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Hey there,
Just curious – do others provide packing slips/invoices with your sales? My store is kind of like Jay and Ryanne’s in that it’s one of a kind, unique stuff, and so I don’t necessarily anticipate repeat buyers. Plus I’m not sure if people want or need the extra piece of paper. I was just wondering what others do (and maybe why). The main thing I really use my ink jet printer for is invoices, and so if I can eliminate that need – would be nice actually. I have a nice 4×6 thermal labelmaker for my post office labels – that has saved a lot. The quality is not high enough for receipts/invoices – plus it would print it on a sticker so I don’t feel that would be useful.
Thanks. Stay safe all.
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I don’t provide packing slips or invoices at all. I feel it wastes paper and it takes extra time to print them and match them up with the item.
When I buy vintage stuff on eBay I don’t expect to receive an invoice/packing slip and since I’m also selling mostly vintage items I don’t my customers expect an invoice either. In over 15 years on eBay I’ve never had anyone contact me wanting an invoice or saying it was missing from their package.
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I think that many sellers pack an item and print out a label one at a time. I do things just a bit differently.
I save up my sales and I buy labels all at once using the bulk label tool. After I print out the labels, I also print out the “pick list” and the scan sheet. Each row of the pick list lists a sale with the customer information and item. I use that to make sure I don’t send an item to the wrong person.
I write “Thanks, Sharyn” for each purchase, cut out each row, match the item to the label, then throw in the slip of paper into the box. It isn’t an invoice, but it is something that helps keep me organized and reminds the customer of the purchase.
No, it isn’t needed, but I prefer to do it.
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@Sharyn:
Does your pick list come from an app like Sixbit or something from eBay?-
It’s from eBay using their bulk label tool. You have to be buying more than one label at the same time for the bulk label tool to come up. Once you pay, you are given choices to print the labels, picklist, scan sheet, and I think one other. It is the picklist that I am talking about.
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The main reason I provide a packing slip is for the case where your label on the outside of the package comes off or is unreadable. In that case, the postal carrier will open your package to see if they can determine where it should go. If there is nothing inside to inform them, then the package will go to some storage facility and probably sit there a long time until it is auctioned off.
But the other reason is to include a packing slip to make it look more professional.
Mark
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Now that you say that, I recall a Scavenger Life interview from a few years ago of a seller who was also a postal carrier. He said that should something happen to the label, just having that slip from the pick list might help (although the pick list was called something different at the time).
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I agree with Mark. Any major carrier will prefer a packing list either inside the box or in a sealed Packing List plastic pocket stuck on the outside of the box in case the original shipping label gets damged, scuffed up, really wet, etc., etc. It is a safe guard against label damage and it is professional.
My larger printing company had to put packing lists into every box for our customers like Walmart, Home depot, Michelin Tires, General Electric, Seven Eleven, Taco Bell, KFC, etc. because they ordered so much from us that they use those packing lists to reconcile what was in the box or boxes from us, to match up to their copies of their Purchase Orders and to identify any back ordered items.
Now I know our buyers are not those types of companies, but that is the way the pros do it and as already stated, it is a safe guard back up system to label damage.
If you want to save money or time, as a former VP of Operations there are a ton of other ways to save a whole lot money than one slip of paper.
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Perhaps I could have worded my reply a little better. Mostly I don’t like to use extra paper because as far as I know paper is made from trees and I’d rather not contribute to chopping down any extra trees if I can help it. That’s also why I try not to use paper towels. I don’t avoid toilet paper though, although I’ve heard some crazy alternatives since toilet paper has become so scarce – LOL!
After 15 years on eBay that would be a lot of sheets of paper if I had put a packing slip in every package I sent. I wonder how many trees that would add up to? Having never had a package that was unable to be delivered due to a label being damaged I think I’m willing to chance not having a packing slip inside the package as a back up for delivery.
As for being professional, I don’t think people expect vintage thrift store items to arrive like brand new purchases with packing slips included. I think a less big box approach is fine. I do have 100% positive feedback and I’ve never had anyone ask where their packing slip was. But this is just my own opinion and my own experience. Everyone should do what works for them…
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This question comes up fairly often, and it really comes down to: do what you want to do. I include a packing slip for three reasons: 1. As others have noted, if label is damaged or lost, it gives the PO a delivery address. 2. I always add a handwritten thanks on the slip, and in some cases, a longer note where appropriate. 3. As a buyer, I prefer if a packing slip is included.
In over 20 years of doing this, I’ve never had anyone complain because I included a packing slip. But as Vintage Treasures says, she’s never had a complaint about the lack of a slip, either.
Oh, a fourth reason, that probably doesn’t apply to most of us, since most of us don’t have repeat buyers. But if you are trying to build a repeat business and a brand, it provides an opportunity to get your brand out in front of people.
ebay doesn’t require one. I could be wrong, but I think technically Amazon does require one, but I can’t imagine they actually enforce the rule. So, just do whatever you are comfortable with.
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i agree with MyCottage, if you want to print an invoice, you should. if you want to save paper and not print one, you should. do what makes sense for your business. you’re causing so much more waste by using poly or bubble mailers that are plastic, non-recyclable and non-biodegradable than a single piece of paper. but we all do it and that’s just the affordable option right now for small sellers. anyone know of biodegradable poly-mailers?? : )
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I suppose you could make them from a roll of corrugated cardboard. You could use gum arabic to glue, but that’s not waterproof.
I’m using Greenfill peanuts- probably made out of starch. They have a strong vinegar-like smell and dissolve easily. Maybe we should use banana leaves and hay, and hemp for the stitching, and oak-gall ink on papyrus for the handwritten invoices.
Rabbit-hole for the easily-distracted ->oakum 🙂
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Thank you all for the information, that helps. I have always printed out a packing slip but in actuality through all the years I have yet to lose a package so that really doesn’t worry me. What I will probably do is put packing slips into expensive packages (just in case), and then for others (less than $15 or so) I’ll just skip it. It’s faster to pack for me without it and I do feel like I’d like to do my part in minimizing waste – that’s my whole reason for selling on eBay (and the money is just icing on the cake).
I’m still amazed that people are paying me money to clean out my basement. How cool is that.
Take care all
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Instead of a packing slip I use a small thank you sticker that has my return address on it, on each item. Three benefits: 1. if the outside of the box/package gets damaged the Post Office will have an address to return it to. 2. the sticker works as a bit of tape to keep the clear poly closed (I store a lot of items in clear poly bags). 3. Faster and easier than printing an entire packing slip each time. I don’t affix the sticker directly to the item but rather on the clear poly bag if that’s what the item is stored inside or on to the outside bubble wrap, etc. I use Avery labels 1.5″ x 1.5″ size. I stock up when I have a Staples coupon or when I find a good deal on ebay. The Avery website lets you design your label for free and saves it so it can quickly be reprinted whenever I need more.
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I do. I guess it’s a holdover from when I first started but I like having one more piece of paper to track what goes where. Frequently monday morning includes 20+ packages and my brain needs help. And my kids like to visit and tell me “important” info so it’s nice if I get interrupted. I have a small copier machine so every piece of paper that can get re-used for labels or scan sheets does. In addition every mailer I get that can be re-used get re-used. So yes I use a lot of paper and mailers but I also do my best to re-use anything I can. I like knowing if something happens there’s a piece of paper in there with mine and the buyer’s address too.
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I think that the USPO would know the difference between a packing slip and a hand written letter. Although, a hand written note is media in a way, right?
I did some research about media mail a few years ago, and I read that newspaper used as packing material could be an issue. I think it was fake news, because, again, I think the USPO knows the difference between packing material and something being shipped. However, as long as I have other types of packing material on hand, I won’t use newspaper with media mail.
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Thanks all for the input. I was just trying to speed up the process, eliminate unneeded waste, and see what others do in this regard. My thought is to not use packing slips except in more expensive items, but we’ll see what happens. I already got messed up a bit in that I forgot what shipping a buyer picked and then ended up using the wrong one by accident (different thread). Oh well, live and learn.
I do not think it’s illegal to use newspaper as packing for media mail, but to be honest I use end rolls (unprinted newspaper) for everything, so that’s not an issue for me. I do appreciate the thought of looking professional, but I also realize that this is eBay and I rarely get repeat business, no matter what I do, so I am not too worried on that front.
Thanks again and take care all.
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