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Discussion Forum: Thread 104244

Author:

MikeS

Posted:

Nov 30, 2010 09:35

Subject:

Add package size field to order info page

Viewed:

139 times

Topic:

Suggestions

Status:

Open

Vote:

[Yes|No]

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MikeS (799)

Location:

USA, Ohio

Member Since

Contact

Type

Status

Collage

Oct 5, 2001

Seller

Store: BRICKMART

Vote / Site Improvement Suggestion:
Add package size/description field to order info page.

I’d like to make a suggestion to add a new field (and macro tag) to the “My Note
on Order” page where you can save the size or description of the shipped package.
This would be a completely optional field for sellers to use if they wished
... and displayed as read-only for the buyer (similar to the “tracking number”).
The field would also have a macro tag that could be used on the Invoice and
“Drive Thru / Thank You”.

I’m a big believer in communication and providing my customers with as much information
as possible on their order so they can be confident in their purchase and reduce
the chance of problems or misunderstandings during the order / shipping process.

Some of the procedures I follow for my orders are:

* I’ll send an initial email (outside of BL) confirming that I received their
order and give them an estimate on when they can expect the invoice (usually
later that same evening). This also opens up a line of communication with my
customer.

* When invoicing, I include the size; weight; and description of the package
(… so the customer can verify the actual postage costs).

* When payment is received and I print postage, I add the USPS Delivery Confirmation
number to the “My Note on Order” page – in the “Tracking Number:” field, so the
customer MIGHT be able to “track” the progress of their order after it is shipped
through USPS.com.

* And when I drop the order off at the P.O., I send out the “Drive Thru / Thank
You” to my customer with the Post Office location where the order was dropped
off, the date and time the order was dropped off, the USPS Delivery Confirmation
number, and the description / size of the package.

To this point, I have been using the “My Note on Order” field to store the package
size and description for the order. Here are some samples of my package notes:

1 oz - 6" x 9" yellow envelope w/ bagged and bubble wrapped parts
2 lb 1 oz box - 11" x 9" x 5"H
9 oz. - 8" x 11" bubble mailer with bagged and bubble wrapped parts
1 lb. 1 oz. - 7" x 7" x 5"H Box

While it is pretty easy to copy this information from the “My Note on Order”
field and paste it into my “Drive Thru / Thank You” message, I think it would
be helpful if there were a DEDICATED field for the “Package Size /
Description” to store this information and have a basic macro tag (ex. [packagedescription])
that can relay the information automatically to the “Drive Thru / Thank You”
form and Invoice (if so desired by the seller). The package description would
also be visible when buyer and/or seller click on the order number – like the
Tracking Number.

Having a dedicated field for “package size / description” would allow buyers
to know what to watch for in the mail (if larger packages are too big for their
box and end up on the front porch). It would also serve as a “reminder” for
the seller on what size or type of package they shipped out if there happened
to be a problem or delay in shipping/receiving (without having to look through
their PayPal, emails, or receipts).

Here is the layout at the bottom of the “My Note on Order” that I would like
to suggest:
-----------------------------------
(Located above … order info, shipping, payment, etc…)

Package Size / Description:
[ … field … ]

Tracking Number:
[ … field …]

My Note on Order:
[ … field … ]

-----------------------------------

Package Size / Description:
(read-only to the buyer, appears on the order, has a new macro tag)

Tracking Number:
(read-only to the buyer, appears on the order, has a macro tag - [ordertrackno])

My Note on Order:
(one for the buyer, one for the seller – appears on the order, but each hidden
from view to the other, private info)

I do not think that there would be any “down-side” in providing / storing the
package size / description with the order and creating a basic macro tag to assist
in relaying the information to the customer in Invoices and “Drive Thru / Thank
You” messages. And the use of the field by the seller would be optional.

I would like to hear opinions from sellers (and buyers) for or against this suggestion
– and if storing the “Package Size / Description” with the order and be visible
to the customer would be helpful.

Thanks for your vote!
MikeS
BRICKMART
http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=MikeS