When moving, where to put labels on boxes?

[evilhomer]

I been in the moving industry full time for almost three years now, but I've been involved with it for over 20 years. From the first day that I started, I've seen this problem.

I just completed a 40 person move where 100% of the boxes were improperly labelled. Never mind that the move instructions clearly state where labels should be placed, words along with an illustration. Never mind these instructions also directly say Please do not place labels on the improper spot. Also nevermind that each person was e-mailed with the message of how to label their boxes. I know customers don't think. I also know that their time in too valuable, and they're far too intelligent for something as trivial as reading move instructions.

I got a long rant about how this drives me nuts but first I wanted to get some feedback from some people whose heads don't reside in their heiny. It's not a trick question. Just logically think about how boxes are moved, and where the label should go to be best seen. The two seconds you put into thinking about it is infinately longer than any of my customers ever have.

[Andara Bledin]

Well, I answered where I think the label belongs.

I answered as someone who works for a company that has a warehouse full of non-descript boxes of product and a second and third warehouse for the storage of additional boxes of product, and based my response on where we put our labels when moving the stuff around.

^-.-^

[Kiwi]

I voted top of box

but I put them on BOTH

[rvdammit]

As i had to pick I put side of box, it can always be stacked wiith the label facing out.

[Imogene]

Exactly my reasoning.

[Becks]

I chose not to vote because there isn't a "side AND top of box" option (which is the one I would have picked).

[Buglady]

I'[m another "side AND top" person. That's the way I've always done it when moving.

[MMATM]

I thought it said "mailing" because I am an idiot.
But ideally, top and side for moving and, depending on who you have helping you out, putting labels on all four sides, the top and bottom is not unreasonable.
Can you tell we always move our own stuff? (Family members who drive large vehicles is a plus.)

NOTE: Just because it is labeled correctly on every side does not mean it will go into the right room, unless the right room is the first room inside the door, or the garage. Another side effect of having family help move.

[mariamousie1]

Side of box. When they're stacked on top of each other you can see what they are.

[Bandit]

Sides and top for me. Been through enough corporate moves to know what actually works.

B

[powerboy]

All sides of boxes for me. Top if is a few boxes.

[Primer]

As i had to pick I put side of box, it can always be stacked wiith the label facing out.

That's how I always label mine, too. Also, I tend to use "bankers' boxes" with removable lids, so labeling the top is usually NOT a good idea, as the tops may get mixed up before getting taped down.

[evilhomer]

Hmmm, I must be missing something here. I'm glad to see that most of you realize that a label on the side is necessary, but I've never understood the label on the top that most of you want.

Labels on the side are needed because boxes are stacked. It's impossible to see the label on anything other than the top box otherwise. This was particularly annoying in this move because as the people were packing, they intermingled all their boxes as they were stacking them. Rather than simply grabbing a stack and running, they all had to be broken down and resorted. Something that would have needed to be done anyways, but with a label on the side, I would have been able to see right away what the mix was. Also annoying once we're done because I have to go to each office and make sure there's no misplaced boxes. Rather than a two second look at the side, I have to spend 100 times as much time lifting each one to look at the label.

This problem is made even worse when boxes go into storage. They're stacked 5, 10, even 20 high. With labels on the side, you always know what's in them. When the labels are on top, I've got to go in, break the whole thing down, just so they can find out what's in it (just so they can find out it's not what they're looking for).

Labels on all 6 sides are okay, it's just a redundant waste of labels. I've met a lot of dumb movers (I mean one time, I had to teach a guy how to read numbers... seriously), but in all that time, I've never met one too stupid to not know to look at the other side of the box. One label is sufficient.

[RogueThinker]

Look Down

Well, I think a top label is a good back-up, after you label the side. See, I have bad short-term memory, so if I look at the side label, then pick up the box and start carrying it inside, sometimes I need to look at the top to remember where it goes.

Also, since boxes tend to be placed on the floor, and labels (at least mine) list contents, it is easier to read the contents when I unpack.

But then, I pack and move myself, so either way, it's my own system.

[Reyneth]

Hmmm, I must be missing something here. I'm glad to see that most of you realize that a label on the side is necessary, but I've never understood the label on the top that most of you want.

Because once it gets in the place you are moving to, there are times where it is easier to look down at the box and see the label on the top than get down low and scooch the box around until you find the label. I'm always exhausted and sore after a move (always done it with my family/friends so far though) and why bend if you don't have to?

Labels on all 6 sides are okay, it's just a redundant waste of labels.

I haven't dried out a sharpie yet! Heck, you can even color-code now too.