PSSC’s REFLECTIONS on ORDER FORMS

Most publishers want and need to have some sort of order form included with their shipment of books. Some call the form the packing slip, others the invoice. For ease of communication PSSC refers to it as the order form. As a rule publishers no longer include an actual invoice to be used for payment with the shipment. The invoice gets mailed separately. The inclusion of an order form makes the receipt of the shipment easier for the recipient and is always suggested.

Most publishers send ready to print .pdf order forms in their order print file. The order print file is simple sent to PSSC’s laser printers and printed. Some publishers send print files of only the data to be printed on a more elaborate pre-printed order form. These forms have their logos along with colored or screened fields to better present their order information. Some publishers pre-print these forms with return instructions or other policies on the back of the form.

Since the service PSSC performs is a very physical one we are focused on functional and easy to understand order forms.

• Functional order forms need various components.
• Publishers name and address
• Bill to and Ship to address
• Invoice number
• P.O. number
• Clear and standardized layout
  • Quantity, book code, description, price, discount and total of each line item. It is important to have the total value on the order form as it is necessary information to include with foreign shipments.
  • ISBN13 standard for book codes. Using this number is useful because it is also printed on the back of the book in both text and barcode format.
• Method to be shipped (specific carrier type and service level). 
  • View Massachusetts carrier codes here. 
  • View Michigan carrier codes here.
• Comment box
  • To be used for special instructions or messages
    
    

Labels - It is no longer necessary to incorporate labels into the order forms for PSSC to use. The exclusion of integrated labels in the form design opens up more space in the detail part of the form so more line items will fit on a single page.