Receive and process incoming orders for materials, merchandise, classified ads, or services such as repairs, installations, or rental of facilities. Generally receives orders via mail, phone, fax, or other electronic means. Duties include informing customers of receipt, prices, shipping dates, and delays; preparing contracts; and handling complaints.
<ul><li>Verify customer and order information for correctness, checking it against previously obtained information as necessary.</li><li>Receive and respond to customer complaints.</li><li>Inform customers by mail or telephone of order information, such as unit prices, shipping dates, and any anticipated delays.</li><li>Review orders for completeness according to reporting procedures and forward incomplete orders for further processing.</li><li>Obtain customers' names, addresses, and billing information, product numbers, and specifications of items to be purchased, and enter this information on order forms.</li><li>Prepare invoices, shipping documents, and contracts.</li><li>Recommend merchandise or services that will meet customers' needs.</li><li>Compute total charges for merchandise or services and shipping charges.</li><li>Confer with production, sales, shipping, warehouse, or common carrier personnel to expedite or trace shipments.</li><li>Direct specified departments or units to prepare and ship orders to designated locations.</li><li>Check inventory records to determine availability of requested merchandise.</li><li>Inspect outgoing work for compliance with customers' specifications.</li><li>Collect payment for merchandise, record transactions, and send items, such as checks or money orders for further processing.</li><li>Attempt to sell additional merchandise or services to prospective or current customers by telephone or through visits.</li><li>File copies of orders received, or post orders on records.</li><li>Notify departments when supplies of specific items are low, or when orders would deplete available supplies.</li></ul>