Your first 100 orders — operations checklist

Packaging

• Branded poly mailer or kraft paper bag — costs Rs 15–30 per unit but lifts repeat-purchase rates by ~20%.
• Thank-you note with a 10% return-customer coupon (use the Subscription Coupons feature for sellers, or your own promo code for buyers).
• Bubble wrap anything fragile — Pakistani couriers throw boxes harder than you think.

Courier choice

TCS	Premium, ~Rs 200/parcel, fastest, lowest damage rate. Use for orders > Rs 3,000.
Leopards / M&P	Mid-tier, ~Rs 150/parcel. Best for the bulk of orders.
BlueEx / PostEx	Cheapest (~Rs 90), good COD coverage, slower SLA.

COD reconciliation

COD cash hits your bank account 7–14 days after delivery (depends on courier). Keep a spreadsheet: order ID, courier, COD amount, expected payout date, received? — chase anything > 14 days. Couriers occasionally "forget" payouts; the squeaky wheel gets the rupees.

Returns

Refuse a return if: buyer used the product, packaging is missing, or it's outside your stated return window (default 7 days). Approve a return if: wrong item shipped, damage in transit, or item materially different from listing photos.

Issue refunds via Seller → Orders → Refund. Buyer is auto-notified.

Customer service

Reply to messages within 2 hours during business hours. Sellers with < 2h response time get a "Quick reply" badge that lifts conversion ~15%. Slow replies are the #1 reason buyers cancel COD orders before delivery.