Interesting thought Brian. I'll add it to my list of to-dos.
Regards ... Tim.
I guess I am guilty because I have never closed a paid and delivered invoice on here since I started. I never even thought about it actually. I use the Close Invoice when I have to invoice Items that I am dropping because the stamp has been damaged and that is a way to get rid of that item..... I would close them after they are marked received but I am not sure I understand where in the messages would I see them ? I looked thru all of my old messages (which is something I am also lazy to delete) and I do not see copies of the invoices in the messages. With over 600 invoices - it would be too time consuming to close them one by one at this point - same reason I do not clean out my old messages that often.. Steve
t actually takes both the buyer and seller to work this correctly. Yes, it is a manual process, but it lets each party to the transaction know what's going on:
1 - an item is sold
2 - seller sends invoice
3 - buyer "marks" invoice as paid
4 - seller "marks" invoice as shipped
5 - buyer "marks" invoice as received
6 - seller closes invoice
Numbers 3 through 6 are often not completely done by the buyer and seller.
I agree with Steve. I have never closed an invoice. I thought it was used to try to combine invoices which has never worked for me so I add the other invoices in the other charges portion of a new invoice. I'm not sure though what the problem is if the invoice is not closed. No doubt if I began the process I would find at least a dozen that have never been paid for but I'm sure it does not amount to a lot of money. A better solution to me anyway would be an archive feature. Showing an invoice as closed its still visible correct?
Greg
I create a lot of invoices but I must admit I have never ever closed an invoice either.
Tobbe honest, what is the added value? For me it is obvious that a purchase is complete when the buyer indicates that the lot has been received. But it seems I ought to close the invoice following this?
What's the point to "close" an invoice when it's been flagged as received. Do you mean that you have to close and door and lock it? "Closing" an invoice is a useless step that amounts to red tape. I never "close" and hope will never.
From both the Buyers & Sellers side, when I'm super-bored and have tons of spare time available I may go in to maintenance mode and do some of those "business" things. But checking off "sent" won't prevent the question "where's my stamps, have you mailed them yet", nor will "closing" prevent the sale from being re-opened.
Sometimes (time + effort) > fun buying/selling, so I'd rather have the communication between members as needed rather than worrying about complying with a rote entry system.
My 2c (US 2.67c) worth, Dave.
It is a book-keeping tool to help sellers keep track of their invoices. If you close an invoice when the transaction has been totally completed, then you can do a "clean" search for all your open invoices to see which invoices have not yet been paid, shipments not acknowledged as received from the buyer, etc. So, in a sense, once closed, it is "archived" when you use the filter to only search for open invoices.
While in this subject my question would be when do the closed invoices disappear from the system? seems like the scrolling in the invoices page is getting longer and longer, is there a cut off date or time limit that we go by?
I try to close my invoices for the exact reason Michael Numbers described.
"when do the closed invoices disappear from the system?"
Thanks Michael, the page is way more manageable now.
I only close invoices for people who don't pay for the lots but mainly for our fellow members who have passed away before being able to pay.
Hi
I was just checking out some of the lots I have purchased over the years as a member here.
I was surprised to find many of the lots I have received from as far back as 2011 are still open either in the "shipped" or "sent"category.
Maybe some sellers don't know how to close them off????
I try as soon as I am notified of receipt of a lot I close the invoice .but some of our buyers by the same token don't even let you know they have received their lots.
A copy of the invoice is always in your messages albeit you have to check them as you have no idea which messages are invoices or just messages.
One for the wizard could invoices sent as messages be highlighted in some way to draw attention to them .Just a thought?
Brian
re: Why don't some sellers close their completed invoices
Interesting thought Brian. I'll add it to my list of to-dos.
Regards ... Tim.
re: Why don't some sellers close their completed invoices
I guess I am guilty because I have never closed a paid and delivered invoice on here since I started. I never even thought about it actually. I use the Close Invoice when I have to invoice Items that I am dropping because the stamp has been damaged and that is a way to get rid of that item..... I would close them after they are marked received but I am not sure I understand where in the messages would I see them ? I looked thru all of my old messages (which is something I am also lazy to delete) and I do not see copies of the invoices in the messages. With over 600 invoices - it would be too time consuming to close them one by one at this point - same reason I do not clean out my old messages that often.. Steve
re: Why don't some sellers close their completed invoices
t actually takes both the buyer and seller to work this correctly. Yes, it is a manual process, but it lets each party to the transaction know what's going on:
1 - an item is sold
2 - seller sends invoice
3 - buyer "marks" invoice as paid
4 - seller "marks" invoice as shipped
5 - buyer "marks" invoice as received
6 - seller closes invoice
Numbers 3 through 6 are often not completely done by the buyer and seller.
re: Why don't some sellers close their completed invoices
I agree with Steve. I have never closed an invoice. I thought it was used to try to combine invoices which has never worked for me so I add the other invoices in the other charges portion of a new invoice. I'm not sure though what the problem is if the invoice is not closed. No doubt if I began the process I would find at least a dozen that have never been paid for but I'm sure it does not amount to a lot of money. A better solution to me anyway would be an archive feature. Showing an invoice as closed its still visible correct?
Greg
re: Why don't some sellers close their completed invoices
I create a lot of invoices but I must admit I have never ever closed an invoice either.
Tobbe honest, what is the added value? For me it is obvious that a purchase is complete when the buyer indicates that the lot has been received. But it seems I ought to close the invoice following this?
re: Why don't some sellers close their completed invoices
What's the point to "close" an invoice when it's been flagged as received. Do you mean that you have to close and door and lock it? "Closing" an invoice is a useless step that amounts to red tape. I never "close" and hope will never.
re: Why don't some sellers close their completed invoices
From both the Buyers & Sellers side, when I'm super-bored and have tons of spare time available I may go in to maintenance mode and do some of those "business" things. But checking off "sent" won't prevent the question "where's my stamps, have you mailed them yet", nor will "closing" prevent the sale from being re-opened.
Sometimes (time + effort) > fun buying/selling, so I'd rather have the communication between members as needed rather than worrying about complying with a rote entry system.
My 2c (US 2.67c) worth, Dave.
re: Why don't some sellers close their completed invoices
It is a book-keeping tool to help sellers keep track of their invoices. If you close an invoice when the transaction has been totally completed, then you can do a "clean" search for all your open invoices to see which invoices have not yet been paid, shipments not acknowledged as received from the buyer, etc. So, in a sense, once closed, it is "archived" when you use the filter to only search for open invoices.
re: Why don't some sellers close their completed invoices
While in this subject my question would be when do the closed invoices disappear from the system? seems like the scrolling in the invoices page is getting longer and longer, is there a cut off date or time limit that we go by?
re: Why don't some sellers close their completed invoices
I try to close my invoices for the exact reason Michael Numbers described.
re: Why don't some sellers close their completed invoices
"when do the closed invoices disappear from the system?"
re: Why don't some sellers close their completed invoices
Thanks Michael, the page is way more manageable now.
re: Why don't some sellers close their completed invoices
I only close invoices for people who don't pay for the lots but mainly for our fellow members who have passed away before being able to pay.