Imagine ordering something that you have been waiting to get, and after ordering, you are waiting and waiting for your order to arrive. On the day of the arrival, instead of getting your package, you get an email that your order has been mis-shipped, and now you have to wait a couple of more days. How frustrating that can be, right? Misshipments are very common and cause customers to face a lot of issues. Even for companies, this can be quite annoying and costly.
In this article, we have mentioned everything that you need to know about mis-shipped products and how they can affect the business. So, let’s jump right into the article and look at some solutions to prevent misshipment and ensure customer satisfaction.
What Does Mis-shipped Mean?
Mis-shipped products are exactly what their name suggests. This means that the order was not shipped to the correct address. However, there are a few different scenarios that can cause mis-shipments, and below, we have mentioned some of them.
- Misshipment occurs when a package is delivered to the wrong customer. This means the original receiver does not receive the order; instead, another person receives it.
- Another scenario is when the correct customer gets the wrong order. In this case, the customer might have ordered something, but instead, they received something totally different.
- In some cases, the order is also delivered to the wrong carrier facility, which is also considered a mis-shipped package.
Why Do My Packages Get Mis-Shipped?
Misshipment can happen for a variety of reasons, which can then cause a lot of issues for merchants and customers. Below, we have mentioned some of the reasons why your packages get mis-shipped.
Data Entry Issues: One common reason is that data is not entered properly. For example, the address or product details are not entered correctly, which causes the misshipment.
Inaccurate Labeling: In some cases, the labels are printed incorrectly or placed incorrectly, which can also cause the packages to be mis-shipped.
Packing Errors: Some employees might get confused about similar-looking items and can pack the wrong items.
Logistical Issues: Shipping carriers can also make mistakes when they have a high volume of orders and end up delivering the customers the wrong orders.
Software Glitches: Software glitches or inventory management issues can cause confusion in orders and result in mis-shipped products.
How Does Misshipment Affect Your Business?
Misshipments can affect businesses in many different ways. Below, we have mentioned some of the major impacts of mis-shipped products.
Customer Dissatisfaction
One major effect of misshipment is customer frustration. No one wants to wait for an order, and even when they get the order on time, the delivery is incorrect. This can cause a lot of dissatisfaction among your customers, and you can also lose their trust. This is why it is very important that customers receive their orders on time and that accurate deliveries are made. This will ensure that you gain the trust and loyalty of your customers and have a long-term relationship with them.
Negative Reviews
If you give your customers mis-shipped or incorrect packages, this can lead to negative reviews and tarnish your reputation. Some customers even like to share their views and experiences online, which can affect your brand in the future. If other customers look at the review, this can stop them from making their purchases as well, which will be bad for your business.
Increased Cost
Mis-shipped products can consume a lot more time and money for your business. You will need to spend time processing the returns and then sending the replacement orders, all of which can take a lot of time and resources. This means that you have to pay for the shipping costs as well as the return shipping costs and also offer some kind of compensation to the customers for the inconvenience.
Inventory Disruptions
Incorrect orders can also cause issues in inventory management. When there are incorrect shipments, there will be inventory mismatches, which will disrupt the supply chain. Eventually, this will affect other orders, causing delays in the overall operations of the business.
How to Prevent Mis-Shipped Packages
Businesses must know all the strategies to prevent mis-shipped packages and ensure that customers receive their orders on time. Below, we have mentioned some of the techniques that can help you here.
Address Verification
One of the common reasons packages are mis-shipped is the wrong address. Many times, the customer might give the wrong address, and it can also happen to merchants. This is why it is important to verify the address before the shipment is processed. Automated verification is best as it reduces errors.
Double-Checking the Orders
It is also very important to double-check the orders before they are shipped. A verification team should be established to ensure that the clients are getting the products they ordered. This will save a lot of time and money in the future.
Barcode Scanning
Using barcode scanning technology is a great way to avoid errors. This can ensure that the correct items are being shipped to the customers and that the address is also correct.
Use Warehouse Management System
Using a Warehouse Management System can also be very helpful if you want to reduce the chances of misshipment. This system can automate the entire process, which means that order picking, packaging, and shipping will be done automatically. Hence, this reduces the chances of human error and ensures that the customers are getting the right products.
Quality Control
Introducing quality control checkpoints before the orders are shipped can also be very beneficial and reduce the chances of misshipments. Here, everything, such as the address, items, and quantity, will be double-checked to make sure the customers get the right order.
What to Do If Your USPS Package Is Mis-Shipped?
If you are using USPS as your carrier facility and the package is mis-shipped by them, you must take proper action to resolve the issue. The following are the steps that you can follow.
Track the Package
The first step is to track the package. Use the tracking number provided by USPS to see the latest location of the package. This will also tell you if the package was delivered to the wrong address, stuck in transit, or has any other issue.
Contact USPS Customer Service
If the package is mis-shipped, it is best to contact customer service. You can give them the tracking number and explain the problem that you are facing. They will help you and assist you in further steps.
What to Do If Your Package Is Mis-Shipped?
If your package has been shipped, the following are the steps that you should take to ensure you get your package as soon as possible.
Track the Package
You should add the package to the tracking number so you can check its current location. The tracking information will also tell you if the package was delivered to the wrong address, is still in transit, or has been misplaced.
Verify the Shipping Information
Double-check the shipping information. If the address is wrong, call the carrier and make sure you change it. After the address is changed, the carrier will process the package, and you will be able to receive it.
Contact the Sender
You can also contact the sender and make sure that they have not mis-shipped the package. They have their own protocols for processing the mis-shipped package, and they will be able to offer you a replacement or refund the amount for the item.
Prevent Mis-shipped Parcels with NextSmartShip
Misshipments are a very common issue nowadays. There are many reasons why this happens. But if you want to avoid issues with misshipment, look no further. NextSmartShip is the ultimate solution to streamline your shipping processes and ensure that your customers are getting all the packages on time.
They can help you with the entire logistics process, such as getting the correct information from the customers, picking the right items for the order, packaging them, and shipping them to the right address. They also offer a real-time tracking system through which you can ensure that the items shipped correctly match the customers’ orders. Therefore, there are very few chances of errors, and your customers will get just the right items.
Conclusion
Mis-shipped products are one of the common reasons why customers are not happy with the businesses. There are a lot of reasons why misshipments can happen, such as wrong address information, software glitches, logistical issues and a few others. Misshipments can cause a lot of problems for the customers which can leave them unhappy with your services. It can also affect your business and even affect you financially. This is why it is important to ensure that there are fewer mis-shipped packages and that the customers get what they want. If you want to ensure that your customer stays happy and doesn’t get mis-shipped packages, then make sure to contact NextSmartShip and avail of their amazing services.
