Packaging goods correctly is the sender's responsibility and due care must be taken to prevent damage. If the parcel is found insufficiently packaged, you may not be covered in the event of damage. It's at the carrier's discretion to make the final decision with claims, not Shippit.

 If goods need to be repackaged during transit this can also cause extended delays to your end customer.

Key tips for packaging.

• Choose the right packaging. This will avoid damage, delays and extra charges for under-declared goods.
• As you're charged for the greater of actual or volumetric weight, try not to leave any dead space in the satchel or carton. Fold over satchels where possible, and use the smallest carton that will fit the goods.
• Protect your items. Ensure the internal packaging is more protective than the external packaging. Use protective bubblewrap, cushioning, and fillers to avoid damage.
• Fragile goods must be packaged and labelled accordingly. Remember though, simply placing a fragile sticker on the item will not guarantee damage won't occur. Not all goods are manually handled and will need to travel through automated sortation systems at some point so it's up to you to ensure packaging is sufficient for fragile items.

Choosing the right packaging.

Satchels.

Satchels are a very cost-effective option but there are a few things to remember:

• Be conscious of what you're sending. Fragile, sharp, or odd-shaped items are not suitable to travel in a satchel unless very well packaged to avoid causing injury to staff or being crushed.
• Make sure the contents fit properly inside the satchel. Trying to fit too much in a satchel might cause it too burst open during transit which means the contents may get lost. 
• Make sure the satchel is sealed or taped properly to ensure it can't open during transit. Ensure any dead space is taped in i.e wrap the satchel around the item where possible and tape it up securely, this will ensure what's inside can't move around.
• Make sure the contents do not exceed the allowable dimensions for that size satchel or you may receive an additional charge for under-declared goods.

Boxes and Cartons.

The package will travel in several vehicles, through several machines, and be handled many times before being delivered. Adequate internal packaging is crucial as the carton itself should act only as an external barrier, not the only thing protecting the goods inside.

Here are some tips to best pack boxes and cartons:

• Don't overload the carton and make sure it's strong enough to carry the weight of the goods inside.
• Choose the right size. As you're charged for the greater of actual or volumetric weight, try not to leave any dead space inside the carton.
• Ensure any dead space is filled with a void-fill material such as bubble wrap, newspaper, or air pillows. This will add an extra layer of protection to ensure the goods don't move around during transit and get damaged.
• Seal the carton with strong, durable and water-resistant tape. Drivers do their best to avoid getting your packages wet however weather can be unpredictable and your package may come into contact with wet weather at some point in time.

Fragile Items.

When sending fragile items it's absolutely crucial to ensure the goods are sufficiently packaged. 

The external packaging should only act as a barrier to protect from weather and transit, not damage so the internal packaging is the most crucial barrier for protecting the goods from knocks during transit.

Goods are handled many times during transit before they reach your customer so the packaging needs to hold up through all these touchpoints. Goods will travel through several automatic sortation devices and remember machines can't read fragile labels.

Pallets and Heavy Goods.

You'll be required to palletise heavy and bulky goods as these can't be manually handled.

Pallets require a forklift when handling goods and a special tail-lift vehicle to transport the goods.

Here are some tips for proper palletisation:

• Items should be stacked within the dimensions of the pallet, do not stack pallets too high.
• The top surface of your pallet must be level, strong and stackable. You will have to pay a surcharge if your pallet isn’t stackable. 
• Items should fit squarely on the pallet. Carriers will not accept pallets with over-hanging goods.
• Stretch wrap the goods before placing on the pallet. Use at least two straps from both sides to hold items in place. Strapping and wrapping should include the pallet itself.
• Label the pallets clearly and affix to the side, not the top. Remember another pallet may be stacked on top of yours. 

Labelling.

• It's important to label correctly. Remove any old labels and ensure the correct label can be read properly.
• If you're using a label machine, make sure there are no creases on the label when applied to the parcel. chine.
• If you're not using a label machine, use the correct printing sizes on paper and ensure there is no tape placed over the barcodes as this will affect it being read. 

Need supplies? We've got you covered!

Shipping supplies can be purchased directly from our supply store.