You have finally decided to sell your products on Amazon, eBay, or Etsy. Congratulations and welcome to the Internet! However, you must absolutely pack the items sold carefully before shipping them. Don’t fall into the trap of cutting packaging costs for the sake of the economy. Broken items lead to bad reviews, and bad reviews could cost you a lot of money before your business even starts to get popular. eBay even advises customers to check each seller’s feedback to see if you’re packaging and refund policy is reliable in case something happens to the package, despite the seller’s best efforts. Therefore, you need to know exactly what type of packaging is used to ensure that your package arrives at its destination safely. What should you consider when choosing your packaging products?
- Choose the right packing materials
Before you even know how to pack your items or what products to use, you’ll need to know where to get the Wholesale shipping supplies, you’ll need. If you don’t already have a few cardboard boxes lying around, find a courier company near you. Packaging supplies like envelopes, tubes, and boxes are usually available free from companies that provide overnight delivery services. If you want to take advantage of lower-cost shipping options, then you will need to provide your own packing materials.
Supplies are varied and plentiful, but how you use them will depend on the item you wish to ship. For example, if you are selling the first edition of rare books online, do not use padded folders or envelopes to ship them, as these are just envelopes lined with bubble wrap. They do not offer sufficient protection for this type of item, especially if the book is heavy. For example, the corner of books can be easily crushed. Books should be sealed in plastic before shipping in boxes. Additionally, you should ensure that each item you ship contains a box certificate, also known as a “quality stamp”. It is a seal found on the bottom of every shipping container that has been approved by the postal or shipping company. The box certificate specifies the weight limits, maximum capacity, and crush test for that box. You must observe these limits when packing; otherwise, the box will be damaged.
- Opt for packaging material that will withstand shocks
Using the right material to ensure that the package arrives safely and in good condition will undoubtedly contribute to your reputation as an online seller. Otherwise, you will receive bad reviews if the product is damaged when it arrives at the customer.
Newsprint is often used to wrap items or to replace styrofoam flakes or carton boxes. However, newsprint is not recommended for packing fragile items because it lacks a key element of effective packing, memory. Memory refers to the ability to cushion material to absorb shock and return to its original shape. Newsprint tends to crumble and is not effective in protecting fragile items from impact damage. Bubble wrap and Styrofoam flakes are better options and can be found easily at shipping centers or big box stores.
Another consideration: stains. If the item to be shipped may be stained or damaged by newspaper ink, you will need to consider an alternative. For example, you can wrap a book in a piece of kraft paper, which will protect the corners so they won’t bend in transit. Kraft paper can be serrated or multi-ply, providing protection for fragile items. Kraft paper is also lightweight, which will save you shipping costs. And it is biodegradable, a quality to be promoted and which will contribute to your reputation as an eco-responsible company.
- Beware of cold weather: the enemy of every fragile package
Your customers may not know this, but if they are buying china, glass, or other fragile items from you, they should be aware of the weather conditions when receiving the package. If the mercury drops below zero when the package is delivered, they shouldn’t open the package right away and wait until it’s at room temperature before touching it. Hot hands handling an item that has been exposed to freezing winds could break the item in question, and you will be the one to receive a bad review of “Substandard Merchandise”. Therefore, be sure to add a disclaimer on the article’s webpage, in the confirmation email you send to your customer, and write it in large letters on the box.
- Wrap your items properly
You don’t have to use shrink plastic to wrap your items, stretch film will be just fine, especially if you want to keep your costs down. If you need to pack several small items and are using white Styrofoam flakes or clear bubble wrap, choose colored stretch wrap to ensure there are no items left in the box when your customers will open the package. If you are shipping several fragile items, such as a set of glasses, it might be helpful to take the boxes from the supplier and insert strips of cardboard into them to separate the bubble-wrapped items. If these fragile objects are plates, insert a piece of cardboard between each plate.
- Get it right the first time; you won’t get a second chance!
It doesn’t matter how you package your item or which courier company you use; your package is just one of many that are handled by employees every day. There is always a risk that your package will be mishandled. Take care to wrap and pack your items properly from the start to ensure they arrive at their destination in good condition, no matter what happens in transit. Good luck and happy packing!
