Proper Packing for Safe Shipping: Positive Feedback

I frequently get positive feedback on great packing for safe arrival. I ship quickly but give each package the care I would expect for myself . Of course we are only human, and you can't win them all - just nearly every one of them! I mostly ship very fragile items, but this guide is for every one. Customize it to what you sell.
First let me tell you about some pet peaves. Have you ever gotten an item so tightly wrapped, it was squeezed to death and shattered or leaked? How about covered with so much tape you have to use scissors and risk scratching, knocking off rhinestones, cutting the fabric, or otherwise damaging your purchase. What about mutiple pieces of jewelry shoved into one box loose and arriving tangled, with scratched and missing stones, de-valuing it all? Clothes overly stuffed in a small pouchare so wrinkled you have to get it drycleaned. Got the idea? I could go on and on, but I'm sure you have shared these experiences.
My first regemendation is to invest in shipping supplies offered right here on okay. Project professionalism. Your particular needs depend on what you sell. You should invest $25 on shipping scales. Bathroom scales are unreliable and guesstimating on the heavy side is not fair business practices. Also require insurance on fragile or costly items. Regemend or make insurance optional on other items. Include a disclaimer, " insurance available: not responsible for loss or damage once it leaves here". How would you like buying an item with insurance not offered and poorly packed, arriving broken and of course, all sales are final! Beware! Offer better Customer Service.
First get your free okay/USPS boxes and envelopes for Priority mail and Express Mail and don't forget flat fee boxes you can prepay order from usps website. You can order additional sizes of boxes and tyvek envelopes on the post office usps website. Get the priority mail stickers to use on awkward shape and size boxes that are shipping Priority or Express Mail. Place a sticker on all 6 surfaces so there is no confusion.
It is also a great idea to read the USPS shipping guidelines for domestic and international mail. Pay attention to girth and weight and how it affects your options. Make yourself aware of customs regulations for countries you want to ship to. Adding International sales boosts your business. Be aware of customs regulations. Make your Buyer aware that you have no control over the time it takes to get through customs. It is worth the time to add International Buyers! Order free PS Form 2976-E through okay or the post office. Paypal shipping manager will print the proper Customs forms that go inside this free clear pocket. The postman will pick it up from you and you don't have to go to the Post Office. This saves time and money.Mail pickupis a free service.
For supplies, order medium and large bubblewrap. There is very little protection from little bubbles unless you buy the highest quality which is stiffer and hard to pop. These are usually available in the office supply store. Then use these on small items or inside jewelry boxes for extra cushioning.Always wrap with bubbles against the item! Then use masking tape on the smooth surface to secure it.

Next buy foam peanuts, figure eights are soft and allow much movement. They have their use but not for heavy items. The peanut, E or 3 shapes are firmer and better for safe shipping. Don't allow contact between items. Form little nests. Allow slight movementotherwiseone or two drops ortosses at the distribution center, will impact the fragile item. Use your judgement to cushion and let it slightly give to resist breaking.

Shredded newspaper or whole paper, weighs more costing you and your Buyer more. One use for stiffpaper is to pack between fragile bubble wrapped items so they cannot make contact with eachother, peanuts or styrofoamdo the same. A significant shift of weightcan break one or more items. Another use for brown craft or shipping paper is to cover a box for one service, making it generic to use for First Class or Parcel Post, etc.

Usesheets of styrofoam. It is sold on okay in shipping supplies. Your home store sells it for insulation. It is so cheap. I use it to insulate glass. Glass has a tendency to crack with temperature changes. In fact warn your buyer to open after it has reached room temperature. The best solution I recieved from a very smart Seller was a delicate Fenton Vase that was packed in a thick wall foam cooler tightly sealed! He did not charge a lot either. I'll be a repeat customer.
Also use sheets of styrofoam cut to form dividers and to line the top, bottom and sides of box with multiple glass items or a single fragile item. You can even build a foam cooler but pack these in boxes as they are not to sturdy. Strapping tape works best. Or go to your local craft store to buy tape made especially for styrofoam. Also invest a few dollars for that tape that says Fragile. The package may be treated more carefully. And your Buyer will know you are doing your best to take care of their purchase. Also they will know to open with care.

Now, as a Seller, you have an obligation to your buyer to ship properly to have their purchase arrive safely. You will reap the rewardswith positive feedback, earning a good reputation, and getting loyal repeat customers! And best of all, you can take pride in your professionalism. But beware your labor is good business and not gepensable in S