Keeping track of orders
 

Living in a town with only two outlets for fabric and sewing items (JoAnns and Walmart) I've realized that for the majority of things ordering online is the way to go. And I do it more than I realize. Sometimes when my husband brings the mail in I'm surprised to get several orders in a day that have forgotten about. They can be anywhere from $5 at the lowest to $100 at the very highest. Of course the majority are paid by debit card from my own account, a few on credit card. There was a time when printing out receipts from my computer was the thing to do....but I think there were a few trees killed in the process.
So how to keep track of what is ordered?? Yesterday a notebook was started so that each time an item is ordered, it's written down. Company name, item, order number and amount spent, debit or credit. When the items comes in, I'll put a check mark by it in the notebook. This allows me to see how much I've spent in a month/ or where a certain item is from should I need more.
How to you keep track...or do you??

I print my receipts and keep them in a folder so I can refer back to in case I want to reorder or recall where I bought something

I keep the electronic notice in a folder in Gmail. When the item comes I delete the notice. I will occasionally go into that folder and delete stuff. The only ones I keep permanently are the ones that I may need to return due to a guarantee or something like that.

I glue the receipts in a notebook to track what I got where and try to post the picture of the fabric in a quilt. In theory, it works very well. But when the fabric stays in my stash forever before I use it, not so good. I scared myself in spending too much, so I quit pasting in the receipts! :shock: So now I just enjoy looking and organized my stash to use it first until I 'discover' another 'wow' pattern I want to make! Quilting Board and its ideals are additive!

I order a lot online also and I just keep the email confirmations I get.

The notebook sounds like a good idea for quick reference and a budget. But I also would print out the receipts. There might be some other information on the receipt that isn't noticeable at first. That you might need in case an order goes awry.

I get email confirmation and keep that until I get the order, then I delete it.

I tend to write them on a yellow sticky. mainly to make sure i got the order.

I don't order much online but when I do-I print out the confirmation that is sent to me and I write all information needed on the slip and put the slip in a journal I have.

In my gmail account, I have a folder called "Orders Pending". I put the receipt I receive from the company there and any tracking info. I'll check the tracking to see where its at from time to time and if I have a number of orders, I'll write them down on a piece of scratch paper with the last 4 numbers of the tracking #. Then when I receive it, I'll move the receipt to the "receipt" folder in case I need to go back and check something. I have a folder for downloads also in case I need to go back and download it again. I think this is called "anal" by some folks but it keeps me on track.

Don't call me names! (lol), I do the same thing... jane

I think keeping track is a good idea.

It was "easy" for me to spend "more than I realized" - when I actually took the time to track it - o u c h !

For years I have kept a small notebook by the computer where I list date ordered, company ordered from, order number, item and amount. When I receive the order I check it off. I do print out a copy of my receipt and save in a separate file so if I need to reorder I have what I would need. When I get my credit card bill I check off what items are on that bill and write "pd" over them.

I keep my order confirmations and shipping notifications in a folder in my email account. When the item arrives, I check to see that nothing has been backordered. If everything is there, then the email is deleted. If it's not, I keep the email "live".
One thing - use your credit card for orders, not your debit card. There are fewer protections for debit cards and your account balance could be totally wiped out. With credit cards you're only liable for the first $50.

I keep a separate folder in my email account for orders and receipts

Spreadsheet. You can access free online ones with Google docs. Easy to use, easy to access on computer or smart phone, and no trees killed.

This is what I do. I've done it for years and it hasn't failed me yet.

I thought about keeping them electronically, but then I'd have to have a folder and put them in order by date so that I could keep easier track and remember to delete them after. It just seemed like too much trouble when I can print them out on junk paper (used on one side) and then toss them after.

Companies usually send an e-mail with a confirmation #. write this down with your order info. If there is any problem this number helps you. I think you have a good idea started. I like the more environmentally friendly way to keep records.
peace

Hello grannie cheechee....yes, I am aware that Muscatine has fabric shops and have spent a fortune a at The Little Red Hen House on a couple of occasions. It is a very nice store and I love the wool section!! Haven't Been to Neal's.

I have a spread sheet in the computer, that I put the company name, item, price, and how much I got.

Using your debit card for online purchases can be risky. Keep a spreadsheet of your orders and delete as they come in.

I order all my shopping online. If awaiting a delivery I will put a post-it note on pc. And the order email is easily found in my email. After my cc was hacked twice I now do mostly paypal. Only very secure sites I use my cc.

This is how I do it too. No paperwork.

I have 2 folders on computer. When I order something, I put it in 'transit' file. Also the company's confirmation email and anything else they may send. Once received and checked, I move one of the emails (with the item info) to 'orders' file and delete the rest. That way I have a record of the item number and other important info in case I want to reorder it. And a quick look at the 'transit' file lets me know what it outstanding.

I pay by MasterCard and record it. When I went to the Spring Paducah AQS, my card took a major hit. No more buying fabric for awhile now.

Using your debit card as a credit card usually has the same protection as a credit card. At least with my credit union it does. I rarely use my debit card as a debit card. I always use it as a credit card without putting in the pin number.

DH and I have one designated credit card we use for every purchase. It took a while to get over the whopping credit card bill every month. LOL It really showed up where our money goes and exactly what we spend. I get cash back check once a year from this card and it's always been enough to pay for all my fabric and extra quilt things for the next year. Winner winner chicken dinner.

I like this, too. I keep a folder on my computer that these go into so I can pull up any order anytime and
see what it was, when it was ordered and how much $$ or the amount of fabric I ordered. No paperwork and
nothing gets lost. Living in a small town I have to drive a minimum of an hour one way just to shop, so online
is very beneficial for me.

Boy do I feel dumb, as it never occured to me to check-off or delete the order once I got it. I keep the confirmation notices in a file, but don't go to the next level to keep track of them. I ordered a lamp (similar to an Ott light) for a $100 and swear I never received it. By the time it dawned on me that I didn't receive it, it was WAY TOO LATE to track it. Thanks for the wake-up call and information.

Instead of printing to a printer you can print to a pdf file and keep a folder on your computer for the order confirmations. I use the date of order and the shop name as the name of the file.

I've often heard that using your debit card for online purchases was risky, and this always puzzled me. I'm beginning to think the difference is bank vs. credit union. I had an issue with 2 fraudulent point-of-sale purchases on my debit card, and they were resolved and the money back in my credit union checking account within 24 hours. On the other hand, I have heard my friends' struggles with trying to resolve the same issue - but they're using banks.

When I order something I put all notices in a folder called "on line orders". When I have received the order, then I delete them. I also write the amount spent on a post-it note on my computer so I know what I've spent (and when to stop). What? Stop???

Our bank now offers “disconnected” prepaid cards to make internet shopping more secure. You add $ to the card to pay for what you buy.

My understanding is that when you use your debit card online and it is hacked, your money is gone and you don't have any more until the dispute is resolved which can be days or weeks. At least with a credit card, you still have your money in the bank.

Okay, but did you see where I mentioned this happened to me, and I had my money back in less than 24 hours?

With my iPad, I take a screen shot of online orders and save to photos. Then I can print, delete after the order arrives..and I'm a visual type learner, so this works for me.

I use the "Snipping Tool" to have an exact copy of the order. It goes in the Pending file until received, then it goes into my Receipts folder for the year. I do a lot of online shopping, and this works well for me.

This is basically how I do it too - no paperwork.

I don't use a debit card for anything. DH thinks we need the bank debit for emergencies though. I use Walmart free cash back to get cash. LOL