Your Essential List of Dos and Don’ts for Packing Regular and Irregular Items for Shipping
The packaging of your items needs to be done properly if you want to ensure your goods’ safety before, during, and after transport from one location to another. This is particularly true if you are packing and shipping goods overseas. There are many guidelines you need to follow for particular items, for instance, but there are also some general guidelines that everyone needs to know. The boxes you choose, for example, should be of the best quality, so your items inside the box are well-protected at all times. But there are other considerations besides, especially if you are aiming to ship irregular items. Here, then, is your essential list of dos and don’ts for packing regular and irregular items for shipping.
Do know the importance of a good box
Here’s something that you should always remember, no matter what kind of item you are planning to pack and ship: the box or container you choose makes a world of difference. The box or container will serve as the outer covering or protection of your item, after all, and if it isn’t sturdy or secure enough, you can easily have a damaged item on your hands.
Don’t reuse a box
First of all, don’t reuse boxes. It may save you a little bit of cash, but it’s not worth it in the long run. This is because old boxes tend to already have signs of wear and tear (even if they don’t look it), and if you put an old box through the stress of transport, it can become torn or damaged, thereby damaging the item inside. It’s better to go for a new box every time; if you want to save on your shipping costs, you can always look for packaging material providers who can provide you with affordable yet sturdy mailing boxes, especially if you purchase in bulk.
Do fill it up
The box you choose should be rigid and sturdy, and when you pack the item inside the box, make sure there is no empty space between the object and the box’s sides and top. Fill the space with packaging materials like bubble wrap, peanuts, and foam, and try not to choose a box which is too big for an item as the item can become crushed during transit. If the box you ship is heavier than 23 kilograms, it’s always best for you to put a ‘heavy’ sticker or label on the box so the courier will know.
Do seal it properly
When you have placed the item inside the box and have filled the empty space with packaging materials, it’s now time to close and seal the box. For this, use the correct tape – packing tape is ideal, or any other strong tape, for that matter, as long as you make sure it is about 5 centimetres in width. When sealing your box, seal it with an ‘H’ pattern at the top of the box and the box’s bottom, and seal the sides of the box as well. If the box is heavy, you can strap it so that it becomes sturdier and is less likely to be torn or fall open.
Don’t neglect the label
When you are labelling your box for shipping, make sure to write the address of the recipient legibly, preferably in capital letters. Include their complete postal address. At the same time, write down your address as well. You should also fix the label on the top of the box rather than on the sides, so anyone can see it clearly, and make sure the barcode of the label is flattened out and not folded over the box’s edge.
Image attributed to Pixabay.com
