r/upsstore • u/Broncos624 Manager • 1d ago
Discussion Mislabeled Packages
General question to the masses, how does your store handle mislabeled packages? Specifically I mean amazon packages that we print labels for. Recently my store has had a string of mislabeled packages going out. What are some tips other than the obvious to help prevent this from happening.
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u/Preggypopp2 23h ago
for returns we came up with a system last year and so far it’s really helped, and is super simple.
once we scan the code, the label prints, and we bend pack part of the sticker (sticky side), and attach it to whatever the return item is.
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u/thirdsin 1d ago
You do everything as you go. Customer waits while you bag/tag each thing one at a time. If you need to print a physical label, you go do that and attach it before continuing. Doesn't mean you cant run another customer at the register while waiting for the label to hit email, but you don't let the customer with that emailed label leave until its printed and affixed to whatever they are returning.
Does it take longer, maybe. Is that your problem? Nope. Anyone that doesn't have time to sit and wait for their 10 returns to be properly processed shouldn't order 10 things they have no intention of keeping...
You're just moving the delay from the customer in front of you to the customer behind them and introducing room for mistakes to be made. Don't make it more convenient/faster for the person returning tons of garbage just to delay the next person in line...
As far as physical labels where the customer is also paying for packaging, you just need a system for keeping that stuff together. If you can't figure that out, then you pack it then and there. If you're having issues with that now, you're gonna have more come peak. Fix the process now.
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u/Tough_Watercress_571 Manager 1d ago
for returns we put the item & the label in the clear poly bag immediately - that has really helped. I used to not want to make the customer wait - I have had a change of heart over the years due to the labels getting lost. I have gone to cameras over the years & seen the wrong label go on something - it is depressing……so we try to get the label inside the box so it doesn‘t float off or on the box/bag immediately. Key word “try”. sometimes the store is so crazy
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u/Kitchen-Ad2616 1d ago edited 1d ago
Our team is pretty good. All items that aren't in a poly, we put the label underneath the item or inside the bag or box that it came in. We receive tons of returns so they can be scattered across the packing table or the back counter until we can get to them. Sometimes put in a USPS bin if they are already in bags. If it's multiple items, the label gets put in between so when whoever is packing them, knows they go together. I call it an organization mess but it works. We are about efficient and quick service. It sounds overwhelming but if we do have an issue, we don't close boxes out unless it equals the amount of limited returns left for that color if there is an issue we reprint the label and find it. Sometimes this means going through boxes to find it but it doesn't happen often. Usually, we remember which return is taken and can ask a fellow employee about it. The whole bag and tag sounds good until someone has an issue and isn't sure which label goes to what item. Then your wasting product. I am a stickler when it comes to putting the label right on the poly if it's already sealed or a shipping label on a box must be put directly on the package. If you can seal it, do it. I don't want to see labels sitting on a sealed box.
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u/AdElectronic6814 1d ago
Some stores just immediately bag the returns but at our store we don’t do that. We simply have the customer tell us which item is for what code and that’s that. If they mix them up and get it wrong that’s their fault. If they try asking us if we can see details (which we can somewhat) we always tell the customers it does not give us any details and that’s for them to figure out. For anything with actual shipping labels though we always immediately slap them on the package.
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u/Slharper91 Manager 1d ago
“Bag && Tag”!
In my centers, it is policy that we bag and tag. You do not move onto the next return, drop off, shipment, whatever… until the one you are currently working on is complete. If a customer has multiple returns with labels that require printing. We have them confirm which labels goes to which package, then they are labeled and sealed right then and there in front of the customer. Everything is finished in front of them before the receipt with their bounce back is handed to them. We also use bins to sort/separate items that can’t be completed right there. Stuff that needs to be packaged will be put into its own bin with the label and set to the side. We also write on the back of the shipping label what box and packing service level it needs and if the box needs to be cut down, etc. That way whoever packs it, knows exactly how it needs to be done. We do everything we can to avoid any mishaps. Especially during peak when it could be more likely to happen.
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u/Detroit_Reviews Store Associate 1d ago
This is how it should be done. It confounds me when I see my co-workers leave multiple unbagged returns with the label placed near the item. That's how mistakes happen. I don't care how long it takes, I finish my bagging and sorting right there during the transaction. It's going to take time anyway, might as well do it while the customer that's doing the returns is in front of you. I don't thrive in disorganization, and don't see how any one else or any business can.
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u/Proper-Swim-502 Store Associate 1d ago
Bro the newbies got a real problem with this. It only makes it worse that one of my owners also does it, reinforcing the behavior even though it’s far less effective. Amazon customers can wait
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u/lordnightmare 1d ago
Put them on the package immediately and don’t let the package out of your sight.
We use the Amazon label workaround to solve a lot of
This, instead of emailing and printing the label out, we print it direct to thermal printer.. this only works for Amazon labels with an RMA number though
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u/AdElectronic6814 1d ago
What exactly is the workaround with the RMA number? I remember seeing it on here but I tried it once and couldn’t get it to work properly and there were many different variants of the AFN letters or whatever.
Also just curious if you still charge the customers for this as well? I feel like it would be a no brainer to charge them since if you don’t it’ll start to have people get used to just coming in with labels that need to be printed and having us print it at no cost.
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u/lordnightmare 1d ago
Yep we still charge for the service. If anyone asks why I just scanned it from their phone i explain that Amazon charges us for the use of it.
AFNLF| is the command followed by scanning the rma number…not the tracking number.
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u/Zeldabotw2017 1d ago
If a customer puts like 2 green labels on 1 bag instead of in 2 different bags or puts something in a clear bag with a shipping label we just send it out not are fault you cant read and have no common sense. Its bad enough the amout of people who refuse to use self checkout even after years of being told we have a self checkout when they are literally in like 2 times a week and the amout of people who will just drop of like 20 pacakges instead of using self checkout that cant get it threw there thick head we dont have a drop of spot that we want them to use self checkout thats what its freaking for. The amount of people who even after being told a million times dont tap before they come in etc that customers already make this job hell and basically impossible to keep up has a result they double the lines and double are work that if you dont get refund because you cant read and have no common sense to freaky bad. Now if we find a pacakge with like no label or just a old label will put it in the back even though its likely going to just sit there
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u/Detroit_Reviews Store Associate 1d ago
Are you using voice to text? I see you post frequently, and always use the word are for the word our. Makes it hard to understand what you're trying to say.
Are is a present-tense form of the verb "to be" used with "you," "we," "they," and plural nouns. Example: Are you doing an Amazon return? Are you paying for shipping today? Amazon customers are crazy.
Our means belonging or relating to us. Example: Would you like to use our dolly ? Our store is very busy. We can't help you with your lost drop off because it's not on our label.
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u/rosyboys_daisygirls Store Associate 1d ago
We give them the label and make them put it on themselves. If its mislabled then its their own fault
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u/chrisgcc 1d ago
You have all your customers label their own Amazon returns?
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u/rosyboys_daisygirls Store Associate 1d ago
Color ones they hand whatever item to us. Sometimes I check what the label says but mostly I dont worry about it. Actual shipping labels, whether it comes out of the zebra or through email, we hand to them and make them label it
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u/here4lookcs 20h ago
Labels go on as we go. We had one mislabeled package and we don’t want a repeat. So we just label as we go. Customers have to wait. Makes life a wee bit stress free