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--- preparing_address_labels [2026/05/29 10:44] – alex
+++ preparing_address_labels [2026/05/29 11:26] (current) – alex
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 **On the “I Ship” copy of the spreadsheet:**\\
-* Sort by reward\\
+Sort by reward\\
-* Delete any rows that are for ebook only\\
+Delete any rows that are for ebook only\\
-* Delete any rows that are for unsigned books\\
+Delete any rows that are for unsigned books\\
-* Delete any rows for people who never completed their survey. (Shake your head and wonder what’s wrong with them, but delete their rows anyway.)\\
+Delete any rows for people who never completed their survey. (Shake your head and wonder what’s wrong with them, but delete their rows anyway.)\\
-* Check for add-ons (but future you won’t have this problem!)\\
+Check for add-ons (but future you won’t have this problem!)\\
-* Delete any columns that are not needed, i.e. rewards that nobody took\\
+Delete any columns that are not needed, i.e. rewards that nobody took\\
-* Cut any other columns that aren’t necessary for shipping. For example: backing minimum, reward ID, backer number, backer user ID, pledged status, notes, bonus support, survey response, etc.\\
+Cut any other columns that aren’t necessary for shipping. For example: backing minimum, reward ID, backer number, backer user ID, pledged status, notes, bonus support, survey response, etc.\\
-* Save this “clean” spreadsheet
+Save this “clean” spreadsheet
 **Here is the list of tasks that fall under the category of “I Ship.”** Each task has its own distinct workflow. They are arranged here in order of least complicated to most complicated.
-Domestic Paperbacks\\
+* Domestic Paperbacks\\
-Domestic Hardcovers\\
+* Domestic Hardcovers\\
-Overseas Paperbacks\\
+* Overseas Paperbacks\\
-Overseas Hardcovers\\
+* Overseas Hardcovers\\
-Other small add-ons (thank you, future MWL, for not including these!)\\
+* Other small add-ons (thank you, future MWL, for not including these!)\\
-Print Bundles\\
+* Print Bundles\\
-The Full Michael\\
+* The Full Michael\\
 ===== Domestic Postage =====
@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 Delete anything that isn’t US paperbacks\\
 Delete duplicate columns\\
-Check the phone number column to make sure the numbers are real numbers and not a formula (thanks, excel! /s)\\
+Check the phone number column to make sure the numbers are real numbers and not a formula (thanks a lot, excel. /s)\\
 Turn the spreadsheet back into a .csv file\\
 Important! Make note of how many orders you have!\\
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 Go to Shippo.com\\
 Log into shipping app\\
-Go through and map all the components of your spreadsheet to what they are on Shippo’s template. For example, shipping address = Street line 1 (See screenshot 1) \\
+Under “package,” select “flat rate envelope.” (Use US Priority Mail envelopes. They're the same weight as the poly mailers.)\\
+Set that to the default package. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it works if you log out and log back in. (Shippo is strange, yo!)\\
+Go through and make sure all the components of your spreadsheet map to what they are on Shippo’s template. For example, shipping address = Street line 1 (See screenshot 1) \\
 Hit “upload.” \\
-Shippo will say “Your orders are being imported.” This takes a hot sec. \\
+Shippo will say “Your orders are being imported.” Note that Shippo is slow. (Drink some water while you wait. You’re probably dehydrated anyway.) \\
 Click “orders.” Verify that you have the correct number of orders. \\
-Change anything that says “ignore” in Shippo to what the things actually is. For example “quantity” needs to be changed to “quantity.” There is a dropdown menu. It’s hella annoying. Go through it anyway. \\
+Change anything that says “ignore” in Shippo to what the thing actually is. For example “quantity” needs to be changed to “quantity.” There is a dropdown menu. It’s hella annoying. Go through it anyway. \\
-Under “package,” select “flat rate envelope.” \\
+Repeat for every entry. \\
-Use US Priority Mail envelopes. They're the same weight as the poly mailers.\\
-Set that to the default package. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it works if you log out and log back in. (Shippo is strange, yo!)\\
-Repeat for every entry. Note that Shippo is slow. Drink some water while you wait. You’re probably dehydrated anyway. \\
 Select all\\
 Buy postage (upper right corner) for $NUMBER of labels (verify, verify!) \\
 Labels will be downloaded as a PDF to your computer.\\
-Now it’s time to print them.\\
+//(Note: if you have a Director of Analog Distribution, it's the DAD's job to do this ahead of time, so the buying and printing steps will be performed separately.)//\\
+When you're ready to print:\\
 Check that you have the correct number of labels.\\
 Make sure your computer knows what size paper you’re printing on\\
-Argue with the printer. Check the preview. Argue some more. Tell the computer, again, what size\\
+Argue with the printer. Check the preview. Argue some more. Tell the computer, //again//, what size you're printing on. Keep at it until the computer, the printer, and the preview all agree.\\
 MWL signs the books\\
 DAD packages and labels them, puts them in a box to go to the post office\\
@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 ===== Overseas Postage =====
-Log into goshippo.com shipping app. I use goshippo because they let us fill out customs forms online and print them for us.
+**International orders are a whole level up! **(Woot! You’re leveling up! High five!)\\
-Go to account-> profile->packages. See if there's a predefined package of the right weight. There probably is.
-Set the default package to 6x9x1 and the weight.
-Log out. Restart the browser window.
-Log back into goshippo. When we order postage, the default package should now be assigned to every package. (It doesn't always work. It's supposed to.)
-International orders are a whole level up! (Woot! You’re leveling up! High five!)\\
 Make yet another copy of the “clean” spreadsheet.\\
 Delete anything that isn’t international paperbacks\\
@@ Line 99: / Line 89: @@
 Important! Make note of how many orders you have!\\
-Go to Shippo.com\\
-Log into shipping app\\
+Log into goshippo.com shipping app.\\
+Go to account-> profile->packages. See if there's a predefined package of the right weight. There probably is.\\
+Set the default package to 6x9x1 and the weight.\\
+Log out. Restart the browser window.\\
+Log back into goshippo. When we order postage, the default package should now be assigned to every package. (It doesn't always work. It's supposed to.)
 Go through and map all the components of your spreadsheet to what they are on Shippo’s template. For example, shipping address = Street line 1 (See screenshot 1)\\
 Hit “upload.”\\
@@ Line 108: / Line 103: @@
 Change anything that says “ignore” in Shippo to what the things actually is. For example “quantity” needs to be changed to “quantity.” There is a dropdown menu. It’s hella annoying. Go through it anyway.\\
 Repeat for every entry. Note that Shippo is slow. Drink some water while you wait. You’re probably dehydrated anyway.\\
 Now the ugly part. The addresses are in, but the customs info isn't. Check each package. Did goshippo choose the right default package? Did they set ANY package? Fix that.  click on the customs information for every package. Manually enter the customs info. Over and over. Until every package has customs info or eternity, whichever comes first. Still better than filling out customs forms by hand.
@@ Line 114: / Line 108: @@
 Select all\\
 Buy postage (upper right corner) for $NUMBER of labels (verify, verify! Remember that an international order gets multiple labels per package)\\
+**Repeat all of this for international hardcovers**
+===== Special Cases =====
+Other Small Add-ons, Print Bundles, and The Full Michael are special cases that have to be dealt with individually. For these special cases, you will…\\
+Verify the number of books\\
+Sign them\\
+Package them\\
+Weigh them\\
+Figure out the most cost-effective postage. Sometimes it’s in the flat-rate boxes the post office provides. Sometimes it’s in your own packaging. Sometimes it’s in multiple boxes.\\
+When you figure out the best way to ship, return to Shippo and run through the steps for this individual case. You’re doing it “the long way” but since there are fewer of these, it’s actually easier to do it this way.
-===== A note about buying postage =====
-Select and purchase everything you uploaded.
+===== Some Important Notes About Buying Postage =====
-Shippers do not check addresses until you try to buy. If shippo can't identify an address, they complain now. Look for obvious typos. Don't assume you can figure it out via Google Maps or whatever. You can't. Packagages will be lost. Contact the recipient with the address and tell them USPS can't figure it out.
+Shippers do not check addresses until you try to buy. If Shippo can't identify an address, they complain now. Look for obvious typos. Don't assume you can figure it out via Google Maps or whatever. You can't. Packages will be lost. Contact the recipient with the address and tell them USPS can't figure it out.
-===== The Vital Importance of The Manifest =====
+Is the address in Japanese, Arabic, Hindu, etc? Goshippo offers to transliterate addresses. Accept the offer.\\
+Prepare an additional address label with the original address in the original language.\\
+The US label gets the package out of the US. The original address gets it to the destination.\\
+Yes, these packages get **four** address labels.
-**At the end of the day, print goshippo manifest!** Manifests are only available for a couple days, so this is vital to avoid angering the postal folks. (Do not anger the postal folks. They can crush you with a thought.)
+===== The Vital Importance of the Manifest =====
-===== A note about Japanese, Arabic, Hindu, etc =====
+**At the end of the day, print goshippo manifest!** Manifests are only available for a couple days, so this is vital to avoid angering the postal folks. (Do not anger the postal folks. They can crush you with a thought.)\\
+You **must** have the manifest with you when you bring the packages to the post office.
-Goshippo offers to transliterate addresses. Accept the offer.
-Prepare an additional address label with the original address in the original language.
-The US label gets the package out of the US. The original address gets it to the destination.
-Yes, these packages get four address labels.