Sending fragile items can be a daunting prospect at the best of times, but posting anything made of glass can be particularly nerve-wracking, especially if you’re running an e-commerce business. By following these tips you should greatly reduce the chance of your parcel arriving at its destination in tiny little shards.
The right box
The ideal box will be large enough to adequately fit your item with an inch or two space around it to pack with padding. Double boxing (placing that box in another box with more padding) is a great way to further protect contents, but could increase the cost of postage.
The correct padding
Bubble wrap is widely used for its shock absorbing qualities, but failing that scrunched up newspaper, or bits of polystyrene, are much better than nothing. Make sure that there is enough padding in the box for the contents to sit comfortably without moving or rattling about. Put some padding in before your fragile item to ensure that there is adequate padding on the bottom of the box.
Labelling
If you do not have “fragile” tape to wrap your parcel in, writing it in large letters along with the word “glass” with a marker pen should have the same effect. A brightly coloured ink, such as red, will help it stand out.
Insurance
If what you are sending is of a high value, or headed to a particularly important client, it is usually worth looking into the cost of insuring the package. This will cover it not just against potential loss but any damage sustained in transit.
Alcohol
It is quite customary to send a bottle or two to friends and clients, but it is important to be aware of the law to avoid it being confiscated. Although in the U.K anything containing under 24% volume alcohol is quite straightforward to send, any bottles with a higher alcohol content must be in a sealed, leak-proof bag in bottles of no more than one litre and with no more than two bottles in any one parcel. Any liquid with a higher than 24% alcohol content is not permitted to be sent internationally. If in any doubt, always check with your handler.