Fragile Items: How to Ensure the Safety of Your Packages

There’s nothing more exciting than receiving a package. However, it can be equally as satisfying for the sender to know when the package you sent has safely arrived at its destination. When someone thanks you for the effort and thoughtfulness you put into packing and shipping their item, it’s easy to feel quite good about yourself.

One of the worst things that both sender and receiver have to deal with is items damaged in transit. It can be highly frustrating and disappointing for the receiver to open up and package and see a broken item. Likewise, for senders, the situation can be embarrassing. If you run a business, this is something that can affect your reputation. 

What happens to your package once the courier has it is out of your control. However, there are plenty of ways to minimize damage or prevent them entirely—before you hire a pack and ship company. Here are these aforementioned tips to ensure that your package is safe in transit:

Use the Right Box

It’s much easier to pack and ship regularly shaped items. When the item has solid and straight lines, choosing the correct box isn’t hard at all. But when the item is fragile or oddly shaped, it can be a challenge to find the right-sized box. 

A good rule of thumb is to get the box that will leave the least amount of space. You’ll have to pack the item or items tight to make it secure. The more space there is in the box, the higher the risk of damage. Choose a thick and sturdy box for the best outcome. 

Pad the Box

The box alone won’t keep your items from being damaged. Aside from getting the right-sized box, you also have to cushion the item. Eliminate the space and fill it with packing peanuts, bubble wrap, or even recycled materials. Old scrap paper can also protect the items inside. 

Wrap the item up first and then layer padding around the box and fill in any space that allows the item to move. The most common cause of damaged items is bumping and moving during transit. You want the item to stay in place as much as possible for the whole trip. 

Pack Items Individually

If you are shipping multiple breakable items in one box, make sure to pack each item separately. Putting them all together without any barriers or padding in between is just asking for trouble. If you put all of it together unwrapped, the chances are high that it won’t make it intact to the receiver. 

Label Your Package

Sometimes, you just can’t blame the courier for damaged packages. Most of the time, they will do their best to handle items with care, but it can be difficult with the number of packages they must deliver and the tight schedule they’re on. If your box isn’t labeled “fragile,” you can’t expect people to handle it with too much care. 

They’ll assume that whatever’s inside can handle slight rough handling. Instructions and protocol differ from courier to courier but slapping on a fragile sticker on all sides of your package is a clear and straightforward way to tell them to be careful.

Use Shipping Insurance

Whatever you’re sending, you have to know its value and declare that to the courier. There is always the option of getting shipping insurance. Although this may add to the cost, the security it offers is worth it. This way, should any damage occur, at least you’re covered financially. The insurance that’s provided will depend upon the destination and value of the package. 

The Bottom Line

When you are sending fragile or breakable items to someone, whether as a gift or a product sold, you have a responsibility to ensure it makes it to the receiver in one piece. It can be highly frustrating for both sides when a package arrives broken or damaged in any way. Make sure to pack your items securely. Find a reliable pack and ship company that will handle your parcel with care. 

The best way to ensure that your package remains undamaged is by going to a reliable service provider. Not all pack and ship companies are the same. At 1 Stop Pack N Ship, we offer a wide variety of packing and shipping solutions based on the item, budget, destination, and time frame. We will ensure that your package is received well. Contact us today if you would like to learn more about our services.