Whether you’re an Etsy novice or a seasoned seller, understanding how the platform’s packing slips and order receipts work can streamline your selling process. In this article, we’ll break down what these tools are, how to use them, and ways to customize them for your shop.

A Quick Overview of Packing Slips & Order Receipts on Etsy

Etsy’s packing slips serve as transaction records for buyers, typically included within the order shipment. On the other hand, order receipts act as tangible transaction documents for sellers. It’s crucial to note that neither packing slips nor order receipts are considered invoices for buyers. You can effortlessly print a packing slip or physical receipt from either the Orders & Shipping page or an individual receipt page in your Shop Manager.

Do You Need to Include Packing Slips on Etsy?

Including a packing slip in your Etsy orders isn’t obligatory, but it’s highly recommended. This document provides detailed information about the order, including the product name, quantity, and other relevant details. It not only aids communication by informing buyers what they’ve received but also adds a professional touch to your deliveries.

When an order is marked as a gift on Etsy, the packing slip prints without displaying the price paid by the buyer. This ensures discretion when sending directly to gift recipients. In conclusion, while not mandatory, including packing slips can enhance customer experience and help resolve shipment issues should they arise.

How To Print Packing Slips & Order Receipts

To facilitate your shipping process with packing slips and order receipts:

1. Visit your Shop Manager.
2. Click on Orders & Shipping.
3. Choose the order you’d like to print documents for.
4. Tick boxes for Packing slips and/or Order receipts.
5. Lastly, click Print Orders.

Depending on your web browser, the PDF version of these documents may open in a new tab or directly download onto your computer. For optimal printing quality, it is recommended that packing slips be printed on standard 8.5" x 11" paper.

Handling Orders Marked as Gifts

Etsy allows buyers to mark orders as gifts. Consequently, the price breakdown is automatically omitted from the packing slip. Sellers also have the option of including a gift message provided by the buyer.

If informed by other means that an order is a gift, sellers can manually mark it:

1. Navigate to Orders & Shipping
2. Locate the order you want to designate as a gift.
3. Click on More Actions.
4. Select Mark as a gift.

A reminder that an order marked as a gift will appear beneath the shipping address on the Sold Orders page. Check here for more information on offering gift-wrapping services

Personalizing Your Packing Slips & Order Receipts

Etsy allows customization of information included in packing slips or detail levels in order receipts through the Customize options feature. This option provides an array of items to include in your documents.

To save your preferences for future use, click on Save these settings for next time. In addition to detailed order information, you can choose to include promotional items like your shop banner or a coupon code for subsequent purchases. Though terms and conditions aren’t mandatory on packing slips, they can be added in the Add a personalized note field if desired. Learn more about coupon codes

New Features: Bulk Printing and Customization

Etsy has recently introduced new features to help streamline the process of printing packing slips and order receipts. These enhancements allow for bulk printing, customization, and an overall more efficient workflow.

Here’s how you can leverage these functionalities:

1. Navigate to your Sold Orders page.
2. Use the bulk-select checkbox to choose multiple orders.
3. Click on ‘Print Order’ to open a window where you can print packing slips and receipts for all selected orders.
4. If you want to customize these documents, click on ‘Customize Options’. Here, you can add unique elements such as your shop banner or coupon codes onto your packing slips.

For gift orders:

1. Select the order(s) marked as gifts.
2. Click on ‘More actions’, then select ‘Mark as a gift’.
3. The system will automatically omit price details from the packing slips of these orders.

For US and Canadian sellers wishing to print shipping labels in bulk:

1. Select the desired orders from the Sold Orders page.
2. Click on ‘Print Shipping Labels’.
3. After purchasing your labels, a window will open where you can download your labels and simultaneously print packing slips for those same orders.

These new features simplify the process of managing Etsy orders – including packing slips – making it more organized and efficient while providing opportunities for branding and promotion that enhance customer satisfaction

Packing Slips vs. Shipping Labels on Etsy

To put it simply, a packing slip is a document created by the seller (or shipper) for the buyer (or consignee), containing all relevant information about an order. Conversely, a shipping label is also created by the seller but is intended for carriers as it contains essential shipping information.

Diving Deeper into Packing Slips

A packing slip details every aspect of an order - from items being shipped to their quantity and weight - providing critical insights to both parties involved in a transaction.

Key information typically found on an Etsy packing slip includes:

• Order Date
• Purchaser Name and Address
• Recipient Name and Address
• Itemized List of Orders
• Itemized List of Shipped Items
• Item Specifications
• Seller Name and Contact Information
• Packing Slip / Order Slip / Shipping Slip Number

This comprehensive list ensures that both buyers and sellers have full transparency regarding what’s included in each shipment. While not mandatory on Etsy or within most e-commerce platforms, maintaining a well-detailed packing slip can greatly enhance customer experience.

Decoding Shipping Labels

On the other hand, shipping labels play a critical role in helping carriers track shipments while providing necessary shipment details. It’s essential to ensure accuracy when creating these labels as any discrepancies could lead to cargo mishandling or misrouting.

Common fields found on an Etsy shipping label include:

• Carrier Tracking Number / Barcode / QR code
• Shipping Date
• Shipping Priority
• Shipper Name and Address
• Consignee Name and Address
• Weight
• Delivery Instructions

So, Packing Slip vs. Shipping Label: Are They The Same?

While both packing slips and shipping labels contain similar fields like shipper, consignee, weight, and delivery address - the key difference lies in their purpose and usage. A packing slip is primarily for the buyer, providing a breakdown of their order. In contrast, a shipping label is used by carriers to track and manage shipments.

Moreover, while each carton in an order has its own shipping label attached to it, there’s often only one packing slip placed inside the parcel or attached in a pouch for multiple cartons as it contains the entire order details.

The Ultimate Guide to Packing an Etsy Order

Once you’ve made a sale on Etsy, your next crucial step is ensuring the order reaches your buyer safely and professionally. Your packaging process can significantly enhance the buyer’s experience, making them more likely to return for future purchases. So let’s dive into how you can masterfully pack an Etsy order, including dealing with orders marked as gifts and packing slips.

What Should You Include in Your Package?

Beyond securely packaging your sold item using materials like bubble wrap or tissue paper, consider adding elements that elevate the unboxing experience for the buyer:

• Packing Slip: This document serves as a record of transactions for buyers and is typically included within the shipment. When buyers mark their order as a gift during checkout on Etsy, the packing slip printed will not include the price paid.
• Thank You Note: A small gesture like this can go a long way in establishing rapport with your customers. It adds a personal touch to each shipment.
• Business Card or Branded Materials: If available, these items can help reinforce your shop’s branding and make it easier for customers to remember your store for future purchases.

Learn more about packing slips and order receipts

How to Pack Delicate Items

When sending fragile items, extra precautions are necessary. Despite any ‘Fragile’ or ‘Do Not Bend’ warnings you may put on the package exterior, accidents happen during transit - so it’s best to prepare accordingly.

Here are some tips:

1. Consider double boxing fragile items leaving some space between boxes - known as “crush room”. Fill this space with packing peanuts mixed with newspaper.
2. Ensure at least 2" padding surrounds all sides of fragile items once in their container.
3. For unusually sized items, consider customizing your own box using cardboard and packing tape.

Dealing with Orders Marked as a Gift

When an Etsy order is marked as a gift, there are a few differences compared to normal orders:

• The gift receipt will print without the price breakdown.
• It might contain a message from the buyer.

As a seller, if an order is marked as a gift you should:

1. Include the gift receipt in the package so that the recipient knows who sent their gift.
2. If you offer gift wrap and it’s been purchased by the customer, ensure to wrap the item accordingly.

Remember, you’re not required to write out any messages on separate cards - it’s enough that they print out on the receipt. However, be mindful when contacted about who bought a particular item - this falls under customer confidentiality and shouldn’t be disclosed without permission from the buyer.

So whether it’s packaging fragile items or dealing with gift orders on Etsy, these tips can help ensure smooth sailing for all your transactions!

Sample of an Order Receipt Template

Effective management of receipts is crucial for any business. They serve as proof of transactions, enabling both buyers to prove their purchase and sellers to verify that goods or services have been rendered.

Cash Receipt Template

This basic type provides an acknowledgment showing the amount received during a transaction (in cash or equivalent). It includes spaces for product/service details, price, taxes, payment method, and business information.

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Conclusion:

Etsy’s packing slips and order receipts play a pivotal role in the selling process. From serving as transaction records to being tools for branding, they enhance operations while adding a professional touch to deliveries. Customization options further allow sellers to personalize these documents, catering directly to their shop’s needs and adding unique elements that can boost customer experience.

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