Types of items
There are three ways to classify Items:
- Merchandise
- Packaging
- Promotional Items
Most items are Merchandise, which is imported directly from your Shop and syncing. Packaging and Promotional Items don't need to be created in your Shop, since they are not directly sellable, and could be created manually.
Merchandise
Also known as sellable, merch, product, and goods. If an item is not Packaging or a Promotional Item, it's Merchandise.
If your merchandise is already packed in its own container and will not need extra packaging, you can mark it on the item's Item Details tab page.
1. Open the item's Item Details tab page, and scroll to the Shipping Details section.
2. Select This item is already packed in a shippable container.
3. Click Save Changes.
If your merchandise comes in case or carton quantities that can be shipped and received without being opened, you can indicate those values on the Item Details tab page and Attributes section.
International shipments will not clear customs without price data. This value is inherited from Orders by default. Open the item's Item Details tab page and scroll to the Cost section to view the price.
Packaging
This is the actual shipping container that your order will go out in. For carrier rate purposes, it is extremely important this is classified correctly. Each order should only have one packaging item unless there are multiple packages, each with their own shipping label, that need to be shipped. The packaging label is what finalizes an order and triggers the shipping label purchase and rate classification.
1. Open the item's Item Details tab page and scroll to the Shipping Details section.
2. Select the Item is packaging option. The Select Packaging drop-down displays.
3. Select the type of packaging from the menu. See Packaging Types to learn more about packaging.
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You must identify your packaging correctly under Select Packaging to ensure proper carrier rates are applied, whether it's a box, polybag, or bubble mailer. Even a customer-owned box should receive the packaging type Whiplash Box. Using carrier-specific box types will prevent Orders from shipping with other carriers. |
3. Click Save Changes.
Filler/Dunnage/Inserts
If you have voidfill or padding/dunnage that is placed inside a package to protect the contents of the parcel, it is important to classify the Packaging Type of these materials as Whiplash Fill from the Select Packaging drop-down.
When selecting this classification, the system will automatically apply a weight of 0.01lbs and disallow editing of that weight value. This is important as it is assumed that any filler/dunnage material is going to have a negligible weight and it prevents any potential weight discrepancies that might affect the parcel's reported outbound weight.
Examples of Filler/Dunnage/Insert materials include:
- Crinkle Paper
- Kraft Paper
- Tissue
- Peanuts
- Newsprint
- Geami/Die-Cut/Corrugated Paper
- Bubble Wrap
- Air Pillows
Promotional Items
Promo Items are throw-ins that have negligible weight and value, such as stickers or flyers, that you would like added to orders in certain circumstances. Insufficient inventory of promo items will not stop an order from shipping.
1. Open the item's Item Details tab page and scroll to the Shipping Details section.
2. Select the Item is promo option. See Promotional Items to learn more about promos.
3. Click Save Changes.
Related questions:
What is Merchandise?
What is Packaging?
What are Promotional Items?