Method of ordering, shipping and merchandizing goods and shipping/display assembly therefor

A merchandising system for batteries having a variety of attributes including size, shape, price and weight, said system comprising:

• a) at least one assembly which is used as both a shipping container and as a display container for said batteries, said assembly comprising:
• i) a rectangular tray filled with a plurality of identical open-top box modules each of which has a length twice its width and with each module having two identical compartments;
• ii) a plurality of packages in each compartment with each compartment filled with said packages with no space left over;
• and
• iii) each package containing at least one of said batteries having certain of said attributes;
• b) an information and storage retrieval system comprising;
• i) a data base which contains information concerning said attributes and other relevant information for each said module, including whether the order contains a proper number of said packages, whether said trays will be filled with a prescribed number of said modules and whether each of said compartments in each of said modules is filled with a prescribed number of said packages with no packages left over;
• and
• ii) a plurality of information retrieval units, each comprising an information display means and means to communicate with the data base;
• and
• c) means for accessing said retrieval units to direct the formation and delivery of both standard and customized orders to ensure complete and proper assemblies and immediately be advised of relevant information sufficient to ensure that the order contains the correct number of said assemblies with each said tray of each said assembly being filled with said modules and with each compartment in each module being filled with said packages and with no packages left over.