How to Pack a Parcel to Send Abroad

Here’s how you can get your packaging right.

1. You’ll need to measure your item and ensure that you have the right size container for it. A cardboard box is usually ideal. Sometimes you’ll want something more substantial, like a flight case, or maybe a padded envelope inside a box or flight case will be required. Remember to allow for additional padding too when choosing the size of box.

2. If you regularly send and receive items from abroad, perhaps from your suppliers or customers, or other branches of your company, then you’ll want to make sure that you have plenty of suitable boxes so that you don’t risk damaging the items you’re sending. Cereal boxes can be used as part of the packaging, but ideally you’ll still need a sturdy box.

3. There’s a reason that flight cases are so called, and they’re popular for a reason. No matter whether you’re sending a guitar, a record collection, or product samples, you’ll be able to find a flight case that fits. Spending a bit of money on a flight case will be worth it, especially if the contents is valuable or fragile.

4. Padding is important, and when you consider that your parcel is going to be in a van, lorry, and in the hold of a plane, you’ll need to make sure that whatever you’re sending is well protected from any damage caused by travel and transport. Whilst you don’t expect any damage, you’ll be annoyed if your cargo is damaged due to poor packaging, or because you skimped on proper boxes.

5. Those people purchasing new items will expect the original packaging, however those purchasing in online auctions will sometimes be more understanding about wanting the original packaging. Retail packaging might add additional weight to the parcel, without offering substantial protection. You’ll either need to advise the buyer that they can have the item in its original packaging but it might cost more to send, and there could be a delay whilst you repack your parcel, or that you’ll send it without the original packaging.

6. Strapping an be used for larger parcels. You’ll want to make sure that seams and corners are well protected on lager parcels too. As your item is travelling abroad, you’ll want to make sure that it’s as well protected as possible.

7. Remembering to put your item in the middle of your box will help to ensure that it is at less risk of being damaged. Putting padding material all around it, will help to cushion and bumps the box may have on it’s journey.

8. Sending liquids presents it’s own challenge. You’ll need to make sure that the container the liquid is in is well sealed so that the liquid can’t escape from the lid, or the dispenser. Then the bottle will need to be placed carefully in a well padded box. Remember that other parcels could be damaged by your liquid if the item is not well packed.

9. As your parcel is going abroad, it’s a good idea to make sure that it’s well labelled in the language of the destination country. Just because you write that it’s fragile in English, doesn’t mean that those handling your package in other countries will understand and comply.

10. Remember to make a note of the tracking number, and give it to the recipient, so that they can track the parcel too. You’ll want to know when it has arrived, and so will they.

Now you know how to pack a parcel properly, what will you send abroad?

Source by M James

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