How to Ship Fragile Items Safely in 2022?

Fragile items are hard to ship. Until and unless you hear the news of them getting to their destination with all the parts intact, you just cannot relax! Items have to get past challenging routes and bumps on their transit. It is only natural to have apprehensions. 

This anxiety lingers probably because you are unsure how to pack and ship your goods safely. 

If you are a merchant dealing with these goods, don’t worry. We will get you covered in this article. We will take about important tips and precautions so that your goods can have a safe expedition and you can remain stress-free.

Let’s get started!

What are fragile items? 

We have been discussing fragile items for a while now, but what are they exactly? 

Goods that are delicate and are prone to the risk of damage are known as fragile items. Like a newborn baby in your family, fragile items also require some extra care and protection while handling. 

Once you ship the items, you never know whose hands they get in, how many mean road bumps they encounter. So we have to be very careful and take extra precautions while shipping fragile items.

If you are still confused about which goods constitute fragile items, here is a list for you: 

• Glass items
• Crockery
• Electronics
• Marbles and tiles
• Antiques
• Laboratory items

You must have gotten the idea now.  If you deal in any goods that are prone to damage and breakage, they are fragile items. 

6 Tips on Shipping Fragile Items that eCommerce Stores must Know

Fragile items are delicate and require extra attention during packing and shipping. Here are some tips for you to ensure the item’s safety and your peace of mind-

1. The box size matters. Choose it wisely 

Much of the safety of the fragile pack will depend on the size of the box. A box too large will give a lot of space for the items to move and bump into each other. This can cause damage. 

A box that closely fits is also not suitable for a safe expedition. Use a box that is slightly larger than the goods. Why? To put safety cushions and dunnage around to keep them intact. 

2. Wrap them with safety

Choosing the correct size box is not enough. We have to care for the items individually. Ensure that you wrap the items in bubble wraps or pads to restrict the damage.  Use multiple layers if needed and secure them with tape. This shall keep your items safe.

3. Prep the interior of the box with padding

We have to go all the way to ensure that the items are comfortably tucked inside. So what if it needs a little extra padding?. Start with the bottom by placing foams or other comforting materials inside the box. 

Put in fillers or dunnage inside the boxes to prevent them from moving. Use extra bubble wraps if required. The primary goal here is to keep them intact to survive harsh movements while in transit.

4. Pack the items individually

If you are shipping your items in a set, make sure to pack them individually. For example, if you are shipping crockery goods, put foam or cushions between the items so that they don’t clash with each other. The same goes for electronics and other items that come in parts. You want to make sure that you dismantle each part carefully and place cushions around them.

5. Put fragile labels on your boxes

Putting fragile labels on your boxes will alert the handlers to be extra careful while loading and unloading your fragile packs. This cannot save your boxes 100% from any mishaps, but it can reduce and prevent accidents from happening if people are extra careful around your goods. You can either put labels or write with a marker visibly.

6. Use good quality materials and sturdy boxes

Invest in good quality materials so that you don’t have to bear unimaginable losses. Inferior packing materials can enhance the risk of damage to your goods. This will cost you your peace of mind. 

So ensure that your materials are high quality that has damaged proof properties. Taking precautions is not enough if your materials cannot provide sufficient protection. Always use sturdy and firm boxes while packing.

5 Precautions to Keep in Mind while Shipping Fragile Items

Prevention is better than cure, and to prevent it you have to take necessary precautions. Shipping a fragile pack is not easy. It is not a bag of cushions you throw on the counter and forget. It requires careful preparations and precautions to prevent it from any form of damage. Let’s have a look at some important points you should keep in mind while shipping fragile items-

1. Secure not suffocate

While discussing the safe packing measures, we talked about how important it is to restrict the movement of the items to prevent damage. But you want to make sure that the items are secure and intact, not suppressed and suffocated. 

While packing, ensure that the items are not too tightly packed as the pressure may cause them to break. Instead, wrap them politely, giving them the room to breathe. Yes, just like a baby. 

2. Prepare them for the elements of nature

When items are shipped to their destination, you don’t know what circumstances they encounter on the road. Apart from their fragile nature, there is an added risk from the elements of nature. Snow, rain, sunlight can damage your goods before you know. So, you must always prepare your fragile pack to face nature with pride.

Weatherproof use materials. Wrap them in high-quality material, so that no sun or snow can destroy them. Avoid boxes that have no waterproof properties. Use a plastic bag or shrink wrap for the outer cover.

3. Tape it well

After wrapping, secure it well with tape. Tapes are essential to ensure no openings in your fragile pack. Don’t be stingy with its use. After all, the tape is the final protection seal of your goods. One skimpy mistake can cost you a lot!

4. Use an impact sensor

Using impact sensor devices will let you know of any unwanted vibrations or tilts that can risk your fragile pack. If you are shipping expensive items, use an impact sensor. This will encourage the handlers to be more careful and keep you well aware of the condition of the goods. It is an excellent way to monitor your high value or critical assets.

5. Sign the insurance documents

If you don’t opt for shipping insurance after going through all the pain to ensure the safety of your fragile pack, what is the point? Insurance is like the final blanket of safety for your goods. You insure, you get peace of mind and remain stress-free. 

All the reliable and reputed shipping couriers services like USPS or FedEx offer shipping insurance. The amount of the insurance cover will depend on the value of your goods. You can take all the care and precautions, but you can never predict a mishap. What are a few extra bucks if it can give you your peace of mind? 

Ship Fragile Items with ShippingChimp 

Shipping fragile items requires extra care and responsibility. There are a lot of things to keep in mind, starting from packaging, adding fragile levels and so on. To simplify the delivery of fragile shipping items, use ShippingChimp. 

This shipping platform helps you throughout the shipping process and offers extensive guidelines when it comes to shipping nationally or internationally. There is a dedicated rate calculator that you can use to estimate your shipping charges for a particular shipment. 

To know more, start your free trial now! 

Final Words 

Shipping goods with safety is a stressful state of affairs. But if you take all the necessary safety measures and precautions, you can reduce the risk of damage to a vast extent. No one can predict unfortunate events, but the best we can do is be prepared for them. 

It will not only secure your goods but will save you from added stress or worry. Shipping fragile items require a lot of preparation and good judgement. We tried to cover all the aspects to ensure that your fragile pack reaches its destination in the fittest and healthiest shape. Hope it helped!