Do you include a receipt?

[#1]

Do you include the printout receipt from etsy?

I keep going back and forth, but I think its necessary...I'd like to get one.

I always include a business card, thank you note, a product tag.

If it's a gift I don't....because I don't want to be responsible for telling the recipient how much was paid.

What do you think?
Do you?

[Former_Member]

I haven't gotten into the habit of sending a receipt, except if it's an international order.

[Former_Member]

Christa- I didn't know that about International orders. I thought the amount on the customs declaration was enough? So are customs officials opening every package and checking receipts? I have yet to have a problem with that.

[Former_Member]

I do but it is more of a help to me than thinking the customer needs it. As I receive orders especially more than one at a time i set up a sort of assembly line and lay the receipt out with any supplies needed to complete the order and as the order is complete i lay the items on it. I also lay out the mailing label and the envelope. This helps me from getting confused on where i stand with outgoing orders. I then include it in the envelope with a little thank you note written on it. Just what works for me not saying anyone elses way is wrong. We all do what works for us.

[seemomster]

*Smacks forehead* D'OH! I KNEW I was forgetting something when I mailed that package today. Sigh. Do you suppose it's a good idea to send it (and the business cards) first class in an envelope? Or would that be intrusive?(I included a handwritten note...just left the bc and receipt sitting on the counter...)

[seemomster]

Typing with one hand is a drag, btw. The above post was edited because I hit enter too soon...and this one is edited because I moved the sentence that was here up where it belonged. It has been a silly day.

[Former_Member]

I rather save the trees since the invoice is online on Etsy and Paypal too.

[Former_Member]

@Melanie, I'm sure you'll be fine.


My question is....isn't "handmade" & "personal attention" the reason people come to buy from etsy rather than a mass produced item? Shouldn't we give our all to our customers? I mean this is our job, right?

Is it wrong to assume that because we *might* throw the paper away that our customers don't want it either?

[Former_Member]

I never really thought about receipts but come to think of it, it is more professional and I will start sending my customers a receipt.

Thanks for the tip

[LaurasLastDitch]

I enclose a thank you note, but no receipt. It's easy for someone to print out their own receipt. Part of the reason some people purchase vintage it to avoid waste, and it's also part of the reason I sell. I'll enclose one if someone specifically requests it, but otherwise not.

I could be wrong, but I think people want to feel valued, and they want an item like what they expected to receive. I want them to feel like they're buying from a real person who runs a business, not from a corporation, so I think doing it to look "professional" is overrated.

[BrushStrokeOrnaments]

I never include a receipt. I've had hundreds of sales and no one has commented on it or requested a receipt. I personally don't think you are more professional if you send the receipt; some stores are even trying to go the paperless route and send you the receipt electronically.

I do enclose a thank you note and business card.

[WintergreenDesign]

@Ashlee

I think that if they "randomly" decided to open a package the reciept inside is supposed to correspond with the amount written on the internal receipt. I believe (don't quote me on this) but when I ship to the USA, packages go right through customs if they are declared at less than $200 but when shipping to Canada we generally have to pay customs/tax/brokerage on orders exceeding $20 (though its kind of hit and miss when using USPS) but customs here are much slower...I think they do check thats why it takes us so long to get our packages from the USA or anywhere else : )

[Former_Member]

Christa Cunningham from WintergreenDesign says

If a package is opened the receipt also allows the package a better chance at making it back to its destination or back to me.
_________________________________________________

I'm very surprised that only one other person (besides me) has said this. Maybe this is the reason some packages go missing?

[Former_Member]

I do not include a reciept and I rather not receive one. Go green by saving the paper and the ink. If customers need a copy of their reciept they can gather the information from paypal, etsy and email.

[Former_Member]

Christa and Judy - Thanks for the heads up! I've only had a package go missing once (it was shipped to Qatar, I've heard that missing packages are pretty common there). I'll start including a receipt with my international orders just in case.

[Former_Member]

I thought about this the other day so glad now that i didn't print one out to send to people :)

[barebranchjewelry]

I do for international orders, just because I don't know how the shipping runs outside of the US. Otherwise I feel the email receipt is enough. I do always include a business card with thank you note, since every sale is something to celebrate & be very thankful for!

[madebyhippies]

We include a receipt that has our 30 day return policy explained on it with instructions.

E

[Untwistedsister]

It is required to include a receipt for international merchandise shipments. If you've ever had a package get accidentally mangled, at least they have the addresses inside. I do include it with my packages and if they want to throw it away or shred it for a hamster cage, so be it.

[RosesForClementine]

Great idea not to waste paper! Xo

[thedots]

You get a receipt from the brick and mortar store, you get a receipt from an online store, your etsy store is no different. To not include a receipt appears unprofessional, or lazy. If your printer is not working, you can include a note in your shipment about that.

[PebbleCreekStudio]

I include the Pay Pal invoice with a coupon for future purchases stapled on top and my business card. :)

[Former_Member]

I don't send them. I think it's a waste of paper and ink. All the info needed is in Etsy. I have in my policies that I'll send one if requested. I never look at the ones I've received.

[Former_Member]

We never included any receipt. I just automatically thought the buyer gets an e-receipt which they can print out themselves if they needed one?! :P Never actually thought of including one. I just feel that it makes the whole thing look too close to the real shops... by including a business card and a thank you note you get more on the handmade side.

[LizzyLizano]

I havent... i think it may just be a waste of paper, everything can be traced back online....hmmmm maybe now with direct pay i should though hmmmm. Anywho, whenever i buy here on etsy and the seller includes a receipt i dont even read it i just trash it. ( im too busy super excited to checkout the goods ;)

[herie7]

i do and look for them in packages. It has come in hand as a buyer especially when the wrong item is shipped from a seller (this happened to me recently). I had to log onto my computer search through my purchases to confirm what I ordered since my seller did not include an invoice. I also had a seller recently ship w/o a receipt and they surprisingly added fiber to my order - no note, business card or anything. I had to contact them as I thought it was a mistake.

My 2 cents - As a buyer (and seller) a receipt is nice to have and yes I know I have access to it online but my computer is not on 24/7 and having to search through purchases to make sure I have received exactly what a ordered is sometimes frustrating. Will some people throw them away? Sure but I rather send one to avoid the issues than not.