Apply waybill to small package
Good morning, I sold a watch. I used the eBay shipping tool to generate the shipping labels. But I have a problem: the package measures 11cm x 10cm x 7 cm. How do I apply the shipping label to it? The system generated a PDF in A4 format, with two labels to cut out; I imagine one is to be applied to the package, the other to keep as my receipt. But even cut out, it measures 21cm x15cm.
Since it’s the first time I’ve had to ship such a small package, I have no idea how to do it. I can’t even put the package in another larger box, because the dimensions I declared for the package when booking the courier pickup are the ones indicated at the beginning of the post.
I’m attaching a photo of the package and the shipping label.
18 comments
anguz91
OP3 years agoIs it normal that today, when the courier came to pick it up, he only took the package? He didn't want any copy of the label, and he didn't even sign my copy. In a hurry, when I offered to leave him a copy of the label, he replied, "no, I just have to take the package, you keep everything else." Just to be clear, this is an SDA courier.
I thought I had understood that of the 4 copies, one went on the package, one to me, one to the courier, but what about the fourth? Was it supposed to go inside the packaging? Just to be safe, anyway, on the little package (itself placed inside an envelope, as shown in the attached photo in my last message) I put a sticker label where I wrote the sender's and recipient's name.
Am I taking some risk since the courier didn't sign one copy??
Thanks in advance
heavenwelkin
·3 years agoSo, let’s say that having booked the label online, the system records the day the courier has to come for pickup.
Once the courier has come to collect it, he scans and activates the tracking code.
You should therefore see your tracking activated within a few hours.
Regarding the “signature required” issue, these guidelines were issued in July 2021 because of the pandemic and have not yet been restored to the pre-pandemic status.
quote: We would like to remind you that in order to limit the risk of contagion and maintain distancing, shipments for ALL Couriers will continue to be delivered without any signature required.
And I believe the same thing also applies to parcel pickups.
Kind regards.
anguz91
OP3 years agoThanks, I didn't know that, also because if the postal couriers still have this covid rule, I don't see why when the mail carrier arrives, I have to sign anyway if I need to pick up a package (happened last week).
heavenwelkin
·3 years agoAs for the postman, this regulation should still currently be in force.
So if you received a package by registered mail, it's likely that a signature is still required and/or it's up to the postman's discretion, but I couldn't tell you more.
anguz91
OP3 years agoThanks for the proposed solutions, in the end I put the package in a plastic bag large enough, and I stuck the label in A4 format.
heavenwelkin
·3 years agoWise decision 👌
Kind regards.
actar80
·3 years ago👍👍👍Great, it will be more visible this way.
anguz91
OP3 years agoHello, thanks everyone for the replies.. Now I saw on the page where I can download the labels to print that there’s also another format besides A4. I’m sending it attached. They fit my package perfectly (in the photo there are 4 but only one goes on the package). They’re small, but if it’s a format that eBay makes available to print, I don’t think there should be any problems with the barcode being resized too small..
heavenwelkin
·3 years agoThat's the beauty of the forum:
The author of the post asks a question, then various users reply and the author of the post chooses what he thinks is best for him.
Basically, you left the 11x10x7 package for an international chrono, so an overseas shipment, reducing the waybill from the original A4 sheet by well over 50%.
What can I say?
I truly hope it's not a shipment outside Europe.....
If you want, keep us updated as soon as your "package" is delivered.
Best regards.
technopartsbay
·3 years agoNext time we'll answer them "figure it out yourself," it'll be quicker and we won't have to rack our brains trying to find solutions and advice. 😊
heavenwelkin
·3 years agoReplacing the cardboard packaging with a bigger one would have cost him only a wrap of tape.
If the package gets sent back, he risks losing at least 12 euros in shipping.....
I hope for his sake that nothing bad happens, like the package getting lost or someone deliberately stashing it away and making it pass as an incident justified by the fact that the package did not meet the minimum required dimensions.
it2015-inno
·3 years agoin these cases I put the package in an envelope of suitable size, you can't reduce the label too much or you'll create problems reading the barcode, since home printers aren't perfect.
best regards.
iemmepi
heavenwelkin
·3 years agoGood morning it2015-inno
I completely agree with what you wrote.
If needed, the little package can be placed inside a suitable envelope (even an unpadded one) with a transparent pocket for inserting the waybill, without altering its original dimensions because of the issues you mentioned.
heavenwelkin
·3 years agoI suggest you read this packaging guide written by Poste Italiane.
Basically, they recommend a size of at least 20 x 30 cm, which is necessary for attaching the shipping documentation.
https://www.poste.it/files/1473800270602/poste-delivery-web-guida-spedizione.pdf
The problem can be worked around by increasing the size of the parcel, even if it is a watch.
A parcel that is too small is not really suitable because there is a risk that it will get lost or that the courier won’t be able to find it in the van, and then it won’t be possible to attach the documentation / waybill correctly.
Up to 1 kg volumetric and/or 3 kg volumetric, the shipping cost remains unchanged.
So it is not recommended to ship a parcel 11 x 10 x 7 cm
Kind regards.
actar80
·3 years agoIn your place, I'd solve it by using your printer's management software, reduce the print percentage to 50% or less depending on the size you want, first do a few tests to check readability depending on the reduction percentage. That way you get around the problem. Bye.
technopartsbay
·3 years agoThe idea is good, but care needs to be taken with barcodes and especially QR codes.
If they are reduced too much, they become unreadable.
I recommend trying to have a mobile app read them: if they are read correctly, there will be no problem even for courier readers (which have much more accurate sensors, ergo, if you can read them with a mobile camera, the scanner of a professional code reader will definitely read it).
The only exception is the QR codes of some couriers (e.g. UPS), which are readable only by their scanners...
actar80
·3 years agoYou’re right 👌 I forgot the QR codes.
milotemesvar
·3 years agoAside from the current problem with the label, since the price doesn't change with packages a bit larger than that one (you can check in eBay Shipping Manager), it's always better to add a few extra centimeters beyond the actual size because if there were to be an inspection, as has already happened many times from what I read here on the forum, and there were even a small difference more than what was declared, you would be required to pay an additional amount.
As for the label, you could put it in a transparent sleeve (I use the ones for A4 binders, with holes on the left side to fasten them) and then fold it so that the barcode and address remain fully visible on one side of the package, with the rest folded over to the left on the other side.
Then show the whole thing to the courier who will come to pick it up, asking him for information, and keep another copy of the label handy in case the courier has a different solution.