When a booking has been created by a linked shipper, carriers cannot directly modify pricing. This guide outlines the collaborative process for requesting and implementing price updates through the comment system.
When to use this process:
- Any booking created by a linked shipper (including bookings from accepted quotes)
- Additional charges arise (e.g., futile collection fees, extra services)
- Price adjustments are needed after booking creation
- Carrier requires shipper approval for cost changes
For Carriers: Requesting a Price Update
Add a detailed comment on the booking explaining the price update request.
Comment Example:
PRICE UPDATE REQUEST - Vehicle ABC123: Futile collection fee $100
Best Practice Tips:
- Use clear format: "PRICE UPDATE REQUEST - Vehicle [Identification]: [Service] $[Amount]"
- Be specific about which vehicle the charge applies to
- Include single service per comment for clarity
- Provide context for why charges are necessary
- ⚠️ Make sure that you tick the "External" checkbox for shipper visibility
For Shippers: Setting Up Notifications
To receive immediate alerts when carriers add comments:
- Navigate to Settings → Notifications
- Configure Watchlist Settings:
- Select "All bookings created by me or my team"
- Enable Comment Notifications:
- In the notifications section, enable "Comment Created"
📖 Need help with notification settings? See our documentation about notifications
⚠️ Important: Without proper notification settings, you may miss price update requests from carriers.
For Shippers: Processing Price Updates
Review the Email Notification
When a carrier adds a comment, you'll receive an email notification with:
- Booking reference
- Direct link to the booking
Click the booking link in the email to navigate directly to the booking.
Review Comments and Update Pricing
- Review the carrier's comment to understand:
- What additional charges are requested
- Why the charges are necessary
- Which vehicle the charges apply to
- Update item pricing:
- Locate the relevant item on the booking page
- Click the three vertical dots (⋮) next to the item
- Select "Edit Item"
- In the Edit Item modal:
- Scroll to the Services & Pricing section at the bottom
- Add new services (e.g., "Futile Collection - $100.00")
- Update existing service prices if necessary
- Save your changes
Example Service Addition:
- Service Name: "Futile Collection Fee"
- Price: $100.00
- Applied to: Vehicle ABC123
Confirm Price Update
After updating the pricing, add a comment to notify the carrier that changes have been implemented:
Comment Example:
Price updated - Vehicle ABC123: Futile collection fee $100 added
Ready for Invoicing
Once the shipper confirms the price update:
- Booking pricing is finalised
- Carrier can proceed with invoicing
- Both parties have a clear audit trail of the price adjustment process
Best Practices
For Carriers
- Be specific: Clearly explain each additional charge
- Provide context: Explain why extra costs were incurred
- Include evidence: Reference delivery exceptions, photos, or timestamps when relevant
- Be timely: Submit price update requests as soon as additional costs are identified
For Shippers
- Monitor notifications: Check emails regularly for carrier comments
- Review thoroughly: Understand all requested charges before approving
- Respond quickly: Prompt responses help maintain good carrier relationships
- Keep records: The comment system provides an automatic audit trail
For Both Parties
- Use clear language: Keep communication concise and business-focused
- Be transparent: Clearly document all pricing discussions
- Confirm understanding: Both parties should acknowledge price changes
- Follow up: Ensure changes are correctly reflected before invoicing
Troubleshooting
Not receiving email notifications?
- Check that you are in the watchlist for the booking
- Check your notification settings in Settings → Notifications
- Ensure "Comment Created" notifications are enabled
- Verify your email address is correct in your profile
- Check spam/junk folders
Can't find the edit option for items?
- Look for the three vertical dots (⋮) next to each item
- Ensure you have appropriate permissions to edit bookings (Admin or User)
- Refresh the page if options don't appear
Pricing changes not reflected?
- Ensure you clicked "Save" in the edit item modal
- Refresh the booking page to see updated totals
- Check that changes were applied to the correct item
Still need assistance?
Use the chat bubble in the bottom corner of your screen to contact Blink support.
This collaborative process ensures transparent pricing adjustments while maintaining clear communication and audit trails for both carriers and shippers.