With the current trend and boom of online businesses, the future of parcel shipping is endless. Shoppers all over the world are tapping into the e-commerce market, thus increasing the number of parcel deliveries every day across the globe.
E-commerce has created an indispensable platform for selling and buying goods globally. A person in Australia, for example, can buy a product online from another country, and the seller will send the parcel to Australia via parcel shipping.
However, with all the advantages of e-commerce marketing and shipping, we cannot rule out the cons involved. Delay, loss, and damage are the major cons that are involved in shipping.
Choosing a dependable courier should be a priority as your parcel is more likely to arrive fine and fettle. Below are a few tips that you should consider to ensure your parcel is conveyed in one piece.
1. Packing Conveniently and Efficiently
When packing, it is important to keep in mind all the phases of transit your package will go through, especially when sending a parcel through a courier. The state of your product also determines the packaging efficiency.
For perfect packaging, you should consider the following factors.
- How fragile is your product?
- The size of the product.
- Does the product have sharp edges?
- The shape of the product.
After understanding the state of your product, it is critical that you choose the right packaging material. For example, fragile products will require to be wrapped with bubble wrappers. Consider using dry ice or gel packs if the product needs to be kept under cold conditions.
To ensure that your parcel is delivered unscathed, choose a packaging box that is:
- Customised or designed for the specification of your product.
- Rigid and strong.
- Not torn, ruined, or punctured.
- Cardboards that are made from triple or double-walled.
- Dry and not open to mugginess or wateriness.
When sealing your packaging box, choose a high-quality tape to seal the box. A high-quality tape should be water-activated, pressure-sensitive, durable, and at least 2 inches wide. If the package you’re shipping contains multiple products, wrap them separately.
Mistakes to avoid when packing a parcel for shipping
- Never seal a box with masking tape, Scotch tape/cellophane tape, or duct tape.
- Avoid wrapping items too tightly, especially fragile products. Too much pressure can cause the product to break, crack, or reshape the product.
- Not marking fragile items. Always ensure that all products that are easily breakable are well-labeled.
- Do not use random types of paper to wrap your product. Avoid wrapping your parcel with newspapers. Instead, use bubble wrap and polystyrene materials.
2. Ensure you are not Shipping a Parcel that is Prohibited
Check your product content, especially when sending a parcel to a different country. Check the rules and regulations of the country you are sending the parcel to. If you are sending a parcel to Australia, for example, make sure you are familiar with the rules and regulations of Australia.
3. Choose a Courier that You Can Trust
Not all couriers can be trusted. Do your research on which couriers are reliable and credible. Look for a courier with a good reputation and a long, solid history background. Research on the reviews and feedback from previous customers, as this might serve as a positive sign.
4. Always Track your Parcel Online
A courier that provides live tracking information of a parcel is more reassuring for safe shipping. Online tracking enables you to monitor your parcel often. Online tracking reassures you that your parcel is safe, and you can estimate when the parcel will arrive.
5. Insure your Parcel Before Shipping
In as much as you have packed and sealed your product in a good way, things are ultimately out of your control once it’s out of your shop or facility. This does not guarantee that your product won’t be damaged, lost, or delayed.
Taking cover of a parcel means you are entitled to get some money back in the event of damage, loss or delay.
6. Clearly Label your Parcel before Shipping
If the parcel you are shipping needs to be handled with extra care, clearly label or mark that the parcel is fragile on all sides of the box. You can also be open with the courier and tell them how exactly you want your parcel to be handled.
7. Ensure you give the Recipient’s Correct Information and Address
This mostly applies to international addresses. Liaise with the recipient and make sure they have provided you with the right addresses.
