marketplace packaging and shipping to tal version2 · tal may refuse, return or repackage any...

REFERENCE GUIDE

Packaging and Shipping

Marketplace

SUPPLY CHAIN OPERATIONS TERMS AND CONDITIONS VERSION 3

2017

REFERENCE GUIDE | Packaging and Shipping

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Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1

Packaging and Preparation Requirements ............................................................................. 1

1.1 Label Requirements ................................................................................................ 1

1.1.1 Barcode ........................................................................................................... 1

1.1.2 Barcode Receiving Problems and Other Common Errors .................................. 2

1.2 Loose Products ....................................................................................................... 2

1.3 Sold as Set ............................................................................................................. 2

1.4 Boxed Units ............................................................................................................ 3

1.5 Poly Bagged Units................................................................................................... 3

1.6 Case-Packed Units ................................................................................................. 3

1.7 Expiration Date Guidelines ...................................................................................... 4

1.8 Marketing Materials................................................................................................. 4

1.9 Instruction Manuals ................................................................................................. 4

1.10 Health and Safety.................................................................................................... 4

2 Shipping and Delivery Requirements .............................................................................. 5

2.1 Box Requirements .................................................................................................. 5

2.1.1 Box Contents ................................................................................................... 5

2.1.2 Box Weight ...................................................................................................... 5

2.1.3 Labelling boxes ................................................................................................ 5

2.2 Shipment Packing Guidelines.................................................................................. 7

2.2.1 Container ......................................................................................................... 7

2.2.2 Dunnage .......................................................................................................... 7

2.2.3 Shipment Type ................................................................................................. 7

2.3 Less than Truckload (LTL) and Full Truckload (FTL) Deliveries ................................. 7

2.3.1 Acceptable Pallets ........................................................................................... 7

2.3.2 Building Pallets ................................................................................................ 7

2.3.3 Pallet Label Requirements ............................................................................... 7

2.4 Small Parcel Deliveries ........................................................................................... 8

2.4.1 Shipment Packing Guidelines........................................................................... 8

2.4.2 Labelling Small Parcels .................................................................................... 8

2.5 Processing Houses (import and local) ...................................................................... 8

2.6 Booking a Delivery .................................................................................................. 8

2.6.1 Booking Process .............................................................................................. 9

2.6.2 Warehouse Addresses ................................................................................... 10


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2.7 Physical Receipt Requirements ............................................................................. 10

2.8 Refused Shipments............................................................................................... 11

2.9 Preferred Couriers ................................................................................................ 11

2.9.1 Preferred Courier Partners ............................................................................. 12

2.9.2 Selecting your Preferred Courier .................................................................... 12

2.9.3 Deliveries to a Takealot DC with a Preferred Courier ....................................... 13

2.9.4 Preferred Courier Performance Management ................................................. 13

Appendix 1: Preparation Matrix .............................................................................................. 11

Appendix 2: Packaging Fragile/Glass Units.......................................................................... 13

Appendix 3: Packaging Liquids ............................................................................................ 15

Appendix 4: Packaging Perforated Units .............................................................................. 17

Appendix 5: Packaging Apparel, Fabric, Plush and Textile Units ........................................... 18

Appendix 6: Packaging Toys and Baby Units ....................................................................... 19

Appendix 7: Packaging Powders, Pellets and Granular Units................................................ 20

Appendix 8: Sold as set and Multi-Piece Units ...................................................................... 21

Appendix 9: Packaging Sharp Units ..................................................................................... 22

Appendix 10: Packaging Jewellery ...................................................................................... 23

Appendix 11: Less than Truckload (LTL) and Full Truck Load (FTL) ...................................... 25

Appendix 12: Booking Request Templates .......................................................................... 26

Appendix 13: Barcode format specifications ........................................................................ 27


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1 Introduction Takealot.com, is the leading South African online retailer. We employ committed people who deliver a great service to our customers, are involved in interesting and inspiring challenges and shape the face of ecommerce in Africa.

We operate an ecommerce platform that powers a range of products that are sold for our own account. Our aim is to continue pioneering ecommerce in South Africa and Africa by providing the most relevant online solutions and buying experience available.

We deal with results-oriented Sellers who partner with us to build and grow our categories in the online retail environment. By studying these receiving requirements and adhering to the guidelines you’ll make a big impact on the performance of both our businesses.

When shipping units to Takealot (TAL) Distribution Centers (DC’s) the basic packaging and shipping regulations should be followed together with the category specific requirements set out in the Appendices. TAL may refuse, return or repackage any product delivered to a TAL DC with inadequate or non-compliant packaging at the Seller’s expense. Should you have any questions or need further information regarding our receiving rules and regulations do not hesitate to contact your Seller Onboarding Specialist, or the Seller Support Team via Email Seller Support.

Packaging and Preparation Requirements Some categories require specific preparation to protect units from dust or damage. See Appendices 1-10 for category-specific preparation requirements.

Preparation Matrix: A downloadable document providing a summary of basic preparation

guidelines, available for you to print off and refer to when preparing units. See Appendix 1 for

Preparation Matrix.

1.1 Label Requirements Each Unit you send to Takealot for fulfilment needs a scannable unique barcode to enable storage at the DC. Follow these guidelines to ensure prompt and accurate labelling of the units.

1.1.1 Barcode Any products that require additional preparation or labelling upon receipt at the TAL DC will experience a delay in receiving and may be subject to charging for any unplanned services or for non- compliance.

• Any barcode/EAN/UPC/ISBN you use on a unit/item must be unique and must correspond to one unique product. For example, each assortment type, such as size or colour, will have a different barcode/EAN/UPC/ISBN.

• Each item/unit must have an exterior label that is easily accessible and include a scannable TAL barcode and the corresponding human readable numbers.

• Remove or cover scannable barcodes on the outside of a master carton that includes multiple units. Only the individual item/unit within the carton can have scannable barcodes.

• Proper quality checks of barcoded product must be conducted before shipment to minimise delays and returns from the DC.

o Do not place faded labels on units


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o Wrap labels around corners or curves on the unit o Place faded labels on the units o Tape labels to units

*Note: All labels on units must be removable by the customer

See Appendix 13 for barcode specifications.

1.1.2 Barcode Receiving Problems and Other Common Errors The following errors receiving problems will slow down the process by which TAL can receive your inventory and make it available for sale.

• Barcode label missing: Your unit was not labelled with an TAL product label or the label fell off.

• Unit mislabelled: Your unit’s label didn’t match the physical product. Make sure that the label title matches the corresponding unit.

• Barcode cannot be scanned: Your product’s label could not be scanned for one or more of the following reasons:

o The barcode integrity is compromised i.e. was smudged, which could be caused by low ink/toner in your printer or dirty printer heads.

o The label was placed around a corner or curve, which can make the barcode un- scannable.

• Unit/Shipment Preparation Errors: One or more of the units on your shipment incurred a problem with one or more of our Inbound Requirements. This could include problems with our labelling, packaging and prep, or shipping requirements.

For all the above occurrences stock, must be collected by the Seller to resolve issue themselves. TAL will not re-barcode any items without barcodes. You will be contacted via TAL’s Zendesk team to resolve error before stock can be received.

1.2 Loose Products Each item/unit, including multiple-volume set book publications, must be contained within a single, secure package.

• TAL does not accept items/units with multiple pieces from separate packages (for example, multipiece furniture where the table top and legs are in separate packages). Products must adhere to packaging as stipulated in Appendix 8.

• Units that are not contained in secure packaging (like loose sleeves or pouches) require bagging, or need to be secured with a non-adhesive band or removable tape.

• Footwear, regardless of material, must be packaged with no shoe material exposed, either in shoe boxes or bagged in a polybag with suffocation warnings. It is recommended but not required to secure the shoe box lid with an adhesive band or removable tape.

1.3 Sold as Set Items/units that are sets (for example, Harry Potter Box Set, sold as one item/unit) must be marked as sets on their packaging. Add a label to the item/unit that states that the products are to be received and sold as a single unit. For example, “sold as set” or “This is a set. Do not separate.”

Detailed guidelines are available in Appendix 8


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1.4 Boxed Units • Must be six sided. • Must be completely sealed with tape and not easy to open. • Must not collapse when medium pressure is applied to any of the sides. • May not have perforated sides or openings unless it can pass a 1m drop test consisting of one

drop on each side and a drop on a corner. If the product does not pass the drop test, it must be placed in a poly bag with a suffocation warning.

1.5 Poly Bagged Units • Poly bags with a 15cm opening or larger are required to have a suffocation warning, either

printed on the bag itself, or attached as a label. For example: “WARNING: Plastic bags can be dangerous. To avoid danger of suffocation, keep this bag away from babies and children” The warning should be printed or placed in a prominent location and in a legible font size for the size of the bag.

• The thickness of the bag must be at least 0.38mm. • The poly bag must be transparent. • The poly bag must have a product label or physical barcode that is scannable through the bag

or have a product label onto the outside of the bag. • Poly bags must be completely sealed and tamper proof. • Poly bag or shrink wrap may not protrude more than 7cm past the dimensions of the product.

1.6 Case-Packed Units • All products in a box will have matching SKU and condition and will have been previously

packaged together by the manufacturer. • All boxes with the same product will contain equal quantities of that product in each box.

Example: A case-pack of 24 units must always contain 24 units. While receiving this type of shipment, the DC scans one unit from the box and the box is placed in inventory. There is no need to scan every unit because they are all the same.

• In some instances, a manufacturer or seller might package more than one case-pack into a larger box called a master carton. Master cartons do not qualify as case-packs and must be split at the appropriate case-pack level.

• NOTE: For case-packed items, you must remove or cover any scannable barcodes from the case. Only the item/unit within the case can have scannable product barcodes.


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Figure 1: How to pack case-packed items

1.7 Expiration Date Guidelines • Products that expire must be clearly market on the item itself as well as on the master carton

in 36+ point font and on the individual item/unit. Lot numbers alone are insufficient. • Expiration dates must be displayed in the format MM-DD-YYYY. If the expiration date is

printed in a different format, a sticker with the format must be applied, covering the original expiration date.

• Food products e.g. dog food requires a product conformance document to be presented upon receipt at the DC.

*NOTE: Products that expire and are contained in packaging that requires additional preparation, such as glass jars or bottles, must be prepared to ensure that the expiration date is accessible for TAL during the receiving process.

(Clear guidelines on minimum shelf life for products with expirations dates, depending on product criteria, will be issued in Version 3 of the terms document.)

1.8 Marketing Materials No marketing materials may be included in the packaging of the unit before shipping. TAL reserves the right to remove marketing materials and destroy it at the Seller’s expense.

1.9 Instruction Manuals It is essential for all instruction manuals to be clear concise and written in English, especially if the product is of a technical nature. This can significantly decrease customer returns and queries.

1.10 Health and Safety No perishable products may be included with the unit before packaging e.g. complimentary biscuits. This will be removed by TAL personal and disposed of without re-imbursement to the Seller.

Sellers must use safety knives with covered blades when packing products. This helps prevent sharp objects, such as blades, from being accidentally left in boxes and potentially injuring an TAL associate or TAL customer.


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No product that pose potential harm to TAL personal or a customer may be shipped to a TAL DC without adhering to the relevant packaging and labelling requirements.

2 Shipping and Delivery Requirements The requirements below apply to boxes shipped to TAL fulfilment DC whether by small parcel delivery, less than truckload (LTL), or full truckload (FTL) shipping. See Appendix 11.

2.1 Box Requirements Master Cartons are defined as the outside carton containing multiple or single individually packaged units.

The Units packaging itself must conform to the Packaging guidelines set out in the Appendices 1-10.

2.1.1 Box Contents One shipment ID (PO number) per box shipped to TAL DC’s. It is imperative to complete quality control (QC) checks before shipping the order to ensure:

• Matching product ID to PO • Scannable barcode ON EACH INDIVIDUAL ITEM • Product condition, NO VISIBLE DAMAGES • Quantity (clearly indicated) ON OUTSIDE OF MASTER CARTON OR ITEM PACKAGING • Packing option (individual or case) refer to 1.6 for case-packed units

2.1.2 Box Weight • Less than or equal to 18kg containing multiple standard sized items. • A box containing a single oversized item exceeding 18 kg requires label on top and side for

"Team Lift" and sticker specifying total weight. • A box containing a single oversized item exceeding 45 kg requires label on top and side for

"Mechanical Lift" and sticker specifying total weight.

2.1.3 Labelling boxes Each box or pallet that you ship to TAL must be properly identified with a shipment label. Follow these guidelines for labelling boxes:

• Labels must be clearly visible • Remove all other labels on the outside of the Master Carton, apart from the TAL shipping

labels. • Don't place labels on a seam on the box where they will get cut by a box cutter. • The shipment label should be placed next to the courier label. • Both the shipment label and the courier label must remain uncovered so they are scannable

and readable. • Each box you include in the shipment must have its own label printed from the Shipping

Manifest. • DO NOT apply shipping labels over item barcodes on the outside carton of the unit e.g.

electronics


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• If an outside master carton is not used, securely shrink wrap the outside of the original

packaging and apply shipping labels on the plastic wrapping, to prevent the original packaging form being damaged.

Figure 2: Do not cover outside barcode with shipment labels

Each master carton must be clearly labelled with the following information displayed on the label:

• Seller name • Ship To address • Ship From address • PO NUMBER on each box (preferably barcoded) • Unique carton number as referenced in packing manifest • Unit quantity in carton, per unique carton number • Carton weight

Figure 3: How to apply shipment labels


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2.2 Shipment Packing Guidelines 2.2.1 Container Neither point-of-sale containers nor pallet-sized boxes maybe used. Boxes should not be bundled together using aging, taping, elastic or extra straps. If you are reusing boxes from previous shipments be sure to remove any previous shipping labels or markings to avoid confusion by the courier or TAL personal.

2.2.2 Dunnage Accepted forms of packing materials include:

• Foam • Air pillows • Full sheets of paper • Bubble wrap

The following forms of packing materials are not allowed:

• Styrofoam peanuts • Bio-degradable packing peanuts • Corn-starch packing peanuts • Crinkle wrap • Shredded paper

2.2.3 Shipment Type Additional guidelines apply based on the shipping method you use. Refer to these resources:

• Small Parcel Delivery Requirements • Arranging for Less than Truckload (LTL) or Full Truckload Deliveries to TAL

2.3 Less than Truckload (LTL) and Full Truckload (FTL) Deliveries

Every delivery needs to be accompanied by appropriate documentation. Refer to section 2.7 Physical

receipt requirements for further detail. 2.3.1 Acceptable Pallets

• Wooden, 1200mmx1000mm (no euro-pallets) and 4-sided entry (preferred) • No overhang on pallet • Use clear shrink-wrap, to secure pallet • No mixed expiration dates per pallet • Height 1.5m and weight 1000kg max or Height 2m and weight 1000kg max

2.3.2 Building Pallets The max pallet height 1.5m and weight 1000kg max or height 2m and weight 1000kg max. The pallet load should be wrapped in clear shrink wrap, at least 2 layers from top to bottom.

2.3.3 Pallet Label Requirements

• Apply shipment label to each pallet, clearly visible on the outside. • If the pallet is wrapped in plastic, the pallet labels must be placed on the outside of the plastic

wrap.


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• Place pallet labels squarely (not on an angle). • Include matching products in pallets when quantities allow. Don’t split quantities of the same

product among pallets if they can fit on one pallet. • When shipping multiple SKUs on a pallet, physically separate the SKUs, so they are easy to

differentiate when received at the DC. 2.4 Small Parcel Deliveries Below are delivery, courier and labelling requirements that are specific to small parcel deliveries to TAL DC’s.

2.4.1 Shipment Packing Guidelines Do not assume all boxes can be used for small parcel delivery as is. The standard box and inner packing used for LTL and FTL pallet shipments may not be able to withstand the standard shipping process for small parcel shipping, as this packing is designed for bulk pallet shipments going to brick and mortar retail stores. If these units are damaged during small parcel delivery, you may be responsible for damaged units that are not appropriately boxed and packaged to meet these standards.

2.4.2 Labelling Small Parcels • All small-parcel delivery boxes must have shipment labels only, and shipment labels must not

include other messaging. If you are reusing boxes from previous shipments, be sure to remove any other shipment labels or markings.

• Shipment labels must be consistently placed in a way that is easy to visually locate, either on the top or side of the box. Side placement is preferred.

• Shipment labels must not be placed on the seam of the box where they can be damaged when the box is opened, which makes the barcodes un-scannable.

• Whenever possible, place shipment labels no closer than 2.5cm from any natural edge of the box. The tape used to seal the box should not cover the shipment labels.

2.5 Processing Houses (import and local) If a Seller makes use of a processing house the above packaging and shipping requirements apply to the Processing House and the responsibility to manage the quality of the service lies between the Seller and the relative Buyer.

2.6 Booking a Delivery The accountability for making a booking appointment with the DC and on time delivery lies with the

Seller and should be managed accordingly.

In the following two scenarios’ the booking relationship should be managed as follows:

1. The Seller requests a booking from the DC for self-deliveries or personal courier deliveries and must deliver as per the appointed date and time provided.

2. If the Seller is using a consolidated courier, Preferred Courier or Freight Forwarder (FF), the Seller must ensure that the Courier or FF books an appointment with the DC on their behalf with a list of the POs being delivered.


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2.6.1 Booking Process Sellers should make bookings for each of their deliveries before 15h00 the day prior to the intended delivery.

Booking requests must be sent using the prescribed template in Appendix 12

Bookings can be made by sending an email during normal business hours, specifying the following information to:

Business hours Johannesburg DC: 07h00 till 16h00 ([email protected])

Business hours Cape Town DC: 08h00 till 16h00 ([email protected])

The Seller can consolidate POs and book a single appointment for all PO’s: 1 appointment can have multiple POs scheduled for delivery. Thus, the request for a booking should include all PO’s intended

for delivery in a single slot.

Bookings are subject to availability and must be requested as soon as possible for on time delivery based on Seller PO lead times. Deliveries will only be accepted if made in accordance with a pre- booked delivery timeslot Monday to Friday:

The cut-off to request a booking for the next day is 15h00 every day, please note bookings are subject to availability. The respective DC will reply to all emails sent before 15h00 by 17h00 on the same day. If a confirmed booking appointment number, date and timeslot is not received back by 17h00, the Seller or Courier needs to wait till the next business day to receive a confirmed booking.

Extended time slots are available over peak periods and will be communicated via email. Deliveries outside of the above time slots may be agreed for exceptional cases by prior arrangement with the booking coordinator via email addresses provided per DC.

DC booking clerk will return a booking reference number, date and time slot to the Seller or Courier via email which must be printed out and given to the driver delivering to the DC to gain access to the yard for delivery.

A request to book an appointment can be declined via email for the below reason. All mandatory information as per the booking template was not provided or the PO(s) requested was not shipped/confirmed. Please ensure that your Shipments/PO(s) are shipped. Shipments that are not confirmed will not reflect in our system to book against. Ensure that above issues are resolved before

resending a request to book an appointment.

Bookings can be amended or changed with valid reason from the Seller; a request should be sent at least 24hrs in advance to change booking appointments. The requester should wait for a confirmed changed appointment date and time before the change is valid. If a request is sent in less than 24hrs of current appointment time, the change will be reviewed by the DC and amended at their discretion. In both scenarios, it’s imperative that the requester wait for the updated appointment date and time before the change request is deemed valid.

If there is NO booking for a delivery the Seller will be rejected at the discretion of the DC. Make sure

to book all POs being delivered, and give the correct booking reference number to the driver

delivering for the day.


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2.6.2 Warehouse Addresses Cape Town Warehouse:

Unit 7-8 West Building North Precinct, Topaz Boulevard, Montague Park

Johannesburg Warehouse:

Takealot.com Distribution Centre, Cnr. Riverfields Boulevard and First Road, Witfontein Ext 54, Kempton Park (adjacent to DB Schenker)

2.7 Physical Receipt Requirements For on-time arrival at the DC, an arrival window of 30 min before and 15 min after expected ETA is allowed.

Thus, for a 9:00am booking, if the driver arrives anytime between 8:30am and 9:15am the driver will be allowed into the yard. For arrival earlier than 08:30, the driver must wait to gain access to the yard and for arrival later than 9:15am the delivery will be subject to a full rejection at Takealot’s discretion.

The Seller arriving at the gate is required to present their booking reference number(s) to the

security guard to gain access to the DC queuing lane where the driver will wait until the yard marshal directs him to the assigned DC door for unloading.

Upon arrival at the DC door for unloading the Takealot DC Receiving staff will verify the paperwork and match the booked POs vs. POs on the load. Only parcels booked for delivery will be accepted, un- booked POs will be rejected at the receiving door.

Required paperwork: Either a waybill, or packing manifest and a physical copy of the shipping note.

1 Waybill Showing Seller Name, PO number(s) on delivery, shipment reference number(s), unique carton number, etc.

2 Packing Manifest Showing PO number(s), SKU/ISBN/Barcode, unit description, quantity in carton, unique carton number, etc.

3 Shipping Note Takealot PO(s) for the delivery (cartons must be marked with the relevant Shipping label/PO number)

Note: The paperwork 1 and 2 must have unique reference numbers to the parcels/cartons being

delivered.

Do not bundle all Shipping Notes together, it must be split per shipment/PO and attached to the

relevant consignment.

A visual inspection of the booked POs (parcels) will commence. If the delivery does not conform based on the below criteria, parcels or entire deliveries can be rejected at TAL’s discretion.

Rejection criteria:

• Incorrect stacking and incorrect *palletization of products (if palletization is used, as prescribed in Acceptable Pallets);

• Visual damage to the outside carton; o a master carton will be accepted on good faith (as unchecked) and quality of product

inside will be determined during detail receiving then either accepted or rejected. o If the shippable box (i.e. product packaging) is damaged the product will be reject

immediately. o Leaking and wet stock.


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• Short dated stock i.e. product is too close to the expiration date; • No PO number/Unique carton number on outside of box to identify parcels and match them

to PO/packing manifest/Waybill; • Supporting paperwork not per specification or missing; and • PO’s (parcels) on the delivery that is not booked.

It is imperative that all items delivered have barcodes and that it is the same barcode and ISBN number as per the packing manifest and shipping note.

Note: On multiple PO delivery from the same Seller. Stock in cartons should not be packed mixed across various PO’s. One PO per master carton, with multiple cartons per PO if required.

Accepted POs will be unloaded. The Seller/Courier is required to provide the labour to unload their

own parcels in an efficient and timely fashion. Lastly, the Seller or his Courier will be given a POD (e.g. stamped and signed copy of the shipping note/waybill) for an unchecked delivery. Deliveries will be verified during Detail Receiving and any variations will be communicated within the agreed SLA time to the Seller.

2.8 Refused Shipments In general, these guidelines will be followed for inbound shipments to TAL DC’s that do not meet the listed requirements:

• Overage, damage and miss-ships may be rejected at the receiving doors and no Return Authorization Requests will be processed for these returns. Refused shipments may be returned at Seller’s expense.

• Shipments that are coded as “Damaged” or “Defective” may be refused at the receiving doors and may incur a return freight charge.

• You may not refuse or return shipments that are returned to you without first contacting TAL. Shipments that you refuse or return to TAL without first attempting resolution with TAL may be refused and any transportation costs incurred to reship to you will be at the Sellers expense.

2.9 Preferred Couriers Takealot.com has partnered with preferred couriers to improve the inbound delivery service into our Distribution Centres (DC’s). The preferred courier solution has numerous cost and operational benefits to you as our Seller, including Takealot negotiated rates.

The preferred couriers were selected based on the below criteria:

• Preferred rates for an economy and express delivery service • National reach for deliveries and collections • Service offering ranging from bulky, mixed, small, high value parcels etc. • Standard lead times based on collection region and service • Account options (account, prepaid, cash) • Dedicated account manager for Sellers • DC delivery process adherence:

o Bookings on behalf of Sellers o On-time delivery o Return and rejection management


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• Delivery performance reporting • Visibility and tracking

Note: Takealot is only facilitating the appointment of preferred couriers and monitoring their performance. The commercial and operational relationship remains between the Seller and their Courier e.g. account settlements, managing deliveries, resolving delivery issues and queries, paperwork, POD’s etc.

2.9.1 Preferred Courier Partners

2.9.2 Selecting your Preferred Courier Each courier compiled a service offering pack that can be viewed by using the following link: http://goo.gl/XnsQyf (*if you struggle to open the link, please copy the link into your browser)

The packs specify the preferred rates, standard lead times, account options, account manager, sign- on process and any other relevant information:

• Note: Preferred rates are only applicable to the express and economy options as submitted in the service offering. Any other services are priced at the courier’s market related prices.

After selecting your preferred courier(s) you can proceed to contact them to open an account. Please specify your details using the below template:

Vendor Classification Takealot Seller Vendor Name

*if you have multiple Seller accounts with Takealot list all accounts

The courier will facilitate the opening of your account and the commencement of the service. Ensure to confirm the service delivery lead time that you can expect from your courier based on your location and delivery location (respective Takealot DC’s) i.e. 24, 48 or 72 hours.

Note: If a Takealot Seller has an existing account with one of the preferred couriers above and wish to stay with the specific courier, you must send in a request to modify your account to the preferred rates for Takealot deliveries.


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Summary of the current account options for preferred couriers:

Courier Once-off Cash Shipment Prepaid 30-day Account

MDS Collivery x RTT x Skynet x x RAM x The Courier Guy x x x

2.9.3 Deliveries to a Takealot DC with a Preferred Courier The booking and delivery process to Takealot DC’s through preferred couriers has been aligned and implemented in accordance with the current Takealot requirements as communicated to Sellers through the news letters in August/September 2017.

When making use of a preferred courier to deliver, the Seller is required to:

1. Ensure that your Shipments/PO’s are either "confirmed/shipped/shipment confirmed" status. 2. Book your collection with the courier:

a. Specify your Vendor Classification e.g. Takealot Seller b. Use the PO number(s) as the reference number(s) so that the courier can see what

PO’s are collected and should be booked. c. Ensure to select the service (economy or express) that will allow for a delivery within

your agreed lead time to fulfil Takealot orders. d. Do not book with the DC, the courier will book on your behalf.

3. Package and ship the parcels as per Takealot’s packaging and shipping requirements outlined in this document and ensure to also consult the specific courier’s packaging and shipping requirements. Takealot will communicate any changes in our requirements.

4. All parcels must be marked/labelled accordingly: a. Seller name b. Ship to Address (Carton/s must be addressed to the relevant Takealot.com DC) c. Ship from Address d. PO NUMBER on each box relating to contents inside e. Unique carton number as referenced in packing manifest f. Unit quantity in carton, per unique carton NUMBER (single or multiple units) g. Carton weight

5. Track parcel and confirm delivery via the courier parcel tracking service and POD. 6. Returns and rejections will be communicated by the courier and resolved between yourself

and Takealot Inbound Department. Depending on the outcome of issue, proceed to instruct the courier to either re-deliver the parcels or return them back to the Ship From address.

Note: Ensure that your delivery is in accordance with the prescribed shipping, packaging and delivery guidelines. Do not send anything that is not on the PO for delivery. Rejected shipments will incur delivery charges at the Sellers expense when returned to sender.

2.9.4 Preferred Courier Performance Management Takealot will continuously monitor and communicate performance and initiatives regarding preferred couriers to Sellers as required.


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Appendix 1: Preparation Matrix

Category Product classification Example Pack materials Prep guide Document Ref Link

Fragile/Glass

Is the product made of glass and

otherwise fragile?

glass, china, clocks, mirrors, picture frames

• Dunnage

• Boxes

• Scannable barcodes or

product labels

Place or wrap the unit in protective

bubble wrap and/or place product in

box. The unit must be able to pass the

drop test on a hard surface without

breaking. Place scannable barcode on

outside of packaged unit.

Appendix 2

Liquids (for liquids

in glass see

Fragile/Glass

above)

A product with liquid without a

double seal?

lotions, soap bottles, spray bottles

• Poly bag

• Dunnage

• Boxes


product labels

Tighten the lid, then place the unit in a

transparent bag with a suffocation

warning to protect from leakage (or

apply other appropriate second seal)

and seal the bag. Make sure the

barcode is scannable without opening

or unwrapping the unit.

Appendix 3

Perforated

Packaging

Is the product in packaging with

perforated opening?

toy boxes, gift boxes, display boxes

• Poly bag


product labels

Place the unit in a transparent bag with

a suffocation warning and seal the bag.

Make sure the barcode is scannable

without opening or unwrapping the

unit.

Appendix 4

Apparel, Fabric,

Plush and Textiles

Is the product made of cloth or

fabric which can be damaged by

dirt, dust, moisture or liquid?

toys, sox, purses, dog beds, suitcases, carpets

• Poly bag


product labels


a suffocation warning and seal the bag

to protect it from damage or dust.



unit.

Appendix 5

Toys and Baby

Products

Is the product for a child 4 years

old or younger? Does the

packaging have cut-outs?

toys, bibs, baby seats, teething rings

• Poly bag


product labels






unit.

Appendix 6


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Powders, Pellets

and Granular

Is the product made of or

containing powders, pellets or

granular materials?

powders, bean bags, bath salts

• Poly bag


product labels






unit.

Appendix 7

Sold as Set & Multi-

piece

It the product part of a set that

will be sold as a single unit?

multi piece furniture, value packs, book sets, DVDsets

• "Sold as Set" or "Ready

to Ship"

sticker


product labels

Affix a “Sold as Set” or “Ready to Ship”

label to the set that is sealed (shrink-

wrapped, bagged or boxed) to keep set

from being separated. Make sure the



Appendix 8

Sharp

Does the product have a sharp

or pointed edge that, when

exposed, presents a safety

hazard?

knives, kitchen utensils, hammer, scissor

• Bubble wrap and box (if

bubble wrap is not

sufficient)


product labels

Place or wrap the unit in protective

bubble wrap or a protective box, so

that the packaging completely covers

any exposed edges. Make sure the



Appendix 9

Small

Is the product small, where the

longest side is 5cm or less?

(length of a credit card)

earings, key chains, flash drives

• Poly bag

• Poly bag and box (if

poly bag is not

sufficient)


product labels



to protect it from damage or dust. If not

sufficient (won't pass drop test),unit

must be boxed. Make sure the barcode

is scannable without opening or

unwrapping the unit.

Appendix 10 and

Section 3.4 Small

Parcels

Jewellery

Jewellery in pouches or boxes?

(of classified as small, follow

guidelines in "Small")

jewelry bags, jewelry boxes, loose jewelry

• Poly bag

• Poly bag and box (if

poly bag is not

sufficient)


product labels



to protect it from damage or dust. If not

sufficient (won't pass drop test),unit

must be boxed. Make sure the barcode

is scannable without opening or

unwrapping the unit.

Appendix 10


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Appendix 2: Packaging Fragile/Glass Units Fragile units should be packaged so they will not break and possibly create a safety hazard during storage, shipment preparation, or shipment to the customer. A fragile unit must be packaged in either a six solid-sided box, or completely secured in bubble wrap, so the unit is not exposed in anyway.

Figure 4: How to package fragile units

Permitted packaging materials

• Boxes • Dunnage • Bubble wrap • Scannable barcodes or product labels

Expiration-dated products

Products that expire and are contained in packaging that requires additional prep, such as glass jars or bottles, must be prepped to ensure that the expiration date is accessible for TAL associates during the receive process.


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Packaging Guideline

DO DON’T • Individually wrap or box all units to prevent

damage. For example, in a set of four wine glasses, each individual wine glass must be wrapped.

• Box fragile units with six solid sides, so the unit is not exposed in any way.

• Wrap multiple units individually to prevent them from damaging one another within their package.

• Make sure your packaged units can pass a 1m drop test onto a hard surface without breaking. A drop test consists of five drops: - Flat on base - Flat on top - Flat on longest side - Flat on shortest side - On a corner

• Leave empty space in the package, which may lower the chance of passing the 1m drop test.


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Appendix 3: Packaging Liquids Liquids and products containing liquids can cause damage during shipping and when stored. Products containing liquids without a double seal, including viscous products (such as hair oil), must be packaged securely to protect TAL employees, other products and customers. Be sure to adhere to the guidelines for glass containers, packaging multi-packs of liquids and volume restrictions by container type. Sets, kits or bundled products containing liquids must meet these requirements as well.


• Boxes • Poly bags or shrink-wrap (for products that are not double-sealed) with suffocation warning

or suffocation stickers • Bubble wrap and dunnage • Scannable barcodes or product labels

Bundled Units

Liquids in non-glass containers that are bundled to be sold as a set must adhere to the sold as set requirements found in the Packaging and Prep Requirements help page.

Expiration dated products

Products that expire and are contained in packaging that requires additional prep, such as glass jars or bottles must be prepped to ensure that the expiration date is accessible for TAL during the receive process.

Packaging Guidelines

DO DON’T • Make sure your packaged units can pass a 1m

drop test onto a hard surface without breaking. A drop test consists of five drops: - Flat on base - Flat on top - Flat on longest side - Flat on shortest side - On a corner

• Ensure the product's cap has been tightened, if applicable, and each unit does not leak.

• Make sure your products have a double-seal or safety seal (see definition below for more information).

• If the liquid is double sealed and passes a drop test, no bagging is required. If the item is not double sealed regardless of size, bagging is required.

• Ship products that are classified as hazardous. • Send in any Unit in violation of the volume and

container restrictions described in this help page. • Ship any unit that is leaking. • Send in any unit without a manufactured double

seal that has not been packaged with the appropriate prep materials as described in this help page.

Note: Spray bottles with plastic caps that do not have an additional manufactured seal are not considered double-sealed. See examples below for a sample image


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Definition of a double seal A double seal is defined as a tightened lid that cannot be easily opened and one of the following:

• A "safety seal" which is a peel-off seal underneath the lid of a product, like you would find on

a new tomato sauce bottle. • A manufactured seal around the outside of the neck of the product.

Products that do not have a manufactured double seal in one of the ways above must be individually bagged in transparent sealed bags or shrink wrap (minimum of 0.38mm.) and clearly marked with a suffocation warning label.

Figure 5: Examples of double seals

Figure 6: Examples of products that does not quality as double sealed liquids

Figure 7: How to package liquids without a double seal


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Appendix 4: Packaging Perforated Units If the unit is packaged in a box with an opening, which could cause the unit to get dirty or damaged during handling, it needs to be covered in a poly bag as prescribed below.


• Poly bags or shrink-wrap with suffocation warning or suffocation stickers • Scannable barcodes or product labels on outside of wrapping


Place the unit in a transparent bag with a suffocation warning and seal the bag. Make sure the barcode is scannable without opening or unwrapping the unit.

Figure 8: Example of a perforated packaged unit Figure 9: How to package a perforated packed unit


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Appendix 5: Packaging Apparel, Fabric, Plush and Textile Units Textiles are made of cloth or fabric that can be damaged by dust or humidity. Plush units are for example stuffed toys, animals, and puppets. These units should be packaged so they are not damaged during receipt, stocking, shipment preparation, or shipment to the customer. Units must be placed in a sealed poly bag or shrink-wrapped.


• Boxes • Poly bags or shrink wrap with suffocation warning or suffocation stickers • Cardboard footprint • Scannable barcodes or product labels


DO DON’T • Place individual units of apparel, fabric, or textiles

along with any cardboard backings in transparent sealed bags or shrink wrap (minimum of 0.38mm) clearly marked with a suffocation warning label.

• Use boxes for textiles, such as leather, that could be damaged by bags or shrink wrap.

• Ensure the product has a scannable label visible after bagging.

• Package footwear with no shoe material exposed, either in shoe boxes or bagged in a polybag with suffocation warnings.

• Place plush units in transparent sealed bags or shrink wrap clearly marked with a suffocation warning label.

• Ensure entire plush unit is sealed (no exposed surfaces) to prevent damage.

• Allow bag or shrink wrap to protrude more than 7 cm past the dimensions of the product.

• Include hangers. • Send in unmatched singles of shoes. • Send in groups of shoes without shoe box or

polybag packaging. • Send in a package where the plush unit is

exposed.

Figure 10: How to package a plush unit and textiles


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Appendix 6: Packaging Toys and Baby Units Any product for children younger than four years old that has an exposed surface must be packaged so it will not be damaged during receipt, stocking, shipment preparation or shipment to the customer. Units for children younger than age four that are not contained in a sealed, six-sided package must be placed in a sealed poly bag or shrink-wrapped.


• Poly bags or shrink wrap with suffocation warning or suffocation stickers • Scannable barcodes or product labels


DO DON’T • Place individual units in transparent sealed bags

or shrink wrap (minimum of 0.38mm) clearly marked with a suffocation warning label.

• Ensure entire plush unit is sealed (no exposed surfaces) to prevent damage.


• Send in a package where the unit is exposed.

Figure 11: Examples of baby unit that requires a poly bag or shrink wrap

Figure 12: How to package baby products


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Appendix 7: Packaging Powders, Pellets and Granular Units Pellets, powders and granular products are dry goods that are pourable and can cause damage during shipping and when stored. Package these products securely to protect TAL associates, other products, and customers. Be sure to adhere to the guidelines for glass containers (see Appendix 1: Packaging Fragile/Glass Units). Sets, kits, or bundled products containing pellets, powders or granules must meet these requirements as well.


• Poly bags or shrink wrap with suffocation warning or suffocation stickers • Scannable barcodes or product labels


DO DON’T • Make sure your packaged units can pass a 1m

drop test onto a hard surface without breaking. A drop test consists of five drops: - Flat on base - Flat on top - Flat on longest side - Flat on shortest side - On a corner

• Place individual units in transparent sealed bags or shrink wrap (minimum of 0.38mm) clearly marked with a suffocation warning label.


• Send in a package where the unit is exposed.

Figure 13: How to package granular, powder and pellet units


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Appendix 8: Sold as set and Multi-Piece Units Items/units that are sets (for example, Harry Potter Box Set, sold as one item/unit) must be marked as sets on their packaging. Add a label to the item/unit that states that the products are to be received and sold as a single unit. For example, “sold as set” or “This is a set. Do not separate.”

Note: All “Sold as Set” or “Multi-piece Units” must adhere to packaging regulations as stipulated each relevant product category.

Figure 14: How to package sets of books, media, DVDs

Figure 15: How to package a set of products

Figure 16: How to package multi-piece furniture


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Appendix 9: Packaging Sharp Units Sharp units have a sharp or pointed edge that if exposed presents a safety hazard to TAL staff and customers receiving the units/item. Sharp units must be packaged so that the sharp or pointed edge will not become exposed during receipt, stocking, shipping preparation or shipment to the customer.


• Boxes • Dunnage • Scannable barcodes or product labels


DO DON’T • Ensure that packaging completely covers the

sharp object. • Use blister packs when possible. The blister pack

must cover the sharp edge and be securely fastened to the unit so that the unit does not slide around within the blister pack.

• Secure the sharp unit to a footprint with a plastic fastener or similar restraint and wrap the unit in plastic if possible.

• Ensure the unit cannot cut through the packaging.

• Pack sharp products in unsafe moulded footprints with plastic covering.

• Pack sharp products with cardboard or plastic sheaths alone unless the sheath is of a rigid, durable plastic and secured to the product.

Figure 17: How to package sharp units


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Appendix 10: Packaging Jewellery Any jewellery unit that can be damaged by tearing, dirt, dust or liquid during the fulfilment process must be packaged following these guidelines. Jewellery must be packaged in appropriately sized sealed boxes with a UPC or SKU and a product description label so that the unit cannot be damaged or cause unsafe conditions by having the material exposed during the fulfilment process.


• Boxes • Poly bags or shrink wrap with suffocation warning or suffocation stickers • Scannable barcodes or product labels

Pouches

• Pouches must be packed individually in plastic bags with the unique barcode on the outside of the pouch to avoid damage from dust. Place a product description label on the side with the greatest surface area.

• The bag should be appropriate for size of a pouch. Do not force a pouch into a bag that is too small or place it in a bag where it can easily shift around. The edges of large bags are more likely to get caught and tear exposing contents to dust or dirt.

• All poly bags must have a suffocation warning. Example: “Plastic bags can be dangerous. To avoid danger of suffocation; keep this bag away from babies and children.”

• All poly bags must be transparent.

Figure 18: How to package pouches in poly bags Boxed Jewellery

• Boxes made of material that is easily cleaned do not have to be bagged. Sleeves are sufficient

protection from dust. • Boxes made of fabric-like material that is susceptible to dust or tearing must be bagged or

boxed individually with the barcode displayed prominently. • Protective sleeve or bag should be only slightly larger than unit. • Box sleeves should be snug enough or secured in such a way that they will not slide off and

the barcode must be visible with the sleeve in place


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• Unique product barcodes should be attached to box if possible; they can be attached to

sleeves if secured Small Parcel Jewellery

Any product whose largest side is less than 5cm (the width of a credit card) needs to be packaged in a poly bag with the barcode on the outside of the bag to prevent the unit from being misplaced or lost. This will also protect the unit from damage by tearing, dirt, dust or liquid during the fulfilment process. Some products may not be large enough to accommodate a label; bagging the unit will enable the unique barcode to be fully scannable without wrapping over the edges of the product.

The poly bagged unit (or units) must be delivered in a master carton with minimum dimensions 150mm (all sides). This will ensure ease of handle with the DC and prevent the item from getting lost.


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Appendix 11: Less than Truckload (LTL) and Full Truck Load (FTL)

Less than Truckload (LTL) and Full Truckload (FTL) Shipments Category Spesifications

Containers

• regular slotted carton (rsc) • B flute • ECT-32 (edge crush test) • 200 lb./sq inch (burst strength) • Boxes should not be bundled

together using bagging, taping, elastic, or extra straps.

Box contents

• One shipment ID/PO Number per carton Check for matching: • Product barcode/EAN/UPC/ISBN • Scannable barcode on each item • Product condition (no damages) • Quantity (clearly indicated and matching PO requited QTY) • Packing option (individual or case)

Box weight

• Less than or equal to 18kg cantaining multiple standard sized items • A box containing a single oversized item exceeding 18 kg requires label on top and side for "Team Lift" and weight. • A box containing a single oversized item exceeding 45 kg requires label on top and side for "Mechanical Lift" and weight.

Dunnage

• Foam • Air pillows • Full sheets of paper • Bubble wrap

Shipment labels

Labels must contain: • Supplier Name • Ship From address • Ship To address • PO Number (and PO barcode preferred) • Unique carton number as referenced in packaging manifest • Unit quantity in carton, per unique carton number • Carton weight

Pallet requirements

• Wooden, 1200mmx1000mm • 4 sided entry • Do not overhang pallet • Use clear shrink-wrap • No mixed expiration dates per pallet

Pallet weight Max 1000kg Pallet height Max 1.5m or 2m (for lighter products) Case-packed boxes

• All units in a box will have matching barcodes and condition and will have been previously packaged together by the manufacturer. • All boxes with the same product will contain equal quantities of the product in each box. • Any scannable barcodes on the case must be removed or covered . Only the units in the case can have scannable barcodes. • A manufacturer or distributor may package more than one case-pack into a larger box called a master carton. • Master cartons do not qualify as a case-pack and must be split at the appropriate case-pack level.


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Appendix 12: Booking Request Templates Example 1: Booking email template

Please copy this table into the body of your email request.

*Ship to DC CPT or JHB *Vendor Classification Takealot Seller *Vendor Name Name of Seller *Requested booking date and time 17 August 2017 at 09:00 *Courier Name (if applicable) Courier X or Not Applicable if the Seller delivers

*PO Number(s) All PO numbers that needs to be booked for the appointment Vehicle Type Link truck or 4-ton truck or bakkie etc. Number of Parcels 1, 5, 15, 30 etc.

Fields with * are mandatory fields to include in the booking request. The example information in grey and italics above should be replaced by the information relevant to the booking request.

Example 2: Multiple POs for single booking must be requested as below

*Ship to DC CPT or JHB *Vendor Classification Takealot Seller *Vendor Name Consolidated Delivery *Requested booking date and time 17 August 2017 at 09:00 *Courier Name (if applicable) Courier X or Not Applicable if the Seller delivers

*PO Number(s) All PO numbers that needs to be booked for the appointment

i.e. PO1 PO2 P03 ……. PO50

Vehicle Type Link truck or 4-ton truck or bakkie etc. Number of Parcels e.g 150

Fields with * are mandatory fields to include in the booking request. The example information in grey and italics above should be replaced by the information relevant to the booking request.

Multiple requests will result in multiple booking appointments with different time-slots in a single day. Which will require POs to be delivered in that manner or be subject to rejection by the DC if delivered in another deliveries slot.


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Appendix 13: Barcode format specifications In the Seller Portal Product labels are generated for each of your products, ready to be printed on 45 up labels 39.2mm x 29.88mm on A4 or on labels, using a label printer. (Fig. 26) If you are reusing A4 label paper, enter the number of labels already used.

Apply the product labels to each of the products, ensuring that:

You cover all existing barcodes;

Barcodes are scannable;

Labels match the products.

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