In today’s modern economy of web-based shopping and internet auction sites, mail shipping is a booming industry. Everyone from big business like Amazon.com to individuals selling old junk on eBay are in constant need of mailing supplies. With such a huge variety of packaging and shipping supplies, however, how do you know what you need? What packing material, for example is the best for a particular item—bubble wrap, styrofoam peanuts, or packing foam? This article will give you a quick tour of shipping supplies and when to use them.
If you are going to be shipping things on a regular basis, your first investment should be a postal scale. To avoid losing your shirt in shipping costs, you need to be able to quote your customers an accurate amount for shipping & handling. As shipping costs depend on weight (and just a few ounces can make a difference in price), you need to know how much the packaged merchandise weighs. For most people, a small, 1 – 25 pound postage scale will be sufficient. If you are shipping larger, heavier items, however, postage scales come in higher capacities, some able to weight well over a hundred pounds. Unfortunately, these larger, heavier scales are more expensive.
Next, be sure to waterproof your item before mailing it, just in case. When shipping through either the Post Office or a package delivery service like UPS or FedEx, you never quite know where your package will end up, especially when shipping overseas. It may be exposed to humidity, rain, or snow. This is especially disastrous for merchandise sensitive to water damage, such as electronics, clothing, or paper products.
To prevent water damage, enclose the item inside an airtight, waterproof bag. For small or flat items, like jewelry, CDs, books, or documents, a simple plastic ziplock bag may be all you need. For bulkier or oddly-shaped items, this becomes a bit more difficult. Options here include plastic cling wrap, or better yet, shrink wrap. Simply wrap the item in shrink wrap, apply heat (such as from a hair dryer), and the shrink wrap will contract and conform to the shape of the object, sealing it. Finally, sealing all edges and corners of the mailing box with clear plastic packing tape is another good precaution to take.
For small and durable (unbreakable) items, a padded mailing envelope should be all you need. Sturdier and harder to bend than thin paper envelopes, and padded to prevent impact damage when tossed or dropped, cushioned mailers do a good job at a low price.
For larger item, of course, you will need to use a box. Shipping boxes come in all shapes and sizes, and can be purchased both online, at the post office, and sometimes even at copy shops. In general, corrugated cardboard boxes are better than paperboard boxes. Corrugated cardboard is stiffer, sturdier, and the corrugated layer provides a degree of cushioning, like a built-in shock absorber. Paperboard boxes, although they may be cheaper, are thinner, more flexible, and can crush or tear more easily.
Finally, unless the item perfectly fits the box and is very durable, you should pad the item in the box. You have three general choices of padding material: bubble wrap, foam wrap, and packaging peanuts. Bubble wrap provides better cushioning when wrapped loosely, but is bulkier. Foam wrap is less bulky, but doesn’t provide as much shock absorption as bubble wrap. Finally, packing peanuts are best for oddly-shaped items that leave a lot of empty space in the box. Packaging peanuts completely surround the item, providing padding from bumps and shocks over every inch of the item.
This article is only a guide. Feel free to experiment with different materials, and find the combination that works best for you and your customers.
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