Apart from offering quality and in-demand goods, another key to a successful online business is delivering items to buyers on time and in excellent condition. When packing a shipment to a buyer, keep the following general DON’Ts in mind:
DON’T pack in heavily marked boxes. It’s good to recycle boxes provided they are still sturdy but avoid re-using boxes with large amounts of printing or images on the outside. Remove any labels, bar codes and stickers if you intend to re-use a box to avoid confusion. Also, do not use packaging that bear labels for alcoholic beverages and other restricted items to avoid any issues with the post office or shipping company.
DON’T pack in worn out boxes. Don’t try to salvage damaged boxes or make do with weak ones to save on your shipping costs. These boxes can get damage when exposed to the harsh shipping environment and may not protect their contents which can lead to more problems and expenses, not to mention the bad impression they send to your buyer.
DON’T use inferior filler. Use the appropriate packing materials for your item. Don’t fill empty space with newspaper, shredded paper, or any other material with low crush resiliency when shipping fragile or heavy items.
DON’T leave any space that will allow the item to shift inside the box. Otherwise, don’t be surprised if your buyer claims for a refund or exchange due to amaged goods. Make sure that your package is well packed and there is no chance for items to move around and collide with each other during the rough-and-tumble of shipping.
DON’T use the wrong tape to seal and reinforce your package. Don’t use duct tape for your packages because it can dry out and lose its adhesive property when inside hot and humid trucks or containers. Avoid packing with painter’s masking tape, narrow clear Scotch tape, or other weak types of tape that are not designed for strength and/or adhesion.
DON’T ship small fragile and valuable items in envelopes. Padded mailers may be cheaper than boxes but they don’t provide much protection to fragile items.These envelopes are often handled alongside bulk mail using sorters and bags, rather than with other packages, meaning that they suffer an even more harsh journey than they otherwise might.
DON’T address inadequately. Never address your packages using pencil, ballpoint pen, or water-soluble marker. These can all quickly become illegible in poor conditions. Use a permanent marker and write legibly. Use large, easy-to-read fonts when printing labels. A strip of wide clear tape over the label can protect it from the elements. To be sure, insert a piece of paper with your return address as well as your buyer’s address inside the package before sealing it. This will come in handy in case the address and labels outside the box get damaged during transit.