How to tell which Shipping Label is for which item?

[pirate1122]

I've been obsessing over this today. Here's the method I have so far and am wondering if someone knows of a faster way:

Use The gmail app. Search Emails for the words Via Paypal. (This method works best if you have opted out of ebays other emails like order and shipped notices) . Then go back and forth confirming who ordered what, and what quantity they ordered.

You can also "star" each email as it comes in and then just go through your "star" folder.

I'm guessing sellers who sell over 100+ items a day, have to have a better method though.

[EWHendo]

Are you using eBay's shipping option? If you print the label with the additional information on the other half of the paper, it has the user name and item name right on there.

[phaz0rz]

I don't go anywhere near an email app or website, haha..

I click "awaiting shipment" in selling manager to see what needs to be shipped. Then I run down the line opening each order in a new tab. After that I copy & paste each address into the stamps.com program and purchase the appropriate postage, closing tabs as I go. Once all the labels for an account are printed, I run back through the awaiting shipment list and write what everyone ordered on the back of their label. Then finally, I "check" all the orders and upload tracking numbers for everything at once. Then I move on to the next account and go through the same process.

For someone who's only managing one account, or who would be willing to have multiple stamps.com subscriptions, this process could be wayyy simplified. Stamps.com can easily link to Ebay and automatically import orders. I've just never messed with that because I have orders coming from all over Ebay.

Why do you use an app? Back when I first started selling (and was doing almost everything from my phone) I would view orders one at a time and print shipping labels, one at a time. But things are SOOOOOO much easier on a laptop. Gotta get away from that phone to get big

[eulaclarke86]

I have a team of 3 running my daily operations with myself handling all of the packing and shipping, so our method is more for the way I run things.

My team will print labels on the accounts a couple times a day and as they print the label(to PDF), they will add the buyer zip, package weight and item number/description to a spreadsheet. They will then merge all labels(grouped by item) and send me the spreadsheet once in morning and once in afternoon. I print labels and the spreadsheet and go about packing orders.

[yankee]

Shipstation will solve all these problems for you for just $24.99 a month. Only thing I dont like is ebay is several dollars cheaper on International labels than on stamps but other than that, label and invoice pops of of the thermal printer in batches.

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by yankee

Shipstation will solve all these problems for you for just $24.99 a month. Only thing I dont like is ebay is several dollars cheaper on International labels than on stamps but other than that, label and invoice pops of of the thermal printer in batches.

Stamps.com gives you commercial plus on International too after a certain point.

[yankee]

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

Stamps.com gives you commercial plus on International too after a certain point.

Has not seemed to be the case or workstation is quoting inaccurate.

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by eulaclarke86

I have a team of 3 running my daily operations with myself handling all of the packing and shipping, so our method is more for the way I run things.

My operation is also composed of 3 people, including myself. Why on earth would you give yourself the worst job if you're the boss? LOL..

I spend all day printing shipping labels and responding to messages. Responding to messages really blows but I don't trust anyone else to handle the customer service side at the moment. Once I get labels printed for an account I pass them along to my 2 helpers who begin filling orders. I fill the more expensive orders but anything under $100 goes to them. We average 250-300 orders per day and it's rare for either of my helpers to put in more than a 6 hour day.

[yankee]

I dont even reside within 200 miles of my closest employee and I ship almost nothing myself unless I just want to durring the busy seasons or testing a new product separate from everyday stuff.

Now with ship station, I just have my shippers login and print off labels for the items thay are handling.

Works lovely and they have no access to anything other than shipstation.

[phaz0rz]

F**king Brilliant!

I have several friends who want in on what I'm doing, but who are broke. I will have to pursue this hired seller thing, for real.

[yankee]

It is called Reverse Hires. Pay per piece they ship and they are liable for any mistakes.

They handle no money and dont answer questions.

I am a much better and agressive seller so that is what I focus on. Also, you really can automate everything these days. Even listings and inventory and can curtail most questions if desired or non tecnical items.

[yankee]

I used to handle everything via email.

Basically all notifications of payment got sent to an email that was shared by said shippers. Problem was that someone had to forward the email, then the shiper had to copy and paste tracking and then someone had to load the tracking number. VA staff can handle most of that but now I eliminated most of that with shipstation.

Orders arrive, someone ships and nobody is logging in and out of accounts other than who is selling/listing.

[yankee]

and it is a GODSEND for amazon! Now I never had to log in.

[phaz0rz]

It sounds like you've got it down to a science. I hope to grow to that point within the next year. At the end of the day the ultimate goal is to make more money for myself while doing less work!

How do you handle inventory with your shippers being so far away? Just have large orders of stuff sent to them?

[yankee]

Ship directly to my shippers. They store, keep track etc...

Keep in mind I have really great people for this. Well vetted and trustworthy. All are also business owners and are/were competitors wholesale buyers.

[dealagreeproceed]

[QUOTE=phaz0rz;764109]My operation is also composed of 3 people, including myself. Why on earth would you give yourself the worst job if you're the boss? LOL..
QUOTE]

I was asking myself the exact same thing when I read his message lol... the shipping part is the worst part!

[eulaclarke86]

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

My operation is also composed of 3 people, including myself. Why on earth would you give yourself the worst job if you're the boss? LOL..

I actually don't mind, it's the easiest job in my opinion. I find running through accounts very boring, and with as many as we use, it's a lot of waiting for a VM to boot up. My time is best spent managing inventory and sourcing product as my team is very efficient at their end of things.

[yankee]

Originally Posted by eulaclarke86

I actually don't mind, it's the easiest job in my opinion. I find running through accounts very boring, and with as many as we use, it's a lot of waiting for a VM to boot up. My time is best spent managing inventory and sourcing product as my team is very efficient at their end of things.

Figuring out what you are good at and doing more of it may be the number one secret to business owners who succeed compared to people who create a job for themselves.

I personally hate making listings. I would rather stuff envelopes that make listings.

[Versace1212]

I have a stamps account but I use it only at the beginning when there is no money in PayPal to ship. Is printing labels and paying with PayPal not safe? I just figured managing multiple accounts liked to let's say shipnation is risky to get linked

[yankee]

Originally Posted by Versace1212

I have a stamps account but I use it only at the beginning when there is no money in PayPal to ship. Is printing labels and paying with PayPal not safe? I just figured managing multiple accounts liked to let's say shipnation is risky to get linked

No linking with shipstation, auctiva, inkfrog, etc....

[Versace1212]

So it's safe to print using PayPal balance?

[yankee]

Originally Posted by Versace1212

So it's safe to print using PayPal balance?

You lost me.

What does the paypal balance have to do with shipstation?