A packing slip for what's in the box

A packing slip lists what's in a shipment so the person opening it can check nothing's missing. This one puts ordered and shipped quantities side by side, flags anything still to follow and shows no prices. Whoever's packing can tick lines off on screen, and the tick boxes disappear when it's printed.

When to use it

• An order ships in stages, and a bench is coming next week.
• A gift order is going straight to the recipient, who shouldn't see the price.
• Someone in the workshop is packing from a list and needs to check each line.
• A customer receives boxes on a site and has to check them in.

What a good one includes

• Your order number, the reference the customer will use when they call you.
• Ship-to name, address and phone, for the driver as much as the customer.
• Item codes, which help when two products look alike.
• Ordered and shipped quantities in separate columns, so a short delivery is expected, not a mistake.
• A note saying when anything missing will follow.
• The carrier and tracking number if there is one.

Make one by saying what you need

Text it, type it or say it, the way you'd tell a colleague:

Packing slip for order 1182 at Stonebrook Pottery to Nina Shah: 4 mugs shipped, 2 bowls shipped, 1 platter to follow next week.

Questions

What's the difference between a packing slip and an invoice?

A packing slip says what's in the box, usually with no prices. An invoice says what's owed.

Do I need one for international shipping?

It helps, but customs usually want a commercial invoice as well, and sometimes other forms. Your carrier can tell you what applies.

Is a packing slip the same as a delivery note?

They're close. A packing slip goes in the box with the goods, and a delivery note is usually signed on arrival. For a signature, use the proof of delivery page.