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« on: March 12, 2013, 08:35:21 PM »
Alright guys, after coming home to see a package on the stoop and being all excited to open it up, I was greeted with yet another batch of damaged goods. Once again, this could have been completely avoided by the goods being packaged properly. It seems as many sellers and traders don't understand how exactly to properly package items to prevent damage. Now, I'm not an expert, but I go the extra mile to really package my items well and have been told by many of my trading partners and buyers that I am one of the best packagers they have ever come across. So, I thought I'd start a thread and we can all put in our collaborative ideas as to how to best package items to prevent disappointment by the receiving party. From my experience, I break down my packaging method into 5 steps:
1) Use a sturdy box- I usually send items in USPS flat rate boxes, and I strengthen then with plenty of packaging tape before sending them out. Do NOT use flimsy boxes- this is absolutely asking for your package to be damaged in transit.
2) WRAP THE ITEMS- The biggest gripe I have with the majority of people I deal with is they do not wrap the items sufficiently or even worse, at all. Every single item you are sending should be at the very least wrapped in paper, but bubble wrap is really the best choice. This includes brick boxes- brick boxes are made of flimsy paper that can easily be damaged themselves if not wrapped, thus resulting in the decks inside being damaged. Don't assume that a brick box is never going to be damaged. I always always ALWAYS bubble wrap every single item I mail off- no exceptions. I expect the same from everyone I deal with, but am often disappointed to see terrible packaging once I open a box.
3) Line the box- After the items are properly wrapped, find the right box the ship the items in, and proceed to line the bottom and sides of the box with bubble wrap, paper, or some other suitable material. It gives the items a buffer between the walls of the box and can negate some damage from sliding or moving around.
4) Fill the box- When you've sufficiently wrapped the items, place them in the box (already lined with bubble wrap or paper) in an alignment so that they don't have the potential to damage each other, and then fill the box with newspaper or whatever you have by. This will prevent the items from sliding around in the box during transit, and once again, is another way to keep the items safe.
5) Reinforce the box- Before you send the box off, tape over every opening on the box, as well as any flaps (especially on USPS Flat Rate Small boxes), and the sides of the box. This gives the box extra sturdiness and will keep it rigid during shipping.
Naturally, it is possible that even if all of these steps are followed, items may still be damaged in transit- especially the further your package travels. However, if we all use proper packaging etiquette, I think the chances of that happening are next to nil. If anyone has anything to add, please don't hesitate. It may seem simple enough how to put a package together well, but it clearly isn't. Let's all start packaging our stuff better- it'll only have a positive effect in the long run.
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