Returning Samples to PR’s
x Collate all dockets together.
x Organise all the clothes into the correct bags or boxes. Sending a sample back to the wrong PR is costly and it is difficult to work out who it was sent to.
x Mark off all the samples on the docket as you put them back in the relevant bag or box – this is a really long process but it is important as it can get confusing when you have at least 20–40 different samples to put back in 11 different PR bags.
x Put the original relevant docket back in the returns bag and tape the bag or box up securely so that none of the contents falls out.
Taking returns back by yourself…
x Either label up all the bags with the magazine’s returns labels, make your own handwritten A6 or A5 labels, or print the labels the night before the shoot – this saves a lot of time when organizing the returns bags and sticking the address labels onto the bags with tape…
x Use the correct name, address and telephone number on the label. I use the same bags that the samples were originally sent in, as long as they are in good condition.
x If you are returning three bags to a PR, then mark them as 1/2/3 of 3. This lets the courier know how many bags are to be returned; it also helps the PR know how many bags you have sent back.
x Make a list of bag returns on a separate piece of paper for the courier: list all the returns, with the PR’s name, address and telephone number and state how many bags are going to each company.
x Make a photocopy for your own records incase any bags are lost in transit. The list should mirror the bags.
x If you are returning the samples back yourself, on foot or via your car, the above process will still need to be done, with labelling up the bags.
Boxes ready for returns pickup.
If you are lucky enough to hire an international courier to sort your returns, you will need to follow their guidelines. You can either have the boxes picked up from your house or take them to the depot where the boxes will be sent off to international addresses.
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