While paroozing Reddit the other day, (hey it was during our lunch hour) we came across this horrifying post from GetToDahChoppah:

Now, we’re not here to bash Amazon. Everyone has their bad days. 

What we are here to do, is to help you avoid upsetting your customers with epic packaging fails like the one above.

 

Plan ahead

So you’re ready to ship your product to hundreds of happy customers?

Before you skip off to the post office, consider measuring your packages’ weight, dimensional weight, oversize charges and special handling costs.

Factor out the price it would cost you to ship everything, and you’ll have a better grasp on which high quality packing will best fit your budget.

 

Choose a more sustainable and durable package design

The proper protection starts with proper packaging. Sure that 50 cent cardboard box from Walmart sounds like a deal, but just think about all the possible refunds it could cost when your package arrives looking like it barely escaped the Death Star.

Bottomline: before you buy 50 cent cardboard boxes, remember Admiral Ackabr's infamous words... 

Instead, opt for boxes that are made from high quality materials like corrugate. (We're huge fans of this material and all of our Pakible boxes are made out of it. Check 'em out here.)

 

Cushion, cushion, cushion

Regardless of the distance it travels, your package is going to go through several hands and machines to get to it’s destination and sometimes those hands and machines aren’t as gentle as we’d like.

Make sure you protect the most fragile parts of your product with peanuts, bubble wrap, or fun shock-absorbent materials like this:

This man-made "easter grass" is a great way to protect the contents inside your package, while capitalizing on national holidays or a change of seasons.

 

Labels are Your Friends

Whichever carrier you choose, make sure you follow their labeling instructions to a T in order to ensure your package gets the royal treatment.

For instance, most carriers prefer you slap labels on the largest flat surface area of the package.

Pakible Pro Tip: Avoid edges of the box, as they can lead to misreadings during routine scannings.

Make sure to include instructions on your package (i.e. fragile, this end up, etc.) but don’t assume that including instructions will guarantee it’s protection. As of right now machines can’t read and comprehend your handwriting.

 

Ensure with insurance

If you’re willing to spend a little more, insuring your package could be the best bet for it’s overall well being.

Most carriers allow you to add this on in their office or you can request a quote without leaving the comfort of your home.  

There are even some third party insurance companies like Shipsurance that allow you to insure packages from most major carriers.

So remember...

Choose durable packaging and follow the proper mailing procedures and you’ll avoid the terrible reviews like the one from GetToDahChoppah.

We hope this article was helpful for those of you ready to take your business to the next level!

If you want to talk more about what packing options are out there for you, feel free to reach out to us and speak with our team of packing masterminds.