Order Clerks — Tasks

Task statements

• Review orders for completeness according to reporting procedures and forward incomplete orders for further processing.
• Obtain customers' names, addresses, and billing information, product numbers, and specifications of items to be purchased, and enter this information on order forms.
• Recommend merchandise or services that will meet customers' needs.
• Inspect outgoing work for compliance with customers' specifications.
• Receive and respond to customer complaints.
• Check inventory records to determine availability of requested merchandise.
• Verify customer and order information for correctness, checking it against previously obtained information as necessary.
• Compute total charges for merchandise or services and shipping charges.
• Inform customers by mail or telephone of order information, such as unit prices, shipping dates, and any anticipated delays.
• File copies of orders received, or post orders on records.
• Notify departments when supplies of specific items are low, or when orders would deplete available supplies.
• Prepare invoices, shipping documents, and contracts.
• Confer with production, sales, shipping, warehouse, or common carrier personnel to expedite or trace shipments.
• Direct specified departments or units to prepare and ship orders to designated locations.
• Adjust inventory records to reflect product movement.
• Collect payment for merchandise, record transactions, and send items, such as checks or money orders for further processing.
• Calculate and compile order-related statistics, and prepare reports for management.
• Recommend type of packing or labeling needed on order.
• Attempt to sell additional merchandise or services to prospective or current customers by telephone or through visits.