Request for extra status (ready to ship)

Vosblokjes

We would like an extra status, between processed and shipped.
Something like ready to ship.

Our working proces is as follows:
after picking the order we set the order to processing
after printing the shipping label we set it to processed
After packaging it is not allways the same day the order gets shipped, but we would like to set a status that is different from processed, but not yet to shipped, since that would send a shipping mail to the buyer which would not be correct at that time.

If anyone has another option we are not seeing/using, please let us know.

Stellar

If processed is after you print the label, then what differs from processed to ready to ship?

WESTIEKaTH

I just send a message to customer and say that is it ready to be posted then informing them when it will actually be posted.

Jay37

I only mark my orders as processing once all the parts are picked and packed, but not sealed. They are marked as processed before I leave for the post office. As far as I'm concerned processing and processed are good enough for me. As a customer it's fine to let me know when it's been shipped; I don't need to know you're about to ship it.

Vosblokjes

There should be no message to the buyer when setting status to this new one. That should stay as it now, so only when set to shipped.
If we have multiple orders that are picked, packed and label has been printed and put on the package it can take another day before it is actually shipped. But with the new status it would be easier to see (and filter) to see which orders are have to be packed.
Yes, you could take the labels and work from there, but with 30 (or more) orders we tend to loose focus.

misbi

As a workaround, you could leave feedback for the buyer at the 'packed' stage in your workflow, so that the blue icon acts like a flag 😉

Calibrick

I think the intent of the "processed" status is that its already packed and ready to roll, and "shipped" is the post office has it in-hand. That is how I've always read the English terms to mean, at least.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of expanding the workflow, only because it does email people as it transitions (that's another email to folks, which they may not dig).

It looks like there are some good workarounds here? Just thinking out loud!

Vosblokjes

Leaving feedback would get an extra indicator, but you can't filter on it, so nu use on that point.

Why do I keep seeing that it would send an extra mail to the buyer? Does BO send an e-mail with every status change? I hope not, and also doesn't state so on the the order page, only when set to shipped it sends a mail, and that's fine.

Hoddie

>> after picking the order we set the order to processing

This sounds the wrong way around if you ask me. Each to their own of course but surely you're "processing" when you begin working on the order? This is the point at which you'd prefer not to have any amendments or cancellations.

"Processed" would then be when the order is packed, with a shipping label attached (as it wouldn't make sense to have a load of boxes sat around without an identifying shipping label).

"Shipped" would be when you've dropped it off at the post office.

I personally use processing to mark the point when I've printed the picking list, processed when it's all packed and ready to go (including with shipping paid for/attached), and shipped when I'm heading outside to post it.

ForeverSorting

Voted Yes, because while I wouldn't use it for now, I don't see how it could hurt, so if it is useful for you, why not?

Now, what I would really like to see, would be an option for each seller to add customizable Status between Payment Received and Shipped.

Personally, I would replace Processed with two status: Picked and Packed. (Then the cutoff for combining orders would be Packed) And so on, each seller would have it's own statuses that make sense to them.

(Not a biggie, but while on the subject, I would also like to be given the option to set the status to Received when the tracking shows the package was delivered.)

Oldfan

^If the sellers get the option to set to "Received" once tracking shows it's delivered, then I'd like to see a "completed" step afterwards for the buyers to set once they've confirmed that the order is OK (i.e. no missing/incorrect parts, etc.). Right now, "Received" is the only way I have to show that I still need to confirm my orders as a buyer.

Calibrick

I use the statuses the same way @Hoddie does...

Above someone asked if buyers receive an email re workflow changes... YES, they do. My husband occasionally purchases gifts for me on here (whatta guy! <s>) under his own account... on Mother's Day, he walked into my office saying "why is BO emailing me that my order is processed and then seconds later I get a second email saying my order is shipped. That's dumb, send one."

I explained the workflow to him, but that is when I was reminded buyers receive emails when the workflow statuses change.

Which is why I personally am not a fan of adding any additional workflow steps when I look at the site as a whole beyond my personal wants... there are too many internal workarounds we can take as sellers to use those for our personal preferences without affecting the buyers or worse, making the site more complex.

I remember as a buyer seeing BL's workflow the first time and kind of going "ack" in my brain... Buyer awareness and appropriate communication is critical in our customer service-oriented work, but there is also such a thing as over-communication; and for us as sellers overcomplicating a simple workflow.

Keep it simple is my mantra... just my respectful, humble, personal opinion! :-)

Lawrence

Just to clarify, the only order e-mails that Brick Owl sends are order confirmation, shipment, and refund. It's possible that your husband placed an order in a store that has their own processes to send automatic emails, some stores send their own additional order shipment emails.

It's clear that different stores use the statuses in different ways, so we don't intend to add any new statuses to this.

Calibrick

Ahhh that store may have been sending an additional personal email then (I bet he got a shipment status then a personal email), I used to do that myself before I discovered I could input the tracking ID right into the order screen for the buyer. Thanks for the clarification, @lawrence!

ForeverSorting

@Oldfan I agree with you, as a Buyer (and Seller), Received is very different from Completed.

White Horse Bricks

Thanks for that @Lawrence , the posts were beginning to concern me that buyers would get a message at each status change. I definately don't want that.

Calibrick

Yes, that was my bad based on what my husband said - he must have had a seller that sent additional messages for communication. Mea culpa, all!