Whether it’s a crystal vase, a great gaming computer, or a one of a kind piece of art, you need to take extra steps when shipping fragile items. We talked to the experts at Boston’s best shipping service for tips for shipping fragile items. Here’s what they had to say:
Shipping Fragile Items Tip #1: Use the Best Boxes Possible
Shipping boxes protect your fragile items from all of the horrible things that can happen while a package is being shipped. You want a strong new cardboard shipping box that has never been used before. There are many types of cardboard box. Heavy duty shipping boxes are made of corrugated cardboard, and are strong enough to resist heavy objects being stacked on top of them. Say no thank you to recycling a used box: they’re not as durable and can collapse during shipping. When that happens, your fragile item can be damaged or destroyed.
Shipping Fragile Items Tip #2: Use the Right Size Shipping Box
The right size cardboard shipping box is just large enough to contain your item (and the box it is in, if you’re double-boxing) as well as an adequate but not excessive amount of packing material. When a shipping box is too large, it allows the fragile item to move inside of it. This can happen because the truck or plane the package is travelling in hits a bump or experiences turbulence. When fragile items move freely within a box that’s too large, damage is almost always guaranteed.
Shipping Fragile Items Tip #3: Choose Superior Packing Material
Packing material keeps fragile items from moving inside the box during transport. It’s also there to cushion the item from the knocks, shocks, and drops that are an everyday part of the shipping process. There are many different types of packing materials. These include foam, peanuts, air bags and other options. When you’re talking about fragile items, it makes sense to choose packing materials that offer the maximum amount of containment and cushioning.
Shipping Fragile Items Tip #2: Wooden Shipping Crates Are Also An Option
For high value fragile items, including grandfather clocks, manufacturing equipment, computers and high-tech items, and artwork, wooden shipping crates are the gold standard. The best wooden shipping crates are custom built to provide maximum protection for your items.