We recently had a customer come to us for the first time, after she’d had a bad experience trying to ship some household items on her own. Some things she really cared about – a collectible tea pot, and a lamp that had been her Mother’s – had been badly damaged. “I just don’t understand what happened,” she told us. “I’d written “Fragile” on the box in big red letters!”
An Atlanta, GA newschannel recently did an investigation on whether or not labelling your packages “Fragile” actually protects them during the shipping process. The results were pretty much what you might expect – freight carriers like UPS, FedEx and the Post Office say that all packages are treated carefully throughout the shipping process, but that it’s the way items are packed within the shipping box – not the labels on it! – that determine how well items travel to their destination.
Pack & Ship: Expertise Matters
There are many different types of fragile items. Antique furniture is fragile, but so are glassware, dishes, and collectible items. Electronics are fragile, musical instruments are fragile, artwork can be extremely fragile. There’s no one-size-fits-all packing solution that will protect all of these different items.
Over the years, the packing and shipping industry has developed numerous best practices for the various fragile items that are shipped. In some cases, custom crating is required; more often, double-walled shipping boxes fitted with protective cushioning as needed are used. The best Massachusetts pack and ship companies have the extensive expertise required to know how to pack every type of fragile item appropriately.
Shipping Insurance for Fragile Items
An important but seldom discussed aspect of shipping fragile items is insurance. Every freight carrier offers its own form of insurance, which pays out if your item is lost, damaged, or destroyed while it’s in transit.
Your Massachusetts pack and ship company can advise you on what the different coverage options are, what they cover, how much they cost, and how to ensure that your shipment is adequately protected. Having an experienced professional help you complete the coverage forms makes it easier to ensure that all of your interests are protected in the event you do need to file a claim.