Customizing your packing slip template in the beta version of OglieOglie Order Processing is relatively complex and requires a moderate level of computer knowledge. I am working on making it easier; meanwhile, here’s how you do it:

1. Go to the directory where you installed Order Processing (most often it’s “C:\Program Files\OglieOglie“)
2. Go to the templates directory
3. Copy the file named packing-slip.htm and name it custom-packing-slip.htm
4. Edit the custom-packing-slip.htm file to your liking.

If you want to do some basic edits, you can edit custom-packing-slip.htm with Notepad. For more extensive editing, you can download and install an HTML editor (I recommend Kompozer), or use an online HTML editor, like this one. If you decide to use Kompozer, make sure to click on the “Preview” button in the bottom of the screen before editing; that will make it much easier.

Let me know if you need any assistance!

Prior to this version, Amazon merchants from UK, Germany and Japan experienced some login issues; that’s now been taken care of. To get the new version, just start CWS Made Easy, and the software will update itself automatically. There is no need to download or reinstall anything.

As always, please let me know of any issues or ideas for improvement.

I see thousands of Charge When Ship confirmations going to Amazon every Sunday with CWS Made Easy, and we’ve never had any problems.

No more ASON?

Amazon announced that they will stop allowing ASON downloads after March 30, 2010, and will discontinue  technical support on July 29, 2010. Details and possible remedies follow.

If you use ASON (Amazon Services Order Notifier), here is what it means for you:

1. This does not mean that ASON will stop working right away. You have at least six months, if not more, so don’t panic.
2. Download the ASON install package from the ASON download page, and save it on you computer just in case.  Soon, it will not be available for download anymore, and you might need it in the future to install ASON on a new computer, or to reinstall it on your current one.
3. Start planning your transition to something other than ASON:
   • Order processing software (see below for one of the options)
   • “Sold, ship now” emails
   • Amazon’s website

Replacing ASON

Starting two days ago, I began receiving emails like this one:

Hello,
I am a book seller on Amazon.
They recently sent out an email stating that ason was going away later this year.
I am wondering if you are considering creating a replacement for amazon’s ason software that lets book sellers download their orders.
While they claim that not enough people use it, I believe that the people that do use it, really depend on it.
Please let me know if this is a project that you would consider.
Thank you

Well, this is very timely. Yes, I am actually building a simple order processing software. A trial version will be available in about three weeks.

It will work similar to ASON, and will have some additional functionality (see orders, print picklists, packing slips, confirm orders, integrate with Endicia). Let me know if you’d like to give it a try when it comes out. The trial version will be free, of course; the only thing I ask is that you tell me what you like and don’t like about the software.

The eventual cost for small sellers will be $19.99/month; the trial participants will get a chance to lock in their price at $16.99/month.

Reference: Original Amazon email announcement

Hello from Amazon Services,

According to our records you have downloaded Amazon Services Order Notifier (ASON) and may be using it for retrieving information about new orders. We are contacting you today to let you know that as of July 29, 2010, Amazon Services will discontinue support of ASON, and after March 30, 2010, it will no longer be possible to download the ASON application.

Once ASON support is discontinued, there will be no further upgrades or modifications to ASON. It will not run on operating systems other than the Microsoft Windows operating systems on which it currently runs (Windows XP, Windows 2000 SP3, and Windows Server 2003), and no changes will be made to ASON to adapt it to any changes or upgrades to those operating systems.

Seller Support will also discontinue research and troubleshooting of ASON issues as of July 29, 2010. At that time, the existing ASON Help pages will be the only Amazon resource for ASON information.

ASON adoption rates have remained low, and we have decided to focus on order notification methods preferred by the majority of sellers. Although you can still use ASON after support is discontinued, we highly recommend that you prepare now to use one or more of the following order notification methods so you don’t experience any support gaps.

1. “Sold, ship now” notifications alert you to new orders. Be sure to turn these notifications on in your Seller Account to use this order notification method:

Settings: Notification Preferences

2. Check the Manage Your Orders section of your Seller Account daily, where you can see all order details and print packing slips.

3. If you are a Pro Merchant subscriber, use order reports to see new orders you have received, and all the details you need to fulfill those orders. For more information, follow this path in Amazon.com Help:

Selling at Amazon.com: Experienced and Volume Selling: Order Reports

4. If you have developer services available, the developers can use the Event Notification Web Service API to create third-party software applications to retrieve information about events (including new orders) in your Seller Account. For more information, follow this path in Amazon.com Help:

Selling at Amazon.com: Managing Orders: Event Notification Web Service

We encourage you to prepare for this change as soon as possible. When the time for discontinuing ASON support approaches, we plan to contact you again with a reminder if our records indicate that you are still using ASON.

We apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause.

Best regards,

Amazon Services