Communicating with your buyer – person-to-person email

Call me old-fashioned, but I think it's courteous and professional to write a personal email to buyers after payment has been received. The email lets the buyer know I have received their payment, and gives details for delivery of their item.

I have a very quick and efficient method of emailing, set up using my email program's signatures. As soon as payment has been received, I retrieve eBay's end of auction email, click on the buyer's email address, then select the relevant signature from within my email program.

Here's the actual signature in full:

>>>>>>>>

Hi [__add in their first name__],

Thank you for your speedy payment – much appreciated. I'll post the item today, and it should be with you on Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday. [__delete ones not appropriate__]

It's well wrapped and boxed, and should arrive safely. I hope you'll be pleased with it.

I will leave feedback for you, and trust you will do likewise for me in due course. Many thanks.

Regards
[__my name__]

>>>>>>>>

This little note is a point of contact between me and my customer. Many people have commented on 'good communication' in my feedback rating, so it must have been well received.

I have similar signatures for multiple items, and ones for overseas customers.