How many sellers include a packing list with the shipment?

[ryry-jj]

Just curious as to how many sellers include a packing list, or invoice, with the their shipment?  I have always included a a packing slip, but today with the invoice and information all available within the buyers "my eBay" is it necessary?  I don't remember if back in the early 2000 all that info was right there for the buyer or not...remember back then buyers would mail us a check payment and we would then click "paid".

A big reason I'm thinking of no longer including a packing list is I'd like to pre-package completely all my items, and then just print out the shipping/postage label and place on the box.  Right now, items are packed in the box but not sealed up, making storing a bit sloppy, cuz i'm waiting to include the packing list.

[dirk12955]

I started doing it back in the day.   It just seemed more 

professional to me.   

[simply-the-best-for-you]

Lots of people don't.  I always have & do b/c I've heard enough stories of mangled packages where the packing slip saved the day.   That said, it's certainly not a common occurrence.   Some buyers like it b/c if they buy a ton, it helps them remember who sent what.   I use the back side of my label paper (sticky labels), so it's something that would have been thrown away anyway.  

ETA-like someone else mentioned, I always put a friendly note on there, I know some read it b/c I've rec'd many comments & FB that mention it. 

[simply-the-best-for-you]

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@a_c_green wrote:

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@ryry-jj wrote:

Just curious as to how many sellers include a packing list, or invoice, with the their shipment?

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I do. Always have; always will. It serves as a useful doublecheck that all the items are going in, and to the buyer, tells him what's in that shipment and who sent it.

From a shipping standpoint, it also acts as a backup address record if the outside label gets damaged or obliterated (though I do tape over the address on the outside).

I print the compact form of Packing Slip from my Sold Items page (choosing "gift" format to eliminate all the pricing lines), which takes less than half of a standard 8½"x11" sheet, and snip it off that end of the paper. I then seal up the package, put the remaining portion of the paper back in the printer tray (my workhorse printer is an HP Deskjet 5650 that doesn't care if the paper it's using is shorter than full depth), and print out my shipping label. Minimal waste from one sheet per shipment. All good. 🙂

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Word for word what I do 🙂  Except P1006 here & for paper, I use the back of my sticky labels paper, which would have been thrown away.  No one has ever complained about the 're-cycled' paper.  

[onefootflipper1]

Does Amazon even include invoices anymore?

I am pretty sure I did an entire youtube video on why you should not include an invoice, or maybe it was just mixed into a shipping video.

The only upside I can honestly think of with invoices is that they are good at coordinating pulling and shipping orders if you have employees.

But there are a lot of downsides, most of them are centered around the behaviors of compulsive shoppers, the sort of people who order 10 things online every day.

#1. The long term labor and financial cost is actually extremely significant. It doesn't seem like anything, but over the years it could add up to that vacation you always wanted or even a new car, depending on your volume.

#2. It increases returns from compulsive shoppers. Shopaholics often won't even remember where they got stuff from, but that packing slip is right there to remind them where the item came from and the date on it is going to remind them how long they have to return it.

3. It increases returns from angry spouses. Spouse opens the package, doesn't approve of the spending, that invoice lets them know exactly where to return it.

4. It could increase negative feedback. This is another shopaholic thing, but that package might sit around unopened past the return window, but get opened before the negative feedback window is closed. The shopaholic might then decide to have a problem with the transaction and that invoice points them in the right direction for negative feedback to be given.

5. It could increase chargebacks, same thing, compulsive shopper opens package past return window, invoice reminds them of exactly which transaction it is and they file a chargeback.

6. You could find yourself getting complaints or doing support that should be aimed at the dropshipper and not at yourself.  This happens at my wife's company all the time. Dropshippers have some of their various products misrepresented on Walmart's website and her company gets contacted all the time by people complaining and wanting refunds (Carnival prize company, the dropshippers are showing the huge prize multipack on walmart, but only ordering and shipping single prizes).

[simply-the-best-for-you]

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@fbusoni wrote:

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@ebooksdiva wrote:

I used to, but decided it's a waste of paper and ink. 

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Ditto.  When I get something in the mail I open the package and take out the item.   I know what I've ordered and don't need to be told whats in the package.   I assume most people do the same.

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@fbusoni  

I'm not trying to change your mind, just wanted to comment on this, esp the last sentence.  I think that's very dependent on what you sell.   In Clothing, it's super common to have shopaholics who order tons of packages that arrive every day (my mom was like that, though not eBay packages) & get them all mixed up.   

Also in CSA, I had a buyer who wanted to buy multiple items & I was advising her to put them in her Shopping Cart & telling her how to buy in 1 tx.   She laughed & said, 'I can't do that I have hundreds of items in my cart'.  I can't remember if she said 200 or 300ish 😮   As someone who almost never has anything in their cart, I was stunned.   I've been shocked more than once on how others do things.   Just food for thought. 

[wastingtime101]

@simply-the-best-for-you There's a link in cart that says "pay only this seller" which helps buyers like the one you mentioned.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

@simply-the-best-for-you There's a link in cart that says "pay only this seller" which helps buyers like the one you mentioned.

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Good to know, I'm much more of a seller than a buyer.  Thank you! 

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@dirk12955 wrote:

I started doing it back in the day.   It just seemed more 

professional to me. 

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I totally get it and for stamp buyers, that would make sense for customers to keep for inventory. Your business model looks like it would be professional and useful.

Different strokes for different folks and i think it also depends on what you are buying. When i was doing the brick and mortar and would order guitar strings (couple hundred packs with different gauges) that was something that would be helpful and always included. I would generally say that most folks on Ebay are not in the category and I never had an issue with over 40 years of selling. Musicians don't care unless they are classical players. (cork sniffers) 😂

When drop shippers message after the sale (don't include a bill of sale or packing list) which i do find annoying, they may get two invoices and three packing lists. 😂 j/k

[monica-sells]

I always have and will continue to do so....

2 main reasons as already discussed....

1. Not only identifies the shipment and your username to the item for the buyer (branding) but also to me when I am packing (item)...like a reduntant double check...

2. IF the label is damaged, the carrier may be able to route it with the packing slip. I do not put the price on the slip, but I do use the NOTE area for a personal rah-rah speech....

[dolcetreasures]

Despite what some might suggest, absolutely do not use packing slips, it will cause too many issues for international customers especially those using freight forwarding companies. Unless you wanna play the guessing game of who should and who shouldn’t get a packing slip, better to just do away with it entirely. 

[ckimodog]

@ryry-jj 

I always do, unless instructed to do otherwise.  Sometimes people buy things as gifts and would rather I didn't add one.  

Happy Selling

[ckimodog]

@onefootflipper1 

I shop on Amazon frequently and I haven't received a packing slip or receipt for payment in moons.   I can always check my orders on line.

[splendidthreads]

I always have, for 2 reasons. 

I use the printouts as pulling lists. Then the list gets folded address-up and put into the front of the bag that the item goes in for protection.  It's my signal to myself that I've checked over the item and it's ready to go.  With the address showing, I can match the item to the label on the package. 

The other reason is that I've had a couple items returned where the packaging was damaged and the label wasn't legible.  They used the packing slip inside to get it back to me.  It has only happened twice in over 20 years, but the label inside is just a safeguard. 

As a buyer, I'm totally old school.  I prefer to get a paper receipt.  Tells me who it's from and I like them for records.  There are B&M stores that offer to email or text your receipt instead of print it.  That's so weird to me. What if there's a glitch, and I don't get the electronic receipt and need to return something?   🙂 

[kandf_vintage_finds]

I never include a package list, thank you card or solicit for feedback. 

[todaytimeless]

I do. And I hand-write my thank you note on the bottom. I think it’s good customer service, protection if the package is separated from its label, and they help me make sure each shipping label gets stuck onto the right package!