Your items are valuable, and you want them to arrive intact and on schedule. To ensure a fast and secure arrival at their ultimate destination, your products must be packaged properly with the labels shown appropriately. Whether you’re delivering things to customers or mailing a birthday package to a sibling, knowing how to properly pack a package is crucial.
However, shipping charges can soon mount up. Small savings on products mailed here and there might add up to a substantial amount of money over time. Some items are less expensive to send than others. Sending complete sports gear will cost far more than sending a pair of trainers. However, there are wiser ways to send that can save you money. If you’re delivering media such as books, DVDs, sound recordings, or manuscripts, for example, use the appropriate shipping method based on the categorization of the parcel contents.
With that in mind, here are six suggestions to help you pack your next box more efficiently and save money:
1. Check what you are sending
First, determine which category the item you’re submitting belongs to. The appropriate category selection is critical since it can save you a lot of money. Because you didn’t properly categorise the parcel, you may be paying more for delivering something that could have cost you far less.
Then look at the laws and restrictions for sending your package. Items must be packaged in a specific manner based on their nature. If it is clothes, for example, you can send in compact parcels that cost less to ship than a porcelain vase that needs to be padded heavily and packed carefully.
Alternatively, some things like liquid beverages with alcoholic content have certain limitations and sometimes they can’t be shipped at all due to varying regulations depending upon the destination and sender’s location.
2. Choose the mail service you are going to use
It’s generally essential to mostly pick the right delivery service, which mostly is quite significant. Various delivery service companies, pretty such as UPS or FedEx, specifically have different rates, kind of contrary to popular belief. Check rates for sort of domestic delivery services and shipping costs as well if you are sending domestic parcels; you can literally save a lot of money if you choose the proper delivery service provider.
Most of the time, particularly domestic parcel shippers charge much less than generally international ones in a definitely big way. At UBX Canada we have the cheapest pricing plans for sending your goods in Canada or internationally. For our prices, you can contact us anytime.
3. Choose the right box
Select a completely new rigid corrugated double wall cardboard box with the appropriate size for the items. A box that is just the exact fit for the size of your products will be too small because you won’t be able to properly wrap and cushion your goods. If you’re recycling a box, make sure it’s not damaged (all flaps are intact, the exterior box isn’t shredded or compressed), and erase any old labels to avoid problems when the barcodes are automatically scanned on sorting belts.
Note that dangerous products labels on cardboard cartons should not be reused. If the box is much larger than you require, you will very certainly have to spend significantly extra to send it. Find the “perfect” box to maximise the usage of packaging materials while lowering overall shipping expenses.
4. Pack the items in the box correctly
It’s preferable to wrap all things separately with bubble wrap or foam to avoid any breakage when they move around in the box during shipping. To hold the contents in place, use a lot of cushioning material, such as brown Kraft paper, air cushions, or foam, and make sure to fill in any empty area with packing peanuts. When you complete the shake test, you’ll know you’ve used enough material if you don’t hear the items of your parcel moving around when shaking it gently.
If you’re sending fragile things, wrap them separately and give them plenty of padding on all sides. As a general guideline, there should be at least 5cm between the item and the box’s walls. Soft cushioning is best for lighter products, whereas stronger cushioning is best for heavier ones. Make certain that all of the small gaps are filled. Use only strong cushioning for heavy things if you’re shipping them. Use a tailored really corrugated board or designed foam enclosures to protect the items in your box. These for all intents and purposes are more functional and increase the outer box’s stiffness, which actually is fairly significant.
Overpacking products may necessitate the use of a larger box than necessary, increasing the volume and cost of packing materials as well as the overall package price. Of course, using packing paper, packing peanuts, or bubble wrap to preserve the item you’re delivering is essential. However, there’s no need to go overboard. A couple of pieces of bubble wrap on top of the original container will suffice for sending an item like earrings; the padded earrings box should still fit in a tiny box.
5. Add Shipping label
It’s always a good idea to print the shipping label twice and slip one inside the package. In this way, if the shipping label is broken or lost in transportation, all of the relevant information may be retrieved inside the parcel, and your shipment will still arrive at its destination.
Unless you’re mailing company does not require you to have a shipping label on your package, you can use regular Address labels. Place the label with the whole sender and delivery information on the box’s largest surface. After you’ve sealed the package, make sure the label and barcode aren’t concealed by tape.
6. Seal the box
The use of adequate packaging tape to seal the box is essential. It’s not a good idea to use regular tape. Use self-adhesive tape that is at least 48 mm wide and seal the parcel in the shape of a double T (along the middle, top and bottom sides) to guarantee it is taped properly. If you’re shipping heavier things over 20 to 25 kg, it’s essential to use heavy-duty or reinforced tape to seal your box. Your package is ready to ship after the box is sealed. All you have to do now is bring the parcel to the local postal facility of the mailing service provider you chose and pay the shipment charges based on their category.
It is critical to properly pack the products, especially when you are shipping it internationally. Remember to use the appropriate packing materials for your goods, as well as to adequately cushion and seal it in a good way. These techniques can help you avoid product damage during shipment.