ProductCart Shopping Cart Software Forums : Best way to process orders https://forum.productcart.com/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:17:23 +0000 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:58:52 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.04 360 https://forum.productcart.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=5481 <![CDATA[ProductCart Shopping Cart Software Forums]]> https://forum.productcart.com/forum_images/pc_logo_50.png https://forum.productcart.com/ <![CDATA[Best way to process orders : We automatically mark orders as...]]> https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20972.html#20972 Author: whizzinpc
Subject: 5481
Posted: 20-February-2013 at 6:58pm

We automatically mark orders as processed. If there is something backordered we just contact the customer... if they decide to wait we just leave it as is and ship it when it becomes available. If they decide to cancel or remove the item we just manually do it via authorizene. We've never had issues with charging upfront even if an item is back-ordered. Customers don't mind as long as they are notified.]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:58:52 +0000 https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20972.html#20972 <![CDATA[Best way to process orders : We use the same method as Brett....]]> https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20928.html#20928 Author: Wonderfulnews
Subject: 5481
Posted: 11-February-2013 at 8:07am

We use the same method as Brett. In fact it is this process that sold us on PC. Before PC we used to do everything manually on different programs...one for endica, one for a.net, one for ups, one for accounting and so on. The order processing on PC is super efficient. We like it and it has enabled us to handle a massive increase in business without hiring more folks to do administrative tasks. ]]> Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:07:17 +0000 https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20928.html#20928 <![CDATA[Best way to process orders : For backorders, can&#039;t you...]]> https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20927.html#20927 Author: Brett
Subject: 5481
Posted: 09-February-2013 at 8:50pm

For backorders, can't you just notify customers that the product is on backorder and that their payment reserves the product for them? I think it's bad practice to take payment for a product you don't intend on shipping IF the customer thinks it is going to ship, if you inform them that the product is back ordered and tell them when it is expected to ship, and they still place the order, then the do so knowing that they will be pre-paying for the product.

It seems to me that just informing your customers of the situation would be the best solution. As long as you are honest with them and keeping them in the loop, I can't see how they could be mad at you. Customers hate surprises, but I think most people understand backorders and as long as you make it clear on the product page that they will be charged immediately and that the product will ship as soon as stock is available, then they should be okay with that.

It seems to me like you're making quite a bit of extra work for yourself. Instead of trying to stick with what you have, I think your best bet is to take a fresh look at your business and come up with a new method for processing orders.

Both UPS and USPS have methods for printing shipping labels via the product cart administration panel. Coupled with authorize.net, and the automatically sending order status emails, all you should have to do is print the label and stick it on the package. For backorders, just inform the customer and do the same thing as usual.]]> Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:50:20 +0000 https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20927.html#20927 <![CDATA[Best way to process orders : Hi Sean, Question...]]> https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20926.html#20926 Author: MikeM
Subject: 5481
Posted: 09-February-2013 at 6:18pm

Hi Sean,

 

Question 1 & 6

Actually, I just found out that you can through PC’s CPbatch process method the orders from "auth only" it will automaticallycapture and change the payment status to paid the order status to processed. Iwas always changing it individually on each order and then going toAuthorize.net website to capture the funds. So by doing the batch feature savessome steps.

 

The only problem is what do you do when you have abackorder item? In normal business practice you should not charge a customerfor an item you’re not shipping. It could be a week or so before you ship thebackorder item.

 

This brings up another question. If the total order is$50.00 and the backorder item is $30.00. How to you charge the customer for $20and then later when the backorder item comes in you charge is his card for $30?

 

The only way I know is…

 

1.     Change the order status from pending toprocessed.

2.     Change the payment status from Authorized toPaid (keep in mind when the customer logs-in to view their order it will showthe order is Paid, customer will think the entire order including the backorderis paid, when in fact it’s only the items being shipped is paid)

3.     Log-in into your Authorize.net account and clickcapture on the unsettle amount and change the amount to be capture from $50 to$20, because you are only shipping the $20 item, later you will ship the $30item.

4.     When the backorder comes in. Log-in into yourAuthorize.net account and use the re-bill feature to charge the customer forthe $30 backorder item that is being ship.

5.     Then in your PC’s CP go to the shipping center, entertracking number to notify the customer the backorder is being shipped.

 

Question 2

We normally include an invoice or receipt in the box thatshows the prices and total amount they paid. I’m not sure what folks out theredo? Is a packing slip with no prices efficient enough?

 

Question 3

I think the QB Synchronizer is a good idea also, so Ipurchased it.

 

Question 4

Yes, I could just do Sales Receipt in QB, but then howare the backorders handled?

 

Question 6

A PC generated packing slip shows the complete item list.I don’t believe it shows an item on backorder.

 

One of the important things is really handling thebackorders efficiently. This is the reason maybe for so many steps.  Creating a Sales Order in Quickbooks is theonly way I can think of to handle the backorders. If other folks have someideas I would be interested in hearing them.

 

Mike Mech

]]> Sat, 09 Feb 2013 18:18:01 +0000 https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20926.html#20926 <![CDATA[Best way to process orders : Hi Mike,That sounds onerous.When...]]> https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20921.html#20921 Author: Guests
Subject: 5481
Posted: 08-February-2013 at 4:07am

Hi Mike, 

That sounds onerous.

When I first hooked up with our QuickBooks adviser many years ago, she fell on the floor rolling around laughing -- in stitches it seems -- at how much work we were making for ourselves in the way we were using it.

By analogy, I'm wondering if you aren't making more work for yourself then necessary.

I've a few questions based on your description of your process, if you don't mind:
  1. You describe that when orders are placed, you don't mark them automatically as either processed or paid. I'm sure you have good reason for that, but if you wouldn't mind describing your reasons, we folks here might have some ideas for you on this.
  2. I'm wondering why you need to print the invoices (if you are including them in the order rather than a packing slip, ok, but if for your own records printing to PDF would be more efficient in many ways).
  3. I agree with Bret that the QB Synchronizer from EI might be a good bet for you.
  4. I'm curious why you print the order from PC as an "invoice" and then generate a Sales Receipt in QB, and then convert that sales receipt to an invoice in QB. If you have your chart of accounts set up in QB correctly, there's no need for any of that in QB (not that I'm a QB Adviser) -- that is, as Sales Receipt is basically a shortcut for having an Invoice marked paid; at the same time it seems you are generating two invoices for some purpose.
  5. Going back to #1, do you require more than 7 days to ship an order? If not, and you ship quickly, then why not "auth & capture" when the order is placed? If you need to do an "auth only" at order placement, they if you are using Authorize.Net, you can batch process those through PC's CP.
  6. I'm curious which of the two invoices you are putting in the box, and why not a PC generated packing slip? 
I suspect that there probably is some inefficiency in your process and we folks here can help you streamline this.

Excellent topic to bring up. At first I though it too open ended as there just innumerable methods depending on one's business rules ... but having provided a detail of our process, now we have something to chew on.
]]> Fri, 08 Feb 2013 04:07:07 +0000 https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20921.html#20921 <![CDATA[Best way to process orders : You might explore the Quickbooks...]]> https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20919.html#20919 Author: Brett
Subject: 5481
Posted: 07-February-2013 at 10:26pm

You might explore the Quickbooks Plugin: http://wiki.earlyimpact.com/quickbooks_synchronizer/quickbooks_synchronizer

And instead of using world ship, you might use the integrated ups label printing function within productcart. We aren't using quickbooks so I can't really comment on that, but it takes me less than a minute to process an order, and maybe a couple more to package and ship it.]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:26:51 +0000 https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20919.html#20919 <![CDATA[Best way to process orders : Do you use accounting...]]> https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20918.html#20918 Author: MikeM
Subject: 5481
Posted: 07-February-2013 at 10:21pm

Do you use accounting system like Quickbooks?

 

Here are the steps it takes us the to process an order.

1.     Go to ProductCart orders/view all orders.

2.     Use the batch feature and change the orders frompending to processed

3.     In view all orders, check mark the new orders

4.     Print the invoices

5.     Go to Quickbooks type the order as a Sales Order

6.     Print the picking ticket within Quickbooks

7.     Package the items and weight the package

8.     In Quickbooks convert the Sales Order to anInvoice

9.     Log on to Authorize.net search the unsettleorders and mark it captured

10.  In Quickbooks mark the invoice as paid

11.  Print the Quickbooks invoice

12.  Open UPS Worldship, enter the address and weightand other information

13.  Print the 4x6 label on the Zebra label printer

14.  Put invoice in the box, seal it and paste thelabel

15.  Go to UPS Worldship cut and paste the trackingnumber on the Quickbooks invoice

16.  Go to ProductCart change the payment status fromAuthorized to Paid

17.  Go to the Shipping Center tab in ProductCart andpaste the tracking number

18.  Click finished

19.  Done

It takes almost 10 minutes to do an average order.I am trying to find a faster and more efficient way to process these orders. Ilike UPS Worldship and Quickbooks]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:21:11 +0000 https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20918.html#20918 <![CDATA[Best way to process orders : I don&#039;t know if this is &#034;the...]]> https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20888.html#20888 Author: Brett
Subject: 5481
Posted: 03-February-2013 at 9:36pm

I don't know if this is "the best" way to process orders, but I'll detail how we process ours:

When I get to the shipping area, I click on Orders > View All Orders
I hold down shift and click each order until I have like 30 tabs open, one for each order that day. On each order, I go to Product Details, and click Ship on the bottom under Shipping Status. This takes me to Shipping Center, but I usually go to Product Details first so I can see what I'm going to need to pack for the order. From the shipping center, we either use UPS or USPS depending on the order weight. For UPS, we use the integrated UPS OnLine Tools Shipping, which prints a label for us. We use a label printer to print them onto sticky paper, pack the box, and stick it on. I do the same thing with USPS, using the Endicia shipping solution. It works about the same as UPS, and prints labels onto the sticky paper which we stick onto the package.

Then I wait for the UPS guy to come pick up the UPS shipments, and go by the post office and drop the USPS ones into their drop box.

We use Authorize.net to automatically bill the customer when their order is placed, so we don't have to worry about processing the payments ourselves.

Sorry if this is a bit jumbled. Feel free to ask if you'd like any specifics about our processing procedure. As I said, I don't know if it's the most efficient way to handle this stuff, but it's what works for us.]]> Sun, 03 Feb 2013 21:36:30 +0000 https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20888.html#20888 <![CDATA[Best way to process orders : I releized there are several...]]> https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20883.html#20883 Author: MikeM
Subject: 5481
Posted: 01-February-2013 at 4:02pm

I releized there are several ways to process orders. I'm trying the best and fastest solution to process orders and print mailing & shipping labels.
 
I have Quickbooks 2011 (mfg & wholesale), ProductCart Standard, ProductCart Synchronizer for QuickBooks, Authorize.net gateway & stamps.com. I receive orders through the shopping cart as well as phone, fax and email orders.
 
I thought maybe putting all the orders from phone, fax & synchronizer into the "sales orders" of Quickbooks and process them from there?
 
What are some of your thoughts?
]]> Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:02:18 +0000 https://forum.productcart.com/best-way-to-process-orders_topic5481_post20883.html#20883