Last Updated on October 8, 2022 by Packoi Team
In this article, you’ll learn how to protect your fragile packages to make sure your customer can enjoy them when it arrives on their doorstep.
What Are Fragile Packages?
Fragile packages are anything that contains items that are delicate enough to break easily. Examples include glassware, ceramics, antiques, electronic devices, musical instruments, appliances, and even jewelry.
What to Do with Fragile Packages
When you see a sign that a package is fragile, that means it requires careful handling. You should carry the package delicately and be cautious when putting it down. You should also avoid putting anything on top so the weight would not crush it.
There are also fragile packages that you can’t even shake. Electronic devices and other susceptible products can be prone to damage if you shake them hard enough.
About Sending Fragile Items
When sending fragile packages, you must take extra measures to design how you’ll package them.
According to statistics, customers return products primarily because of damages after opening the package. So if you’re sending a fragile package, you must pay careful attention. It’s essential to take all precautionary measures to ensure the package will reach its destination without any damage.
Make sure that it has the proper labels and protective elements in it. The shipping process can be very long. The longer the travel time for that package, the more accidents happen.
6 Ways to Ship Fragile Items
Sending fragile packages means you don’t know what will happen on the road. You don’t know the people who will handle the box. You also don’t know the conditions that the package will go through while in transit.
Although the big, bold letters FRAGILE indicate that the package requires careful treatment, it won’t guarantee compliance. If a package is put inside a truck and runs over rough roads, it can shake it or make it topple over where other packages can land on top of it.
These are all accidental scenarios that can happen to a fragile package. This is why you should not rely on the shipping company to take care of the package. You have to make sure your package can protect itself.
Here are 6 simple ways that you can protect fragile packages from destruction.
Know What’s Inside the Box
Before you design how you’ll pack your fragile package, you have to get to know what product you will ship out.
You have to know what is the size of the product. Do you need an extra large box to pack it in? What is the material that you need to protect? Is it just one part of the whole product that’s fragile?
Answering these questions will allow you to determine how you’ll pack the product so it can arrive at its destination safely.
Packaging Costs
You should also consider that all the extra layers you’re putting in will make the shipping more costly. That means you have to prepare your shipping budget and see how you can keep the packaging as cost-efficient as possible.
Provide the Right Cushion
Cushioning is one of the most effective ways to protect fragile packages. You have a couple of options when it comes to the materials. You can wrap the product with bubble or foam wrap.
There are also plastic air pillows that can be good for bigger packages. This is like the longer version of the bubble wrap. If you need more protection, choose the bubble wrap that has bigger holes.
Choosing the Right Cushion Materials
Use your judgment to see which material can protect your product better. You can wrap the item several times to cover every package inch. Then you can secure it with packing tape, so it does not fall off the product. You don’t want your package to have any scratches, bumps, or scrapes when the customer gets it.
If you are just protecting the package from scratches, you can just wrap it using paper several times. Sometimes, this adds an extra layer of protection – then you wrap it in bubble wrap.
Feel free to research other materials that you can use to cushion your package. You can also customize styrofoam to protect fragile items.
Fill Empty Spaces
Another way to protect fragile items is to ensure no empty spaces. Even after you wrap the product with bubble wrap or something similar, there can still be spaces between the product and the other shipping box or container. You want to put fillers in these empty spaces, so the product has no room to shift or shake while it travels toward your customers.
Filler Options for Your Fragile Item
Among your options for fillers include packing peanuts. These are lightweight and are perfect for products that have irregular shapes. These are small enough to get into the corner of the box that you’ll use. There are eco-friendly options for these packing peanuts – so you don’t have to worry about your eco-friendly advocacy.
You can also use cardboard partitions. This is best for products that have a definite shape. This is also ideal for products that you want to ship together. Cardboard partitions will ensure that the items will not hit each other.
Another option to use is paper. You can shred or crumple it to fill the spaces. You can buy pre-shredded paper, or you can do it yourself.
How to Fill Empty Spaces
Once you’ve chosen the fillers, put some of them at the bottom of the box. Then put the cushioned product in the middle. Then proceed to fill the rest of the empty spaces that you see. Make sure the fillers surround the product by at least 2 inches.
Pick the Right Box
One of the important considerations when shipping fragile items is the box. It doesn’t matter what fillers or cushions you put inside. If the box can’t protect your product, it’s all for nothing.
First, you must consider the right size of the box. It should not be too big or too small.
Ensure enough space to put around 2 inches of fillers around the product. But it shouldn’t be too big that the product will shift and shake while it’s in transit.
What Is the Right Box?
The best material for the box of fragile packages is corrugated cardboard. This material has layers of paper that can be rigid enough to help it endure pressure from the other boxes that might be put on top of it.
You can also choose to use 2 boxes for the packaging. You call this double-box packaging. In this strategy, the product is put inside a box where you will secure it with cushioning materials and fillers. Then, the whole thing will be put inside a bigger box where fillers will be put in the spaces between.
Mark the Outside of the Box
The markings you’ll use on the outside of the box are significant. You must put clear and bold words that tell people the package inside the box is fragile.
What Mark to Put on Your Fragile Package?
You can put a “Handle with Care” sticker. You can also put a big red “Fragile” word on the box.
Make sure the markings are big enough to be seen from afar. You should also put the marking on all sides of the box. That way, it doesn’t matter how you will position the box. People will see that they should handle it with care.
Another vital mark you should put outside is the right side up for the box. A simple arrow with the text “This Side Up” will do.
Don’t Forget the Tape
Apart from the markings, you must consider the packing tape you’ll use. You have the option to use plastic packing tape or paper tape if you want to be more environment-friendly. Ensure the tape will secure the box so it will not open accidentally. But be careful not to put too much tape. That might compromise the unboxing experience of the customer and make it unpleasant.
Get Fragile Shipping Insurance
The final option to protect fragile packages is to get shipping insurance. This might seem like an additional cost, but you’ll be thankful that you have it if something happens to your package. A product that has been damaged (or one that gets lost) won’t be of any use to you anymore. That’s a 100% loss on your cost. But if you have insurance, you can return some of your investment.
Why Are Shipping Fragile Items Safely Vital for Your Business?
Ensuring the protection of fragile packages is essential for 4 crucial reasons.
To Keep the Package Safe
This is the primary concern. You want the package to reach your customer in one piece. So keeping it safe means you must take extra measures to pack it. That includes wrapping it in cushioning material, putting enough fillers, and using the correct box.
You intend to keep the product from getting any scratches. You also don’t want it to shift and shake during delivery, so it does not damage the product.
To Ensure a Pleasant Unboxing Experience
Think about how your customer will feel when they get the package. They’ve been waiting for it to arrive for a long time. The anticipation is building. When the package comes, they feel excited that it’s finally within their reach.
They open it – only to find that they can’t use the product. Why? Because your choice of packaging did not protect it. The product got destroyed somewhere along the shipping process. This is avoidable if you choose a suitable packaging material.
But even if there are only minor scratches, dents, or bends on the fragile product, it can still dampen the whole experience for the customer. This discontent can lead to the loss of a loyal customer.
Social Media Unboxing
If the customer decides to post the unboxing experience online, many people will witness that your product is easily broken. You can lose more potential customers this way.
The power of social media can be a double-edged sword. You don’t want to appear like you don’t care about the packaging of your products. That will not give your company a good reputation. This is why choosing the best packing materials to protect fragile objects is essential.
To Avoid Bad Reviews
This is in connection to the unboxing experience of the customer. Any disappointment customers may feel after receiving a damaged product can prompt them to leave a bad review.
But even if the product doesn’t look like it has been damaged, there might be internal damages that can shorten its lifespan. This can compromise that product already. This is why you must be very careful when packaging fragile items.
Why Should You Care about Bad Reviews?
Because any lousy review can deter potential clients, with the prevalence of e-commerce, people suddenly have many product options. This means people will scrutinize a product before they decide to buy it. How will they do that? They go to online reviews.
So if you want to get more customers, you want to minimize the bad reviews you’ll get on your profile or Google.
To Minimize Returns
Another reason to choose packaging materials wisely is to minimize the return of products. When a customer is unhappy with the product because of multiple damages, they will return it.
This is costly for your company. You have to pay extra so the shipping company will pick it up and return it to you. Not only that, the product itself will be useless to you. So the cost of these returns, if it piles up, can compromise your business’s finances.
This extra cost is avoidable if you can just protect the product in the first place.
Do You Need Help Protecting Your Fragile Items? Packoi Can Help
The odds are too great when your product reaches your customer in a damaged condition. This is why you must take extra care when shipping fragile packages. Use suitable packaging materials to protect your product from bumps, scratches, etc.
If you’re unsure what your packaging options are, Packoi Printing can help. You can trust that we will give you cost-efficient options that will protect your package and represent your brand well.
If you want to customize your packaging solutions, we’re here. Give us the details of your design, and we’ll get back to you with a quote in no time.
