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Understanding Alibris Order Types and Packing Slips

When you sell on Alibris, items sell through a wide variety of channels that may require special packaging and shipping methods. Just as Alibris has different sales channels, it also has different order types:

• Orders that ship directly to customers.
• Orders that ship to the Alibris distribution center through the Via Alibris program.
• Orders that ship to BWW, Alibris's international freight forwarder.

Each of the order types has special processing instructions that are covered below. In addition, the following information applies to all order types:

• A copy of the Monsoon Marketplace packing slip or the Alibris purchase notification (PN) must be included in every order. For books, enclose a packing slip or PN inside the front cover. For multiple-book orders, secure the books with a rubber band and enclose a packing slip or PN inside the front cover of the first book. For audiotapes, CDs, DVDs, and VHS tapes, wrap a packing slip or PN around the item and secure it with a rubber band. For vinyl albums, enclose a packing slip or PN along with the album inside a plastic bag.
• When you mark an order as shipped in Monsoon Marketplace, your system updates the order's status on Alibris and uploads any information in the Tracking Number box on the Orders tab. You can also add a tracking number after you ship because your system continues to upload tracking number information for 24 hours.
• Alibris determines shipping cost at the time an order ships then credits you an amount based on your location and the location the order ships to.
• Orders that are not marked as shipped within their specified time frame are subject to automatic cancellation by Alibris.
• If an order is marked as shipped in error, the order must be refunded within two business days.

For complete shipping requirements for each order type, see the Alibris website.

Orders that ship directly to customers

For an order that ships directly to a customer, the customer's name displays in the Buyer Name box on the Orders tab. When you print a packing slip for this order type, Monsoon Marketplace prints the customer's complete shipping address on a packing slip that's branded for the source market (where your customer placed the order).

To comply with market requirements, Monsoon Marketplace does not print cost information on Alibris and Alibris partner packing slips.

Following is a list of the Alibris partner packing slips that print by default:

When you process this order type:

• Standard orders must be marked as shipped within two business days.
• All partner and expedited orders must be marked as shipped by 8 PM Pacific Standard Time (PST) on the second full business day.
• Orders shipping by One-Day or Two-Day Air must be marked as shipped within one full business day.
• Include a copy of the Monsoon Marketplace packing slip or the Alibris purchase notification (PN).

Orders that ship to the Alibris distribution center: Via Alibris

For an order that ships to the Alibris distribution center, Via Alibris displays in the Buyer Name box on the Orders tab and prints on your Monsoon Marketplace packing slip.

When you process this order type:

• Orders must be received at the Alibris distribution center within 30 days of the order date (45 days for sellers outside the US and Canada).
• Include a copy of the Monsoon Marketplace packing slip or the Alibris purchase notification (PN).
• US sellers: Print a pre-paid Alibris MRS label and affix it to the box. Please note that each MRS label has a unique tracking number and can't be reprinted or duplicated.
• Multiple orders can be consolidated into one box if each order is clearly identified.
• Canadian sellers: Ship to the Alibris distribution center at your cost and receive a standard shipping credit.Orders can be consolidated into one box if each order is clearly identified.
• UK and European sellers (UPS Euro shipping program): Consolidate orders into one weekly shipment and ship to the Alibris distribution center via UPS. Cartons must not weigh over 20kg each.
• Sellers outside of Canada and the UK/European UPS program: Consolidate orders into one weekly shipment and ship to the Alibris distribution center via any shipping method. All orders ship to the Alibris distribution center for consolidation and quality control before being reshipped to the customer.

For more information about shipping to Alibris, see the Alibris website.

Orders that ship to BWW, Alibris's international freight forwarder (US sellers only)

For an order that ships to Alibris's international freight forwarder, BWW-Alibris displays in the Buyer Name box on the Orders tab and prints on your Monsoon Marketplace packing slip. When BWW receives the order, it forwards it to your international customer in your packaging.

When you process this order type:

• BWW orders must be received at BWW within 10 to 14 days.
• You are credited the same shipping credit as a regular order shipping direct to a customer.
• Include a copy of the Monsoon Marketplace packing slip or the Alibris purchase notification (PN).
• BWW orders cannot be consolidated, but must be shipped individually.
• Do not use USPS, DHL, or any other Priority services.
• Use boxes or mailers without shipping service logos.

For more information about shipping to BWW, see the Alibris website.

See also

• Alibris Overview
• Processing orders
• Alibris

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