These new product ID requirements have resulted in a few questions and comments. We are supposed to have two of three:
- An SKU - always required
- A Non-Standardized Manufacturer’s Product ID - always required
- A Standardized ID/Barcode for things like ISBN and other standardized codes
What do we put into the “Barcode” field if the product does NOT have an ISBN or other type of standardized product identifier?
Shipstation’s instructions document is unclear as it says both that it cannot be left blank and cannot write N/A or “none” and that each carrier has it’s own code indicating there is none that should be entered if there is none, but also says not to enter anything there for it will be filled in by Shipstation if left blank. Will it?
For all the products I sell, they have an SKU that comes in from the store, and I have created the Non-standardized Manufacturer’s ID, as I am the manufacturer, and added that to the customs area for the Products in ShipStation. I ship USPS.
So I have two of the three, but cannot grasp the ShipStation instructions for what to do for the BarCode (Standardized ID) field when one does not exist. Do I leave it blank, or do I add the USPS code that means none exists, and if so, what is it?
What if we sell a combination product, of a book (that does have an ISBN) with a set of educational cards that can be added to the book and sold as a set, and the cards do not have a standardized code. Do we still put the book’s ISBN there?
Also, I noticed we are supposed to add a “Movement Indicator” via a dropdown menu. Everything we ship is direct to customer, so “B2C”. Is there a way to just put in settings so that it defaults to B2C?
If this is required, why is there not a warning before creating the label, that “Movement Indicator” selection must be made and two out of three PID codes must be entered?
There should be a warning before being allowed to create any EU shipping label, to check Product ID fields and make it required to select Movement Indicator before label creation. Can that be added?
Lastly, why wasn’t there an email from ShipStation letting us know of this requirement, and giving guidance? I only found out about it by accident.
And, even though it was supposed to be a requirement starting November 1, I just found out a package is being returned that hit Germany customs on OCT 30, so they implemented it early. Unfortunate. The fields were already there in ShipStation, but just said “recommended” not “required” for the ID fields, and nothing at all was mentioned about also now having to select a “Movement Indicator” which was completely new, and off on the side of the screen in an area for “Other Shipment options” we haven’t ever had to look at when checking custom’s info for an order.