. Silence is what turns a carrier problem into a dispute and a bad review, even when none of it was your fault.
Frequently asked questions
Who should pay for shipping?
Either works — just state clearly in the listing whether the price includes delivery. Mismatched assumptions about shipping are a very common reason deals fall apart. Building it into the price usually reads as more straightforward and avoids an argument right at the point of closing.
Can I ship upcountry?
Yes — standard delivery covers the whole country, with transit times longer than within Bangkok depending on distance. Lalamove urgent is an intra-city service only. If your buyer is upcountry, give them an estimated transit time in chat upfront so expectations match.
Should I insure the parcel?
Worth it on high-value items. For inexpensive goods the premium usually isn't worth it, but for anything whose loss would genuinely hurt, insurance is a small fraction of the value at risk. Check the carrier's coverage limits and conditions when deciding, and keep your packing evidence either way — nearly every claim requires it.
The buyer never confirms receipt — do I still get paid?
Yes. Once delivery is successful and no dispute has been opened, the payout releases automatically after 72 hours, so a buyer forgetting to tap confirm doesn't strand your money. If the window has passed and nothing changed, check that the delivery status actually registered as delivered — the clock starts from there.
