Anyone still including printed receipts with purchase?

[theelectricempire]

Im considering stopping since its all online. What are other people doing? 

[reallynicestamps]

I don't usually.

I do include a price list for my online products.

And a packing slip for my 'commercial' customers.

[recped]

Yes, always! I have no plans to change this practice, it is a marketing tool of which there is no match.

[richardcm]

I always included an invoice in my shipments with a handwritten thank you on it. I also wanted to avoid confusion for the buyer so he knew who sent the item and and what eBay item number it was. eBay IDs and your real name are not known to the buyer until you ship. And as a protection against the outside of the package losing the shipping or return address then the invoice inside could identify the package if it ended up in the post office dead mail department. A lot of sellers use inkjet printers to make labels and when wet the ink runs in the rain. Sellers cover the addresses with packing tape to make them waterproof and tear resistant. What if you forgot one time?

I did some buying of discount postage a couple of years ago in small lots by auction. I won several close together similar in stamps included and sometimes the same seller. Some did not include an invoice.

I had to go online and figure out which package it was. Made me work to do this. I wanted to be able to give correct feedback to the seller. Or know which wasn’t received yet. I had one Lettermail item take much longer to arrive. I had to double check everything I received against my purchases online to figure out which was missing. I had left everything in original packages to identify them for leaving feedback.

In my opinion you should always include a paper invoice of the sale in the package for the reasons above.

[msmaggie060]

I always include a thank you note which shows the item(s) description, the price paid and shipping cost. It also includes a link to my other ebay store.

These days, there is a written reminder that due to the pandemic, the item may have taken longer than usual to arrive.

[strange*highways]

As a buyer I wish more sellers would include a receipt.

I bought a camera on eBay last year and was pleased to see it came with a receipt from the sellers real brick & mortar store. The same receipt I would have gotten if I was a walk in customer.

Although not all sellers have real walk in stores I do appreciate a receipt.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

I have always included one. It's part of the cost of doing business. I like to let my customers know, what they ordered is what they received. They may be ordering for a business, or from multiple sellers. It's not my job to ask. Also, if an item is going through customs and happens to get inspected, this makes it easier to match the right item to the right order and that the customs documents do actually match cartons contents. For my orders I'm now adding a personalized note along with an image which I confirm when packing that I am sending the correct item to the corresponding address. This can be of help if you sold an item with variations. It's easy being in a rush, to make mistake. Anything you can do to out any guess work.

-Lotz

PS. Can also reduce the risk of them leaving feedback for wrong seller. Hey, it happens.

[ricarmic]

I always include a receipt.

As others have mentioned here, some buyers buy a LOT of stuff at the same time.

As an addendum to another response, I have several times received feedback, complaints, INRs, cases for OTHER peoples stuff, even though I do include receipts! I can't imagine how bad it would be if I didn't!

As a note though, my audience's age is going to be averaging higher than many other categories....so that will figure in too. (probably mostly in good ways as a note!)

[pjcdn2005]

I  include a packing slip with a handwritten thank you note.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@theelectricempire 

Something else to consider. For some countries a copy of the packing slip needs to be included and attached to each copy of the customs documents. See Canadapost country list for specific requirements.

https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/wtz/business/displaySpecialRequirements?execution=e1s1

-Lotz

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

I include a receipt. eBay doesn't include your GST number on the electronic invoice sent to buyers, and it is my understanding that it is required for orders above 30 dollars.

I have 4 x 6 thermal paper for shipping labels. It is cheaper, lighter, and more convenient to print the receipt on to thermal paper than it is to print it on to a full sized sheet via a laser printer. With a 4 x 6 printer, if you use the printer-friendly order detail page, it can fit on to a 4 x 6 page if printed at 50 percent scale and landscape. 

I have a stamp with my GST info and I stamp that on to the invoice. I also include a web URL that directs to my eBay store. I would advise anyone who has a large amount of stock to go out and purchase a web address to direct back to your eBay store, and include it on your invoice or in the package. It is extremely cheap, and the default eBay web address would be a hassle for someone to remember or type. 

I used to also handwrite a thank you note, but one I have atrocious hand writing, and two with an uptick in volume, as much as I wanted to keep doing it, x amount of orders a month spending 1-2 minutes writing a note adds up. Instead, I had another stamp created with the same sentiment. It is not as good as a hand written note, but it is better than nothing. 

Prior to registering for GST, I did not include invoices. I would say the benefits are you can use them to drive repeat traffic back to your eBay store. Also, a decent looking invoice as silly as it sounds might add to the 'professional' feel of a well packed item. The cons are that it takes time that adds up if you're doing any sort of volume, and is another (albeit minor) additional cost tacked on to shipping. As a buyer, I would never be upset if an eBay seller did not include a physical invoice but I also am fairly comfortable navigating eBay and can find the digital version if needed. 

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

In regards to packing slips, not sure if the place where we get our partially au gratis (depending on if you spend extra) shipping supplies ever did include a packing slip. As of late nothing. In reviewing some recent purchases and checking counts, several of the counts were off. Stickers by 2 sheets of 4. Thank you cards  out by 2 and 3. Not sure if this is a happens from time to time or has happened from day 1. Batch of 25...1 box was broken. Just re-taped at seam.

Do you check the counts when they arrive? Were they correct or did you just let it ride. Just curious. What you ordered should be what you get? Another reason for including a packing slip. To confirm what was sent was accurately received.

-Lotz

[ben0072]

I always do.  

[nuvistors]

I include a receipt. eBay doesn't include your GST number on the electronic invoice sent to buyers, and it is my understanding that it is required for orders above 30 dollars.

++++++++++++++

The GST number must be included if the  buyer pays any amount of GST.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@nuvistors 

If you need to personalize a packing slip with your GST number there is a tab for editing within the Print Shipping Labels area. (At the bottom) This is what I used to personalize my packing slips to save people from having to read my terrible handwriting.

Lotz.