1. Prep all items as you go. This seems like an no-brainer but I've known people that will scan everything into a shipment and then go back to label and prep as they put the shipment together. Prep items as you enter them. When a package arrives at your door or when you come back from a shopping trip, prep the items and get them ready even if you don't have enough for a shipment yet. It will save time later.
2. We all have extra boxes that are not in condition to use again or odd sized. Cut them into flat pieces and use them to line the bottom and inside of the box you are sending in. It saves you the problem of getting rid of cardboard while protecting your items better. The added weight to the box isn't enough to make a real difference and you're items are less likely to get damaged.
3. If you are still using the label sheets you'll want to consider a listlabelship subscription and buying yourself a Dymo or Zebra printer. This can streamline the labeling process as you label as you go and significantly cut down packing time. Time is one asset that you can't get back.
4. If you order online or buy in case quantities then send it in to AZ that way. Nothing easier than ordering 10 of an item, getting it delivered, opening the box to remove the packing slip and inspect the items, closing the box back up and slapping a shipping sticker over the other label. You can literally have a package ready to go back out in 5 minutes. Paying the 20 cents an item for AZ to label the pieces makes it even faster and easier on you.
5. Always keep supplies stocked and ready. Bags, labels, bubble wrap, tape, etc. You're going to need them anyways so look for the best deal when ordering and get them before you need them. Nothing worse than running out of something and having to improvise or scrounge around looking for something that will work.
6. Learn to telescope or frankbox over-sized items and shipments.
7. Learn to cut down boxes.
8. When you are shipping small items and large items all in one box and are afraid that some items may get crushed, use cardboard flat pieces from the boxes you can't use to form barriers within the box. You can section off the inside of the box easily this way to help protect the lighter/smaller items. Also if you have some smaller boxes that you can fill with the fragile items and put that inside of the large box, that will also protect them. Just label the small box that more merchandise is inside so that the person unpacking it knows to open it up.
9. Always look to AZ for prep guidelines on how to prep and item. The amount of people that take the time to ask questions in the groups, get a dozen different answers, sort through the answers and hope the one they pick is right because it's what they want to hear is ridiculous. It's too easy to just check with AZ themselves or watch their videos and know for sure that what you are doing is correct. Not to mention that it's a huge time saver to just go right to the source and get the right answer in a fraction of the time it takes to sort through a facebook discussion.
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