Packing a shipment may seem simple enough; throw a product in, seal the box/polymailer, attach your label, and you're good to go. However, some critical aspects can get overlooked. This article contains tips on packing items safely to ensure your products arrive intact.
Here are four basic steps that are essential to every package:
Your packaging materials need to be tough and strong as you want a nice hard shell for your products to travel in. Pack your items in a sturdy box to make sure the package arrives intact. For shipping small and non-fragile items like fashion products, you can request FREE polymailer (FedEx Pak) supplies from UrShipper.
Avoid wiggle room at all costs. Fill in empty spaces or cut your box smaller to keep your items in place and prevent rattling around. Leaving space for your items to shake during transit increases the chances of getting damaged. As a test, make sure there’s no sound when you shake your package. Aside from safety, packing your products as small as possible means shipping cost reductions. Read more about Volumetric Weight.
Don't substitute secure packaging for 'fragile' or 'handle with care' stickers. Machines can't read these stickers (not yet, anyway). It’s better to securely pack your shipments yourself. If your items are fragile or breakable, wrap each item individually with bubble wrap or use dividers/partitions in your box and use the Box-in-Box packing method if needed.
Make sure to use the H-taping method both on the top and bottom of your outer box, also make sure the UrShipper label is displayed clearly and stuck tight to the package - with nothing covering the barcode. UrShipper uses shipping labels with barcodes so that your package can be identified easily. When you finish booking an order you'll be able to print the label and attach it to your package.
General Packaging Guidelines
If you are shipping soft goods, and malleable items like paper, clothes, and other nonfragile small items, you can request polymailer (FedEx Pak) supplies from UrShipper for FREE! Just Contact Us or directly pick them up at UrShipper Office.
FedEx Pak is a polymailer sized at 39 x 30 cm when empty/flat. It can accommodate items up to its maximum size or dimensions of approximately 30 x 20 x 10 cm and a maximum weight of 2.5 kg.
When shipping with FedEx Pak supplied by UrShipper (FedEx Reusable Large Pak; measuring 39 x 30 cm), dimensional or volumetric weight calculations are not applicable. Charges will solely based on the package's actual weight. If you're using FedEx Pak packaging, you can leave the dimensions empty when booking a shipment.
Larger or heavier items should use a carton/corrugated box. Also, depending on your product, you should consider using the following materials to protect your products in transit: bubble wrap, packing peanuts, foam sheets, and corrugated wrap rolls.
Delicate products require padding on all points of contact. Insurance is recommended. However, if a product breaks without clear damage to the box, the claim may be denied due to insufficient packaging.
Single-Box Packing Guideline
• Always use a new/sturdy outer box.
• Use fillers like crumpled newspaper, loosefill peanuts, or air-cellular cushioning material such as bubble wrap to fill void spaces and prevent movement of goods inside the box during shipping.
• For fragile items, wrap each item individually with at least 5 cm (2") of air-cellular cushioning or foam material.
• Place goods that might be affected by dirt, water, or wet conditions inside a plastic bag.
• Consolidate small parts or spillable granular products in a strong sealed container, such as burlap or siftproof plastic bag, then package in a sturdy outer box.
• Use the H-taping method for sealing your package, this will help prevent accidental opening.
Box-in-Box Packing Guideline
• Wrap product(s) individually with at least 5 cm (2") thickness of air-cellular cushioning or foam material to fit securely inside a corrugated box.
• Restrict product movement inside the box using a filler like crumpled newspaper, loosefill peanuts, or other cushioning material.
• Close and tape the inner box using the H-taping method, this will help prevent accidental opening.
• Use a second box that is at least 15 cm (6") longer, wider, and deeper than the inner box.
• Choose the wrap or fill method to cushion the inner box inside the larger, sturdy outer box.
• Ship fragile products individually, wrapping them in a minimum 8-cm (3") thickness of air-cellular cushioning material.
• Wrap the inner box with 8-cm (3") thickness of air-cellular cushioning material or use at least 8 cm (3")
of loosefill peanuts or other cushioning material to fill the spaces between the inner box and outer box on
the top, bottom, and all sides.
• Fill any void spaces with more cushioning material.
• Use the H-taping method for sealing your package.
Sealing Your Package
• Use pressure-sensitive plastic tape, water-activated paper tape (minimum 60-lb. ( 27kg) grade), or water-activated reinforced tape that is at least 2" (5cm) wide.
• Apply tape evenly across flaps and seams to both the top and bottom of the outer box. Use the H-taping method.
• Do not use cellophane tape, duct tape, masking tape, string, or rope to seal packages. In addition, do not wrap the outer box in shrink wrap, stretch wrap, or bubble wrap to avoid the Non-Standard Packaging surcharge.
Please note that UrShipper only provides FedEx Pak supplies. We do not offer other packaging supplies such as boxes or any cushioning materials such as bubble wrap, loosefill peanuts, or air pillows. UrShipper also does not provide packaging services. Please ensure all shipments are packed and labeled before handing them over to UrShipper.
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