DO’s

  • Choose the size of the package according to its content.
    Under-filled boxes are likely to collapse; overloaded ones may burst.
  • Always use high quality materials for your shipments.
    Consider strength, cushioning, and durability when selecting your wrapping supplies. Choose boxes made of corrugated cardboard, with good quality outer liners. Use heavy-duty double-layered board for fragile items.
  • Wrap each item carefully in bubble wrap.
    All shipments are unavoidably subject to shocks during transportation. Wrapping them separately will ensure the items do not cause damage to each other. Always place fragile goods in the centre of a package; ensuring they don't touch the sides. Your item should be well cushioned on all sides
  • Fill the base of the box with cushioning materials.
    Cushioning your shipment on all sides helps to make sure it arrives in good shape. The contents should never come into contact with the outer packaging.
  • Use appropriate packaging for the Item you are sending.
    Seal greasy or strong-smelling substances with adhesive tape, then wrap in grease resistant paper. Place powders and fine grains in strong plastic bags, securely sealed and then packed in a rigid fibreboard box. Use triangular tubes not round tube-type cylinders to pack rolled plans, maps and blueprints. Always remember that bad packaging may cause damage to surrounding items.
  • Mark any parcels over 25 kilos as 'Heavy'
    This ensures the parcels are treated in the correct manner, and ensures the appropriate lifting equipment can be used if required during the handling of the shipment.
  • Create a double wall at the bottom of the box.
    Insert a double corrugated card on top of the loose fill to create a double wall at the bottom of the box.
  • Surround the wrapped object with cushioning.
    This will prevent the item from moving during transportation. The cushioning should be able to absorb shock and vibration.
  • Insert a card to create another double wall on the sides and top of you box.
    Place a firm card on top of the cushioning material and to the sides of the outer box to make sure everything stays in place. Allow some room to place extra cushioning on top.
  • Extra protection on top.
    Protect the upper side of your package by filling up the remaining space with more cushioning material.
  • Close the package carefully.
    Make sure the box is closed carefully, so no cushioning material can get out. Using a good quality, rigid box with intact flaps is advisable.
  • Close the box securely with strong tape.
    Seal your package with pressure-sensitive plastic tape or water-activated paper tape, preferably around 50mm in width.
  • Finishing touch.
    Do not use strings or cords: they can get tangled up in automated sorting equipment. Place your address and shipping labels on the top surface of the box, avoid putting them on seams, closures or on the sealing tape.

Don'ts

  • Do not use bags made of fabric or cloth.
  • Do not over seal your package.
    Remember that all international shipments can be opened by customs authorities for inspection.
  • Do not use cellophane tape or rope to seal your shipment.
  • Do not consider "Fragile" and "Handle with care" labels as a substitute for careful packaging.
    They are only appropriate for information purposes.
  • Do not include any information indicating high value of contents on the address label or outer package.
  • Do not exceed the weight specification of the shipment container.
  • Do not use damaged containers.
  • Do not allow packages to get wet while awaiting pickup.

Remember...

  • 1) Weigh your parcel once you have packaged it and input this weight into our booking pod.
  • 2) Even the stickiest labels can come off - an extra address label placed inside the package is a good precaution.
  • 3) Remove old address/shipping labels from your packages.
  • 4) Use ‘Arrow up’ labels on relevant packages.

Below, are some product specific Hints & Tips for Packaging:

Books

Books are especially vulnerable at the corners. Pack your books in top quality corrugated fibreboard, allowing a 20mm overlap at the ends. Place the wrapped book in a flyer where appropriate.

If your books are not suitable to be placed in a flyer, pack the wrapped books inside an appropriately sized box. Fill in with cushioning material.

Bicycles

Remove pedals, handlebars and front wheel and pack with the remaining parts in a carton like those used by bicycle manufacturers. These cartons are generally available at bicycle shops.

Note: Cartons must still meet the normal maximum dimension criteria of the service being used.

Electrical/electronic equipment

The manufacturer's packaging is often designed for marketing purposes and may not be appropriate to use for shipping. Use additional packaging according to the size, weight and fragility of the product.

Always use strong cardboard boxes, allowing sufficient cushioning material all around the items.

Anti-static packaging products are available in the market (and very soon direct from myParcelDelivery.com), to prevent damage to electronic parts.

Musical Instruments

Cases supplied with many musical instruments are not designed for protection during delivery. The existing case should be packed in double wall cardboard carton or a wooden case. Inner packaging must be used to stop movement of the instrument in its case and of the case within the outer carton.

The bridges of stringed instruments should be removed and packed separately.

Liquids

Ensure liquids are stored in leak-free containers, packed with a lightweight, strong, internal material (for example, Styrofoam) and sealed with a plastic bag. Always remember that bad packaging may cause damage to surrounding items.

Seal semi-liquids, greasy or strong-smelling substances with adhesive tape, then wrap in grease resistant paper. Always remember that bad packaging may cause damage to surrounding items.

Sports racquets

Sports racquets should be firmly "sandwiched" on the frame with strong double wall corrugated cardboard sheets, allowing at least 25 mm (6.4 inches) of overlap.

Use a tube-type box to protect the handle.

Use strong tape to tie up both parts and wrap up with strong cardboard paper.

China, Crockery and Glassware

Wrap individual objects with sufficient cushioning material so you cannot feel the shape of the object through the wrapping. Items packed together in one container should be individually wrapped and separated with cushioning material. Pack in a strong, rigid outer carton of cardboard, wood or metal. To help prevent movement of the items during delivery, ensure all gaps are filled.

Toys and games

The manufacturer's packaging is often designed for marketing purposes and may not be appropriate to use for shipping. Use additional packaging according to the size, weight and fragility of the product.

Always use strong corrugated cardboard boxes, allowing enough space for cushioning material and avoid leaving empty spaces around the items.

Fishing Rods, Umbrellas, etc

Pack between two strong strips of wood or double wall cardboard slightly larger in length and width than the object. Wrap securely. Note: Ensure the parcel does not exceed the maximum length dimension for the service being used.

Below are our Guidelines of what Packaging Materials to Use (soon to all be available to purchase from our dedicated Packaging Supplies Area):

  • 1) Protective Bags - Use cushioned bags, such as padded and bubble bags to carry such things as diskettes, tapes, keys and small electronic parts. These bags provide good shock absorption performance. Waterproof and anti-static versions are also available.
  • 2) Boxes - The range of sizes and shapes, the different combinations of materials, and the number of accessories available to strengthen and secure them, make boxes the most suitable way to pack your shipments. If you are shipping wooden boxes, please ensure that the corners are correctly protected and check that the box is not splintered, as this can cause injuries to people handling the boxes. Wood containers are especially appropriate for shipping heavy items, usually palletised and ready to be machine-handled. Sometimes, heavy-duty double-layered cardboard is a suitable and cheaper alternative to wood.
  • 3) Edge Protection - Edge protectors are available in plastic and recycled cardboard. When using strapping, edge protectors prevent damage to your shipment by distributing the strapping pressure and tension uniformly across the box edge, preventing damage to the cardboard.
  • 4) Tubes - Please do not use round tube-type cylinders. Their tendency to roll makes them difficult to handle and they cannot pass through automated sorting equipment generally used in express courier facilities.
  • 5) Tapes for sealing - All packages must be sealed to prevent the contents from falling out. A good seal helps to strengthen your package; however, please be aware that any shipment may be opened for inspection by customs or security authorities while in transit within the myParcelDelivery.com Network. Always use strong tapes – myParcelDelivery.com recommends polypropylene or vinyl adhesive tape. Avoid the use of cellophane tape, which may be inexpensive but is usually fragile and only appropriate for office use. Other types of tape such as fibre-reinforced paper tapes may also be used.
  • 6) Strapping - When applied correctly, with the proper tension, strapping is an ideal way to strengthen your shipment. Loose strapping is useless and too tight strapping can damage the box, by cutting through it. Many types of strapping can be found on the market and will also be available from the myParcelDelivery.com Packaging Supplies Area that is coming soon!
  • 7) Wrapping Paper and Films - The use of wrapping paper around boxes or non-contained objects is only recommended for items like textile products, in order to prevent damage by dust. Remember to enclose the wrapped object in a box. Wrapping paper can also be used as a cushioning material by crumpling it and placing it in the interior of a box.
Please note that myParcelDelivery.com will accept no liability for the packaging advice it provides. The customer remains responsible for ensuring packaging is adequate for transportation. Moreover, by accepting a parcel, myParcelDelivery.com does not acknowledge the packaging is adequate or the contents are acceptable.

***COMING SOON – myParcelDelivery.com is in the process of setting up its own Packaging Supplies area where you can buy all the essential packaging materials and supplies you could ever need to help you send your parcel. Watch this space!***
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