Sometimes, the best way to effectively do a task is by knowing the common mistakes associated with it. By knowing the pitfalls, we can easily avoid making irreparable and costly blunders.
Electronic devices are some of the most fragile items to ship. Apart from being made from breakable materials that can chip, fracture or shatter when not appropriately packaged, their complicated inner workings can also be affected by the impact caused by falls and bumps during transit. Hence, it is important to take extreme precautions when transporting electronic products. Here are some guidelines on how NOT to prepare electronic items for shipping.
Use weak or damaged boxes
Re-using or recycling shipping boxes is a great way to help prevent the further degradation of the environment. However, only re-use boxes that are still sturdy and can still provide optimum protection for your items. Bear in mind that your package may encounter rough handling, bumps, and falls during the course of shipping and its first layer of protection is its shipping box. Items are more likely to get damaged when shipped in a weak box.
Do not forget to remove or cover up previous labels, bar codes, and markings, and reinforce corners/edges if required. Also, use suitable boxes according to the size and weight of the electronic items being shipped.
Leave parts exposed
Leaving parts, especially protruding ones, exposed spells damage! Cover all parts of your electronic device with generous layers of bubble wrap. Protrusions, corners, and edges are most likely to get damaged during transit so spend some time padding them for protection. Anti-static bubble wrap (the pink ones) are best for electronic items.
Bundle items together
If you are shipping several items, dumping them all together in the box is the best way to break them. If you want your electronic items to arrive with no damage, wrap each component separately in bubble wrap. This will prevent them from breaking in case they collide with each other during shipping.
Leave cables connected
It is difficult to pack electronic devices if cables are still connected, not to mention placing the cables under a lot of stress. Disconnect all cables, roll them neatly, secure with a rubber band and wrap in bubble wrap. This way, they will be protected and safe when you place them in the box along with the other components.
Send items unboxed
Electronic items are more likely to get damaged when you simply bubble wrap and packing tape the hell out of it! A sturdy box is your electronic device’s best line of defense against impact during transit. Also, use the appropriately-sized box for your items. If the original packaging is available, use it at all costs.
Loosely pack items
Bubble wrapping is not enough to protect your electronic goods from damage. You should make sure that there is no way for the items to shift during transit by filling any space inside the box with packing materials such as foam pads, packing peanuts, air bags, or bubble wrap. Also, ensure that there is a distance of at least 2 inches between the goods and the edges of the box and fill these spaces with sufficient padding.