Packing ebay orders.

[inhawaii]

I used to pack orders one at a time.  Pack the item(s).  Print out the shipping label. Leave feedback. Affix the label to the package.  Go on to the next order.

Sometimes i would do 2 or 3 orders at a time but once in a while i would get orders mixed up and customers would get the wrong item.  What a headache!  When ever that happens i always vow never to do that again and work on just  1 order at a time from start to finish. 

A few weeks back we had a hurricane approching so i decided to print out all my labels FIRST in case the power went out, then pack my items and affix the labels.

It turns out this new "method" works well for me and i continue to do it this way.

I was just wondering how everyone else does it.

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@inhawaii  I've goofed too and put labels on the wrong packages since then what I do is pull the orders and write the buyers name on the package.   Then I do the labels to match everything up.  

[Anonymous]

I've done multiple at a time but written inconspicuously what item it was for

[slippinjimmy]

I can't print my labels in advance of packing because I won't know for sure what the exact weight and dimensions will be. I can guess and I'd probably be right 90% of the time or more but I have no interest in getting involved in voiding labels and waiting for refunds.

I pack my order, mark them with the buyer last name and first initial (got caught once years ago when I only marked the last name and had two similar packages with buyer of the same last name....naturally I swapped these by mistake!).

I then take my copy of the packing slip (has the weight/dimensions) and print all my labels as the very last thing before actually shipping. Since I don't ship every day this allows me to pack as I go and print the labels only on the days I'm actually shipping.

One thing that might make a difference in the flow is that I have NEVER used eBay or PayPal to print postage labels, I use Stamps.com (before than I used Endicia) and can prepare in advance and then do a bulk print run when I'm ready for labels.

[little*blackdog]

I pack the items and put the buyers' names on each package, print the labels and match them up. 

I get surprised now and then when a buyer has used an alternate name/address, and it prints out instead of what I was expecting, but otherwise, it's a good method.

When I first started selling, I did switch the packages and went through a lot of aggravation because of it... so once was enough for me!  Never again.

[rosszonebricks]

With the new (-ish...) bulk label tools, I usually will:

1) Bulk tool choosing Shipping to see if it catches any multiple-orders-same-buyer that I can combine shipping on.

2) Bulk tool to print packing slips.

3) go through and circle all multiple quantity items.

4) Lay out packing slips (at least 8-10 at a time) and pick all those orders but not pack

5) review those orders on the site, so I can visually confirm 'yep, those are the times I picked' and gives me a second chance also to catch any multiple quantities I may have missed seeing.

6) Pack/box up those orders and weight, writing the shipping name and weight on the package.

7) Set in order of received.

-- 1-7 might get done multiple times day in afternoon/evening, and then repeated in the morning at or before 9 AM

😎 Repeat next morning for orders that came in over night.

9) 9 AM print labels.  They print in order, so it's just me going down the line putting label on matching package still confirming the name I wrote on the package.

10) print SCAN sheet.

11) Set out for postman to pick up.

Sounds like a lot, but it speeds things up considerable than doing one at a time, and the couple checks and balances in there help me catch my mistakes most of the time.

[mam98031]

Because of the nature of many things I sell, I can't or shouldn't print labels in advance because weights will vary.

So first I pull everything that sold.

Then I package an order, print the label and put it in my mail bucket.

Rinse and repeat.

I will do ALL my shipping before recording my sales in my data base or leaving FB.  Those are two separate functions that I don't want to do until I've completed my shipping as I don't want my shipping process slowed down because of it.  

I've done this method of years.  Even as far back as when I had to hand write addresses on envelopes because there was no such thing as online shipping.

[southern*sweet*tea]

All of my packaging gets done as orders come in. On each box or envelope I write the buyer's last name or the item (whichever strikes my fancy), package weight and which account it's from.  All of this will be covered up by the shipping label.

At the end of the day, I go down the line one by one and print the labels. Pick up a package, print the label, put it on the box/envelope.  Been doing it this way for over a decade and a half, and it works fine for me. Any deviation causes utter confusion on the part of the shipping crew. ( Me lol)

[kensgiftshop]

I do one order at a time.

To many distractions to try and do multiple orders at the same time.

[buyselljack2016]

Most of the time I know what the ship weight of my items will be as I weigh things up before listing.   Sometimes it can fall above or below that 4oz break point because of the weight of the cardboard in a custom made package, so an extra step is needed there.

Either way, I often (when I have more than one sale) print all my labels ahead of time.

My labels are printed on an 8-1/2 X 11 sheet of paper. On that sheet is also the "online label record", and a packing slip.

Those sheets of paper are handled one at a time.  The sheet is matched up with the packed/to be packed item. The sheet is then cut to do packages ONE AT A TIME.  When one item is loaded in the package, package tape closed, and the label taped on is when I move on to the next.

My method for "never again" will orders be mixed up.

I had my last mix up when I got lazy, and wanted to save time/effort by cutting the whole stack of papers at one time, and they got in the wrong order. Senior moment.

One buyer got a replacement. One buyer got a refund. I lost the revenue for one item, and the shipping cost for 2. All handled without eBay involvement😀

Never say never, but I am hoping to not repeat.

[toysaver]

I print the label then put that same sheet of paper immediately back in the printer and print the packing slip on the other half.  It took a couple of practices tries to know / learn what orientation to use putting the paper back in but I need a way to double check.

[gwzcomps]

I pack and print as I go because my items are mostly one offs.  I have been told with FedEx labels there is no point in being accurate since they will just fix them regardless.   I am too picky to let things go to fate though.

[aldente28]

I go one at a time because I have to count out dozens or hundreds of individual items for each order and this helps keep things organized and cuts down on mistakes. And, I need the weights to print out labels, and because my products vary a bit, I only know the weight after I count everything out and pack it up.

[dhbookds]

We:

Print packing slips when orders come

Pull orders, usually the nite before going to bed (to forestall a "hunt")

Print orders, one at a time........after packing that item (I have switched labels once a yr), rinse/repeat

On wkends, we try to print before Mon. morn (anyone remember how the shipping used to go down on Mon mornings?)........

[sin-n-dex]

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@inhawaii wrote:

I used to pack orders one at a time.  Pack the item(s).  Print out the shipping label. Leave feedback. Affix the label to the package.  Go on to the next order.

Sometimes i would do 2 or 3 orders at a time but once in a while i would get orders mixed up and customers would get the wrong item.  What a headache!  When ever that happens i always vow never to do that again and work on just  1 order at a time from start to finish. 

A few weeks back we had a hurricane approching so i decided to print out all my labels FIRST in case the power went out, then pack my items and affix the labels.

It turns out this new "method" works well for me and i continue to do it this way.

I was just wondering how everyone else does it.

---

On Friday night or Saturday morning, I log in and print invoice then packing slip, one at a time. I match them together and collate them to go together (sometimes there's 2 or 3 invoices going in one packing slip if a buyer bought stamps on Monday, Tuesday and thursday, I ship them together).

Next I write thank you on all invoices and affix my return shipping label over top of the courier's address on the invoice. (It used to print my correct address, but something happened in their settings and it doesn't do that. My inexpensive solution is to print labels).

Next, I log into the courier's portal and put in all addresses and package contents along with weight and the tracking barcode so they can process my customs paperwork when they get my box on Tuesday. I also make sure I print out a FedEx label to Chit Chats so I don't forget and get up Monday morning realizing I need to drop it off because I missed the boat for pick up.

After that, I usually just leave the stack of packing slips and labels alone for a day or two and come back to it Sunday afternoon/evening, when I grab each one and pack the item. I use the phone to pick out items (when there is more than one, or when I don't know what it is I'm looking for). Sometimes I have two of the same coin, and I will use the writing on the 2x2 holder to determine if I've picked the right one, assuming all other properties are equal. If I have an invoice with many items on it, I might pack that one first, or even before Sunday afternoon to ensure I don't run out of time from not being able to find something.

When Sunday evening comes, I go through this whole process again with anything that sold since Friday night or Saturday morning, and I keep packing items until 9pm, at which time I tape up the box and put it on top of my desk so I remember to put it outside in the morning.

I have a recycle box beside my front door that stays empty for the exclusive purpose of putting the box in. I do it at 7am or so, after my upstairs neighbour has gone to work. I get a message on my phone when it's been tendered which will be around 8:30 am. From there it's in Chit Chats Express' hands.

C.