How to make your own "order slips".
Summary: quadcitypickers shared a cost-effective method for creating DIY order slips using red copy paper instead of business cards to engage buyers. christworks criticized the approach, arguing that such slips often go unnoticed and expressed concerns about misleading messaging related to returns. tobaccocardyahoo and christworks debated the ethics of return policies and accusations of fraud. Several participants, including mamacassidy and onlinecentral, suggested more customer-friendly wording for the order slips to improve buyer experience. Eventually, quadcitypickers revised the messaging based on feedback, leading to more positive responses from the group.
I didn't feel like spending 7 cents per business card just to have them tossed out. So I came up with a cheaper plan.
500 pages of red copy paper.
Red is an "alert" color and may engage the buyer more than plain white which blends in with packing paper.
500 pages for $13. 5 slips per page. My toner runs about 0.5 cents per printed page.
So for about $16 using a laser printer, you can make 2,500 of these slips vs $150-$175 for cards.
I use a sheet cutter I already had to cut 5 sheets into 5 strips. 25 slips in seconds.
onefootflipper
·1 week agoI honestly don't think that a piece of paper in a box will keep people who buy the wrong auto parts or don't know how to install them from returning the items. Isn't that the real problem with auto parts?
quadcitypickers
OP2 weeks agoFollowing the advice here, how is this?
melrose_stamp
·1 week agoExcellent. Better messaging.
The yellow stars might not print well on your red paper.
catjewels9876
·1 week agoMy two cents - this is much better language to send the buyer!
I just include a packing slip myself. And use the other half of the page for a label. No fancy printer for me just the basic model.
adamcartwright
·1 week agoI think that looks great.
christworks
·1 week agoThat is much better. As a buyer, I'd have no issue with that. As a seller, I think it is still a waste of time and resources.
onlinecentral
·1 week agocontact us appears in the first sentence
contacting us appears in the second sentence
I am detecting redundancy. I recommend one more revision before printing the slips
gurlcat
·2 weeks agoDon't those red exclamation marks just disappear on the red paper?
quadcitypickers
OP2 weeks agoNo, black and white printer.
gurlcat
·2 weeks agoOh, that's what I have too. MAN the nightmares it spares me from. I bought it at least 4 years ago and never had a problem, should have done it sooner.
quadcitypickers
OP1 week agoThe other best investment was a Zebra label printer. A little pricey ($150 used) but has never failed me once and I've printed probably 5,000 labels with it.
chapeau-noir
·1 week agoThat's actually cheap. And it beats anything else.
onlinecentral
·2 weeks agoDO NOT OPEN A RETURN WITHOUT CONTACTING US
You should replace that line with something like this.
Some buyers have avoided returning an item by contacting us first. We were able to help them with an installation, configuration or operation issue.
quadcitypickers
OP2 weeks agoGood idea, thanks.
mamacassidy
·2 weeks agoI don't know if I'd go as far as to say the language is hostile or aggressive, but I definitely would change the wording to be a little more friendly. Instead of IMPORTANT as the headline, I'd probably say THANK YOU FOR YOUR PURCHASE. And instead of all caps demanding that someone contact you before they open a return, I'd say something along the lines of "we strive for a positive transaction, so if you encounter any issues, please contact us so that we can make it right!"
As the kids these days would say, the vibe is just not right. :)
chapeau-noir
·2 weeks agoIt'll be interesting to see how that works.
I just print the packing slip and write on that. The packing slip travels with the transaction from the time the buyer purchases until I ship - I use it as a pick list, particularly if someone purchases bundles - to match item(s), shipping label, etc. I started doing that after I mixed up two packages. I don't have any instructions on it, though - I just handwrite "Thank you", which some have told me they like.
A few times I've gotten torn up packages in the mail, and they got to me because even though the packaging was ruined, there was a packing slip of some sort inside with my address on it, so the item made it to me, anyway. It happened more when people were using those cheesy priority flat rate cardboard mailers for heavy items like books and clothing items, and of course they would dissolve in our rain.
quadcitypickers
OP2 weeks agoI've done the post cards before, but they have increased in price.
It doesn't work all the time, but if a few pennies saves the issue of a return, I'm all for it.
I've had INAD's open for frivolous reasons and I'm tired of taking the account hit. It is usually for electronics and other items where the buyer normally figures I won't be of any help and opens a return, but a lot of times they have a small issue due to inexperience or lack of tech knowledge and I am always more than willing to help.
christworks
·2 weeks ago · Edited@quadcitypickers Then you need to word it that way. That's my beef with what you have going on, aside from the fact I think it is waste of time and resources, it is your wording. You've got that line in all caps. Just word it differently. You can say,
"If you’d like to keep the item but need help with setup or troubleshooting, please message us before opening a return. We are happy to help."
I'll tell you why I have an issue with how you have it worded. Sellers who string buyers along on returns trying to run out the clock pull that move. Is that who you are? I've never thought so. But now I wonder.
I am sorry I jumped down on you. I get very angry at sellers who mislead buyers. That causes buyers to leave the platform, which hurts everybody's business over time.
adamcartwright
·2 weeks agoCome back and let us know if it works for you.
christworks
·2 weeks agoBuyers do not read that stuff and it will go in the trash. It doesn't matter what color paper you use. I don't send packing slips or other paperwork. It isn't needed. It is also insulting as a buyer to be told I cannot open a return without contacting the seller. What nonsense. If I got something like that from a seller, I'd open an INAD on purpose and send the item back. As sloppy as sellers are, it isn't that difficult to find an honest INAD reason.
How time consuming cutting all those slips of paper out. What a waste.
quadcitypickers
OP2 weeks agoThanks for giving me a reason to you add to my block list. Openly admitting to the public you'd fraudulently open an INAD. Very "christ like" of you...
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 weeks agoFinding a reason for an INAD claim, without fraud is usually possible. So I would not accuse @christworks of doing anything wrong.
My buyers are usually far more forgiving of my errors than I deserve, which supports the likelihood that one could easily find a legitimate reason for an INAD.
quadcitypickers
OP2 weeks ago · EditedThey literally admitted if they received one of my slips they would open an INAD on purpose. That is literally the textbook definition of return fraud, and yes opening an item not described return because of some grievance like that and not an actual issue with the item would be considered fraud.
If I bought something and they included a religious tract, I might be a little annoyed but I'm not going to force a return just out of spite. I was raised Christian and I even know that's not a very nice thing to do.
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 weeks agoSorry, but they said they would find a reason to. With a legitimate reason it is not fraud. It is nasty, but many of the civil actions in our courts are nasty, and even the nastiest may succeed on their merits.
christworks
·2 weeks ago · Edited@quadcitypickers Again - based on the notes you posted a screen shot of that you say you are sending to your buyers, you are lying to them. You are telling them they must talk to you before opening a return. Buyers have ZERO OBLIGATION to talk to sellers before opening a return. This is deceptive.
Then you lie again because you purposefully misrepresent what I said. @tobaccocardyahoo has corrected you twice, so now you are trying to shift it to it would be wrong of me to open an INAD out of spite, apparently even if there was an actual INAD.
Every buyer reading this, as a seller, I want you to know that you do not have to contact sellers before opening a return. Any seller that tells you that you must do that is lying to you.
christworks
·2 weeks ago · Edited@quadcitypickers
Funny. You accuse me of fraud, yet in your fancy notes you assert to your buyers that they cannot open a return without first contacting you. That's a lie. You know it is a lie. You are lying to your buyers. Every buyer reading this should make a note not to buy from you. You are purposefully deceptive.
I was clear that I could find a valid reason to open an INAD if I wanted.
quadcitypickers
OP2 weeks agoBlocked.