True blind shipping is a shipping method where a supplier or manufacturer ships products directly to the end customer on behalf of a retailer or middleman, without revealing the original source of the goods. In this process, the customer remains unaware of the supplier's or manufacturer's involvement.

Key Features of True Blind Shipping

  • Confidentiality: The identity of the original supplier is hidden, with packaging and documentation concealing any information that could reveal the true source.

  • Direct Shipment: Products are shipped directly from the supplier or manufacturer to the customer, bypassing intermediate warehouses or retailers.

  • Branded for the Retailer: Shipments often feature the branding of the retailer or middleman instead of the supplier or manufacturer.

Why Use Blind Shipping?

  • Cost Savings: Eliminates the need for extra warehousing, reducing storage and handling costs.

  • Improved Efficiency: Speeds up the supply chain by reducing transit and handling times.

  • Supplier Confidentiality: Protects the retailer's supplier relationships to maintain a competitive edge and safeguard sourcing details.

Setting Up Blind Shipping

In the Company Page under Company Details > Settings, you’ll find a toggle for Blind Shipping. Enabling this option activates the blind shipping toggle in the Ship From and Ship To forms.

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Orders & Quote/Ship Section

In the Ship From form on the Orders and Quote/Ship pages, you’ll find a Blind Shipping toggle under the Additional Details section, located below Allow Changes to Return Label.

An info icon next to the toggle explains:

  • When enabled, users can specify an alternative "Ship From" address to display on the BOL (Bill of Lading).

  • The system will generate two versions of the BOL, packing slips, and labels: one with the true address and one with the blind address.

  • If Blind Shipping is also enabled for the Ship To address, four versions of each document will be generated.

When the Blind Shipping toggle is activated, a new Blind Shipping header accordion appears.

  1. Expand the accordion to access the address fields (similar to the parcel return label setup).

  2. Use the Select Address field to choose the blind address. This field integrates with your address book and Google Maps for easy selection.

The same functionality applies to the Ship To form:

  • Enabling Blind Shipping here allows you to specify a custom "Ship To" address for the BOL.

  • Two versions of the BOL, packing slips, and labels will be generated: one with the true address and one with the blind address.

  • If both Ship From and Ship To blind shipping toggles are enabled, the system generates four versions of each document.

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Document Generation

When Blind Shipping is enabled, the system generates multiple versions of documents (BOLs, packing slips, and labels) based on the selected configurations.

How It Works

  1. Ship From Enabled:

  • Two versions of each document are generated:

  • One with the true Ship From and Ship To addresses.

  • One with the blind Ship From address and the true Ship To address.

  1. Ship To Enabled:

  • Two versions are generated:

  • One with the true Ship From and Ship To addresses.

  • One with the blind Ship To address and the true Ship From address.

  1. Both Ship From and Ship To Enabled:

Four versions of each document are generated:

  • True Ship From and True Ship To.

  • True Ship From and Blind Ship To.

  • Blind Ship From and True Ship To.

  • Blind Ship From and Blind Ship To.

  1. Billing Party Adjustments:

  • When the blind shipping address is used for the Ship To, the Billing Party section will display the blind address as the billing company name and address.

  • The true BOL remains unchanged.

Printing Multiple Copies

If the Print Multiple Copies option is enabled at the company level, the system will generate the specified number of copies for each BOL, packing slip, and label. Example: If 3 copies are selected, and both Ship From and Ship To blind shipping are enabled, the system will print 12 documents (4 variations × 3 copies each).

Limitations

  • If return parcel labels are enabled, blind shipping will automatically be disabled for that shipment.

  • Blind shipping does not affect the final destination address or other shipment details.

This flexible setup ensures that your documentation accurately reflects your blind shipping preferences while maintaining confidentiality and compliance.

Parcel Shipments

The Parcel Blind Shipping process is similar to standard blind shipping but includes specific adjustments to accommodate parcel shipments.

How It Works

  1. Accurate Rate Calculation:

  • Labels are generated using parcel provider data to ensure accurate rate calculations.

  • The blind address is then printed on the label using an Alternative Return Address.

  1. Company Logo Handling:

  • The company logo is removed from parcel labels when blind shipping is enabled, unless a logo is associated with the blind address in the address book. If a blind address logo exists, it will be printed instead.

  1. Applicability:

  • Parcel Blind Shipping is only available for domestic shipments and applies solely to the Ship From location.

Limitations

  • Does not support UCC labels or external APIs.

  • Not compatible with fields available in order imports from an ERP system.

  • Does not work for multi-stop truckloads or VICs BOL.

  • Blind shipping for parcels is currently unavailable for saved shipments (a fix is in progress).

This setup ensures efficient parcel processing while maintaining the confidentiality of blind shipping addresses.