It won't be long before the holiday season. Packing and shipping a variety of objects becomes nearly a daily routine. However, too many people utilize "creative" packaging techniques, and their creativity leads to disastrous results. Here are a few tips on what NOT to do when it is time to pack and send any items for shipment.
Duct-Tape Dynasty:
It's cheap, easy to use and most households have at least one roll on hand. It's duct tape, and it has been turned into the solution to many problems. While duct tape has the ability to seal packing boxes, it is also designed to stretch and to be easily removed. Packing tape and strapping tape were created specifically to hold boxes together during shipping. Both are available from any moving company, shipping company,office supply or "big box" retail outlet.
Photo by: Robert Kuykendall
Let It All Hang Out:
Both the weight and the girth of a package impact the cost to ship it, but skimping on packing materials in order to avoid excess weight can lead to damage to the package and potentially to injury to the delivery driver. Sharp corners that are inadequately covered can poke through corrugated cardboard, as can long pieces that aren't boxed well. Styrofoam packing material can be used to encase and cover the sharp object. Use a packing box that easily encloses the item. Pack smaller pieces in tightly sealed bags or another box and place these into the larger box.
Beware Of The Blob:
Transporting liquid or semi-liquid products is a dicey process. Making it more difficult is the fact that bottles or containers aren't adequately sealed. A container top can pop off during shipping. Be certain to reinforce bottles or jars that contain liquid or cream with additional tape or, if they are available, heat-sealed shrink bands. Both tape and shrink bands are effective at keeping the lids on bottles, jars or tubs in transit. Packing liquids into shipping containers that are structured for bottles or jugs is also recommended. Many of these boxes include styrofoam inserts or lining that provide cushioning and support for bottles and jugs. There are even specialty shippers for wine bottles that contain an insert with bottle-shaped spaces carved into the foam.
Stuffing It:
Depending on the packaging alone to protect a shipped item risks damage no matter how careful the carrier is. Packing peanuts may be annoying, but they are one of the most effective fillers when it comes to ensuring the deliverability of shipped items. When you pack a box be sure to stuff a lot of the peanuts into the box. Once you tape up the box, apply heavy pressure onto the top of the box. If the top of the box moves downward at all, there are not enough peanuts in the box. Re open the box, stuff in more peanuts, re tape, the box, and try the pressure test another time. Professional packing companies have done this test asking a grown man to stand on the top of a peanut filled box. When the box did not move downward, the company was able to prove that the box had enough peanuts.
Other fillers include raffia or shredded newspaper, inflated plastic bags and Styrofoam inserts. Use enough filler in a package to be certain that if the box is inadvertently tossed, tumbles or turned upside-down, its contents remain safely in place.
Having gifts or products arrive at their destination doesn’t have to be difficult. For expert advice on how best to pack and send an item and to obtain the most appropriate packaging and shipping supplies, contact an experienced shipping firm.
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