What You Need to Know Before Sending Important Packages

Many of us have at least once in our life faced the task of sending something to another city or even a country. Whether it’s a gift for a dear person, selling something or running your own online store, everyone has the same goal – to pack and send the package so securely that all its contents reach the recipient safe and sound.

1. Is it necessary to pack the package yourself?

As a rule, people independently pack parcels for their subsequent shipment by the postal operator. At the same time, if the client of the postal operator cannot, for one reason or another, pack the parcel, then he can turn to the department employee for help. They will be able to quickly and correctly pack the parcel in compliance with all requirements, rules and standards. They will make sure that your package can be mailed before packing it into the box, then pack the box, seal it, and attach all the necessary labels and postage to it.

To speed up the process of sending a box of goods by mail, it is recommended to collect the shipment at home in compliance with all the rules and requirements of the operator. 

2. How to pack the product?

The individual packaging of the goods must be clean and not damaged.

You need to stick a label on the package. It should contain:

-Name of the product;

-Expiration date – indicate it on the outer packaging;

-Barcode (If you run a store)

Depending on the type of product, the label should contain additional information:

-Non-food products

-Food

-Perfumery and cosmetic products

If it is not possible to place a label on a small-sized product, additionally pack such a product in a larger bag.

3. Ways of packing goods

Depending on the size and type of product, use different types of packaging: cardboard boxes, stretch film, bubble wrap, scotch tape.

-Bulky goods

Oversized goods can be delivered in their original packaging. If it is missing, wrap the product with stretch wrap and tape to prevent damage.

-Fragile: dishes, lamps, plumbing fixtures, glassware

Wrap the goods in bubble wrap, tape the edges.

Use cushioning material all over the surface that could be affected by other goods or the sides of the box.

Fix the item securely in the box. It should not move inside or make extraneous noises when lightly shaken (sounds of movement, pouring or clinking glass).

-Liquids

Place the containers in the box with the neck facing up according to the manipulation signs on the box.

If there are liquids and other goods in one delivery, pack containers with liquids in additional sealed packaging: a bag, three-layer stretch film or thermal film.

Products with liquids must be free of leaks. When turning over and applying light pressure, do not leak or leak air.

-Large format printed materials: posters, maps, calendars

Roll up the product in a roll and place it in a rigid package, for example, in a tube.

-Goods that may become unusable from getting wet: books, printed materials, etc. 

Wrap the goods in stretch film.

-Complex shaped goods: scooters, mops, chairs, etc. 

Wrap such goods in stretch wrap. Additionally, wrap the protruding parts with bubble wrap and tape.

-Soft goods: plush toys, clothes and accessories, shoes, bed linen, etc. 

Place soft goods without factory packaging (film, box) in a bag or wrap them in a stretch film to protect them from dust and dirt during transportation. Make sure that the packaging does not spoil the appearance of the product. Collect the items in a box if possible.

4. Compatibility of goods

In order not to damage the goods during storage and transportation, do not place:

-heavy goods on top of fragile ones;

-liquids together with electrical appliances;

-food products together with substances hazardous to health (household chemicals, fertilisers, medicines, etc.);

-odour absorbing products together with strong-smelling products.

 If there are incompatible items in the same shipment, isolate them from each other:

Pack the smaller item in a separate box and place it in the main shipping box with the rest of the items. Wrap liquids additionally with stretch film in three layers.

Divide the shipment with incompatible items into several boxes.

5. Tips to make your item delivery safer

-Before sending, pack the goods, taking into account the fact that they can be transported by several modes of transport.

-If you are very worried about a thing, put a fragility mark or any other sign on the box for careful handling of the goods, and be sure to pay attention to this when filling out the form.

-If you want to be 100% sure that your shipment will arrive safely and intact, use special security seals. We recommend you to check Harcor. 

-Fill in the voids inside the box. Newspapers or unnecessary rags are great for this.

-Ideally, match the box to the size of the item – this way there will be fewer voids and nothing will dangle inside.

-If you are shipping dishes, wrap each item in cloth or newspaper sheets. Place the plates between each other with one to three sheets of newspaper, magazine or cardboard. Items must not touch each other in the box. Wine glasses or cups can be wrapped in a sock and placed inside a plastic food container.

-If you are sending a mirror, be sure to tape a piece of thick cardboard to the front side with duct tape. Then wrap everything in bubble wrap.

-When sending small household appliances, see if there are any parts inside that need to be additionally fixed. For example, microwave ovens have a glass tray inside that can crack during transit.

-Furniture doors, shelves of the same size can be folded together and lined with cardboard.

-Check the goods carefully at the time of issue. And if something happened to it during the delivery process, you have every right to refuse the purchase. ‍

Conclusion

Sending and receiving shipments does not have to be a laborious, complicated and stressful process. You just need to know some rules and little hacks. We hope this text has helped you and that your packages will always arrive in perfect condition to the recipient.