8 tips for shipping packages

Know your needs

Although it seems strange, many of the problems when it comes to sending packages comes from not really knowing our needs. How much merchandise do we need to send? In how much time? Could it be enough quantity and in a sufficiently reduced time to be able to group it and send a pallet more economically?

It is also important to know how fast we need to send it. Transportation companies know that materials are often delivered using express service but that ultimately they were not in such a hurry. And delivering ahead of time not only supposes an additional extra cost, but it can even lead to inconveniences for the recipient: excess merchandise at their facilities, annoyance for having to travel to receive it, etc.

Similarly, not being aware of the urgency of a shipment can get us in trouble if we don't choose a fast enough option.

Convenience points

The development of ecommerce has also led to an evolution in the way of making deliveries. Individuals have less availability than companies and if you are going to send to these types of recipients, it will be convenient for you to find out what alternatives you have at your disposal. Among the most common, and that we offer in our parcel services, are convenience points. That is to say, public establishments -generally shops- close to the residence of the recipient, where logistics companies leave shipments for buyers to pick them up when it suits them best.

Where do you have to send?

This point links to the first and points out that you must define your needs. If you are going to make international shipments, make sure that you have a transport provider that will give you good service. You can even go further and not only think about what you do international shipments in general, but also find the best solution for your country or key countries.

Also keep in mind that the price will increase when leaving your borders. You would not be the first company -or the first individual- that does not take it sufficiently into account in its e-commerce when it comes to controlling its margins.

Learn to cube

When faced with a fee, keep in mind that weight is usually not the only way to value your shipments. Maybe the term cubing sounds familiar to you, which is the tool used to price those shipments in which the physical volume of the shipment is high but its weight is low.

The way to calculate it is to multiply the height, width and length of the package measured in meters. The number that gives you as a result has to be multiplied by the cubic capacity of your provider. That is, by the kilos of weight that your supplier assigns to each cubic meter of merchandise. For example, a shipment of a 100cm x 50cm x 100cm box, with a supplier that cubes 200kg / m3 would be: 1 x 0.5 x 1 x 200 = 100 kilos. Those 100 kilos will be the weight scale that your provider will surely apply to you.

Knowing this simple rule can save you trouble and price scares.

Make sure you have good packaging

In terms of packaging, being superficial is a positive aspect, because the exterior matters a lot. If you are a company, when designing your packaging do so taking transport into account. This does not mean that your packaging stops being striking, elegant or any other adjective with which you want to relate to your brand. It only means that you must bear in mind that this object has to be transported to its destination and that, for your sake, it needs to do so in the best conditions. For example, set the dimensions to optimize your pallets or the shelves in your warehouses to the maximum.

In addition, the parcel has logistical processes in which it suffers more than when the merchandise is palletized. Saving a few cents on the quality of your boxes can end up being much more expensive in the long run. And you don't have to be a large multinational to test in your own meat how much shipping things without packing them can affect you.

Do not limit yourself to understanding by packaging the box in which your merchandise goes. Using materials inside the box so that the merchandise is protected - bubble wrap or foam for packaging - and signaling that your merchandise is fragile or not removable can be a great solution. In addition to being resistant, it uses lightweight materials, since they will keep the cost of shipping under control.

Get safe

By default, transport companies work with mandatory insurance to cover possible accidents that may occur. However, when sending packages, we may need to transport more expensive objects, which exceed the basic insurance indemnities.

Check what additional options your transport provider offers you when it comes to insuring your merchandise and do not take unnecessary risks.

Know your limits

The dimensions of your merchandise may be very standardized or may change a lot according to each shipment. In any case, do research to find out what sizes and maximum weights each logistics company allows when sending packages. Although the differences are not usually great, they can be vital for your business or for a specific shipment.

Choose provider

Once you have defined your needs, those of your client and the best way to pack and prepare your order so that it arrives perfectly, you lack a fundamental step: finding a reliable logistics provider that adapts to what you require. All people who have had a bad experience with the delivery of a product know that this bad image is immediately transferred to the brand that sells the product to us, even if they are not the ones who deliver the package.

We need to be as demanding with the quality of our products as with the quality of our transport company. In other words, we need a company that we feel is going to respond and that is going to treat our clients as we would. If you are interested in our courier services, don’t hesitate to contact us!