Find out how to be more productive and make the most of your time, follow the Taskwise blog!
How to Prevent Shipping Damage

Trying to find out how to prevent shipping damae? Improper packaging is the most common reason for parcels to be damaged. Opened boxes are always processed slower, and with some bad timing, can delay arrival for a day or more. With a little extra effort, your stuff will fly through and still be in one piece.

Steps

  1. Pick the right size box. Your goods should almost fill the box, but leave enough room for cushioning materials. Items soft and light enough to not need buffers, such as clothes, should completely fill the box.
  2. Make sure you face your goods the right way. Some fragile materials need to be kept upright, in this case you should make the top of it face towards the biggest side of the box. If it oriented toward the narrow top of the box, it can be very difficult to be kept upright during shipping.
  3. Use cushioning materials when necessary. Surround your things on all sides, as evenly as possible. Styrofoam peanuts work best for most things, while bubble wrap works well for large fragile materials, without sharp points.
  4. Use tape and then use more tape. For best results apply three strips across the fold of the flaps and at least two more strips across. Even light materials will wear against adhesives and can push open the box. This, alone, won't damage your goods, but can cause them to spill out. Very heavy materials, especially a box with many small metal items, should be given copious amounts of tape.
  5. Write the intended address in large bold letters, on the largest side of the package. If your box is cardboard brown, write the address on a piece of white paper and then tape it on. This will reduce the need for handlers to manhandle it in order to find and read the address.
  6. Be polite when sending the package off. Employees in the package delivery industry are often unappreciated and underpaid for hard physical labor. Do not give them any reason to take out frustrations on your goods.
Tips
  • When sending bottle of liquid, use plenty of styrofoam peanuts. Although these kind of packages do not break commonly, when they do, they almost always leak.
  • Do not use metal staples to seal your box. They are notorious for ripping through the cardboard during shipping and sending their contents flying.
  • Always use extra buffering materials with fragile goods. A fragility indicator will be frequently ignored; do not think it will protect fine china.


Sign up for your free Taskwise account and take control of your job today.