E-Commerce How-To: Packing and Shipping Orders

One of the most common reasons customers return their orders is because of a damaged item. No one likes waiting for their order only to receive it in a damaged or defective condition. In countries like Singapore, where the e-commerce industry is reaching an all-time high, professional outsource delivery services are continuously putting more effort into keeping packages safe as they are shipped from seller to buyer.

However, even if you choose the best courier to deliver your products, you can’t eliminate the bumps or drops that your packages will experience during transport. That said, it’s your responsibility to minimize or eliminate the damages to your items during shipping so that they reach customers in pristine condition.

To achieve that, here are some tips you need to follow:

1. Choose the right-sized box

It might make more sense to you to use a larger box when packing items to make more room for padding, but this can lead to the item moving around during shipping and possibly getting damaged. Not only that, but bigger boxes will incur more shipping costs that will be voided if the item is damaged anyway.

To make sure your product won’t move inside the box during transport, choose a box that is just the right size for the item (with at least two inches of space on each side).

2. Use proper padding

When shipping fragile items, bubble wrap is a must. Wrap your item in several layers of bubble wrap and then secure it with packaging tape. Then, add extra padding in the box with packing peanuts and newspaper to make sure that the item fits snugly and can resist impact.

For non-fragile items like those made from thick plastic or rubber, use a few layers of bubble wrap if there are parts that may get disassembled during shipping. Otherwise, use wrapping paper or peanuts. For soft items like clothes or plushies, wrap the item in plastic so the product won’t get wet.

3. Label your boxes

Write the words ‘Fragile’ or ‘Handle With Care’ on your boxes containing delicate items before shipping. Even though there’s no assurance that they won’t get dropped during transit, the customer won’t put all the blame on you if their order arrives damaged.

4. Look for a reputable delivery service

No matter what delivery service you use, there is still a chance of your items getting damaged in transit. However, you can minimize those chances by hiring only reputable couriers with excellent feedback. If the delivery company often gets negative feedback for damaged items in their care, move on and find a better one.

5. Get insurance

Female being in-charge to handle packages

Every e-commerce business needs insurance to cover them for items that are broken or lost during shipping, especially for products that are delicate and valuable. You don’t have to get insurance for every item that you ship, but for risky items that you’re shipping to faraway places, getting insurance is a smart move.

Packaging and shipping are major parts of running an e-commerce business. Therefore, to minimize the profit losses due to damaged items, every e-commerce company should take note of these useful tips.

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