I find that difficult and duplication of work since I send an invoice with each of my orders. I would not want to enter it twice. I also find auction management software difficult cause again I have to enter the addresses twice.
May I ask how you all do it. Do you send invoices with your items? If I did not do that I would save a lot of work. I would also loose some of my tracking ability too since when people inquire about order status I can look at the invoices and tell them everything, what was shipped (unless wife filled it wrong), when it was shipped, address it was shipped to, how it was shipped, tracking numbers, etc.
I appreciate your input or if this topic has been discussed recently point me to the thread please.
i don't know if this will help you or not, but i don't send invoices. i do email buyers when i've shipped, and that has all the info of what and when. i ship priority 99% of the time, but would note if i didn't in the email. i save all those emails in a folder called 'holding,' then move to 'completed' folder when i've heard back that the item's been received and all is well.
posted on March 27, 2001 11:23:27 AM new
I never send invoices. I email when I ship the item. So far close to 4,000 online sale and no one ever asked for one.
posted on March 27, 2001 11:37:34 AM new
I send a Packing list, that is in the program Auction Assistant (now ebays Sellers Assistant)
Once you have the name and address in there, you click a button, and print one out, it also prints out the shipping label.
Kinda good to have, IF, as USPS claims on their own auction page, the box happened to come open. The buyers address is inside too, along with email addresses and what is in the box.
posted on March 27, 2001 01:42:13 PM new
When I send out the EOA (thru AuctionTamer), I save a copy in my email folders. I prefer for the high bidder to just hit reply so that my orig. EOA is included with their shipping address. At that point I print 2 copies -- one for myself and one to include in the package as sort of an invoice.
If their response doesn't include my EOA, I print two copies of that and 1 copy of their response with my address. The extra EOA goes in the box. I write "Thanks" on the EOA that goes into the box.
HOWEVER, I rather like the little notes that some sellers include that show auction number, seller's name and email address, and maybe a little note of thanks and am considering making up something like that instead. Printing the EOA seems simpler and easier since there's no data that needs to be hand-entered, but it does seem sorta impersonal to me.
posted on March 27, 2001 02:15:22 PM new
I don't include an invoice unless someone has made a large purchase from my website.
On my ebay items, I made up a label which thanks them for their purchase & includes my email address in case there's any problems with the purchase. I just stick one on the plastic or bubble wrap I use to cover things in.
posted on March 27, 2001 02:49:25 PM new
I print out a copy of the auction page to include with each shipment. I fold it over, write, "Thanks, John!" and sign my name.
posted on March 27, 2001 03:09:39 PM new
I use AuctionTrakker to print my invoices which double as mailing labels. You can use any program, but I found AuctionAmigo's invoice printing to be less developed.
Anyway, buy a pack of "Packing List/Invoice Enclosed" clear labels. Then you fold your invoice in half, then into thirds. The display portion will need show your FROM address and TO address.
Once you insert this into the clear label, your mailing address is weatherproofed and your buyer has an invoice. Since this is placed on the outside, you can prepack all you want. Use a light pencil to mark the inside contents and you're good to go.
[ edited by sun818 on Mar 27, 2001 03:12 PM ]
posted on March 27, 2001 09:27:49 PM new
um...i think i'm a little bit more casual than most of you folks. I take an index card, stick one of my return address labels on it, and write "Thanks, Hon! Hope you enjoy it!" to the bidder. Put it on top of the wrapped item and seal up the box.
If I printed out invoices I would run out of printer ink every two or three days! It's much easier just to write two lines, for me.
I kinda think its a waste of paper to get an invoice, too, since I just trash them, but that could just be me. if I bought items on Ebay for resale or for use in my bizness then an invoice would be good to keep for tax stuff. if a buyer ever did ask for one I'll cheerfully send it, but so far no one has asked.
posted on March 27, 2001 10:23:08 PM new
As much as I love computers I don't always trust them so I rely on paper probably more than most sellers do. If my computer crashes and I lose email files, I still want to be able to keep the IRS happy in case of an audit.
1) As soon as the auction ends, I print out a copy of the closed auction page.
2) I manually email a "form letter" with payment info. I use Macro Express for the shell and fill in the appropriate info for bid price, shipping price, optional insurance amount, and sales tax if applicable.
3) As I email the payment info to the high bidder, I put hard copies of closed the auction print-outs in a file in order by date closed. This makes it simple for me to keep track of which bidders I need to nag about late payments.
4) When a payment comes in I pull the hard-copy of the closed auction, search my closed auctions email folder by item number in order to email the bidder that their payment arrived and let them know when the merchandise will be shipped. If the bidder hasn't enclosed a copy of my EOA email, I print it and attach it to the closed auction print-out (along with any proof of the address to which I mailed the item ... which sometimes is only the return address from the envelope).
5) I stack up all the auction/payment printouts until I am ready to do a deposit, then attach the deposit slip from my bank to the pile and file it away.
It might sound like my system is cumbersome, bit it truly only takes a matter of seconds I've been doing it for almost 3 years and truly would not rely on only computer files.
posted on March 27, 2001 11:32:01 PM new
[i]2) I manually email a "form letter" with payment info. I use Macro Express for the shell and fill in the appropriate info for bid price, shipping price, optional insurance amount, and sales tax if applicable.
[/i]
I suggest looking into RoboType by PC Magazine. It is freeware and does what you use Macro Express for.
posted on April 4, 2001 04:51:26 AM new
Are any of you including a second address label INSIDE the package?
The major cause of a widget's being unable to be delivered or returned to sender is lack of a readible address. If the outer address is mangled by machinery, having the inside one can save the widget form being sold on eBay by the USPS!
posted on April 4, 2001 05:06:41 AM new
If they pay via a Money Order and item is insured - I like to make a copy of the e-mail I send them advising when ship date will be and copy the Money Order with it. If the buyer has to make a claim on their package - sometimes they don't save their Money Order, etc. receipt (they will need proof of payment) - that's why I send a copy of their Money Order too. Also, on the bottom of my e-mail is: "Be sure to check out my auctions on XXXXX (user name:xxxxxx) and on XXXXXX too (user name: xxxxxx)." Just want to make sure they remember where to look for me! Also, on there - if their address is not on the Money Order - I make sure to write it on there and mine also (as "From" - in case the box gets messed up or "whatever" - then there is an address inside with the mdse. And of course, I try not to forget the courteous "Thanks" written on the bottom! Sounds like alot, but not really - it's all on one piece of paper! - doesn't seem to take up that much extra time! Also, regarding putting the address inside - ever since I read a thread on here a few weeks back about the USPS selling on eBay (packages lost, never claimed, no address, etc.) - I try to make absolutely sure that they do not have the opportunity to get hold of and sell my buyers' mdse. and profit from it! At least I do all I think I can to prevent this
)
I've been doing it for almost 3 years and truly would not rely on only computer files.