5 Savvy Tips For Stress Free Holiday Shipping
The boxes. The bubble wrap. The packing peanuts. The uncooperative roll of tape. Shipping gifts during the holidays can be a colossal pain in the neck-not to mention a pain in the pocketbook.
Are there tricks for sending the fruitcake to your Aunt Louise, the LEGO set to little Jimmy, the books to Uncle John, and the heavy cookware to Mom? You bet there are!
Ship your gifts using a reliable shipping company. Keep a receipt and detailed information on each package you send. This information is crucial if your package arrives late, damaged, or with missing items.
Take into account the size and weight of an item when you are deciding what to purchase. A gift card for the turkey roaster your mother wants is just as thoughtful as the roaster itself, and it doesn't cost a small fortune to ship.
Consider having gifts delivered straight to the recipient when shopping online or via a catalog. Most sites and catalogs will gift wrap and include a card and a gift receipt. Free shipping offers abound throughout the first half of December.
The following tips will help you ship holiday packages safely and inexpensively, depending on your needs.
1. Choose the right box
� Never reuse old boxes: They lose half of their strength after being used, and can collapse in shipping.
� Allow for adequate cushioning and packing material. A good rule of thumb is to allow three inches on all sides of the items being packed, including the top and bottom.
2. Provide protection
� Use Styrofoam peanuts or Bubble Wrap to keep gifts well protected. Newspaper and popcorn flatten to easily and are susceptible to moisture and pests.
� Wrap individual items with double cushioning if necessary.
� Place items, with room between them, in the center of the box, and fill the remaining space with packing material.
3. Label it twice
� Using a water-resistant market, affix a clear, detailed label with the sender's and recipient's addresses on both the outside of the box and the inside. That way, if the outside label gets wet or falls off, the address is still safe inside.
� Place the delivery label on top of the package and avoid placing it on a seam.
� If you're sending more than one gift per box, tape a note inside letting the recipient know how many items there are so small gifts won't get tossed with the peanuts.
� When necessary, include special labels indicating a "Rush" delivery or a "Fragile" package.
4. Close box securely
� Make sure to use strong tape that is Postal Service-approved. Duct and masking tape don't adhere well to cardboard.
� Seal all flaps with tape that is at least two inches wide and be sure to tape across the length of the box, and seal the end seams.
� If extra reinforcement is necessary, wrap strapping tape around the girth of the package a few times.
� Do not use string or wrap packages with paper. These can get caught in conveyor belts or ripped in handling.
5. Pack with care
� Protect gifts with at least three inches of packing material on all sides.
� Remove all batteries and tape them to the outside of the wrapped gift. If your battery operated toy shakes or laughs, security is more likely to open the box.
� If you're sending jewelry, pack the tiny box in a larger one. A bigger box reduces the chance of loss, damage, or theft and camouflages the gift.
� For more fragile gifts such as a crystal vase, surround the item with two inches of Bubble Wrap in one box. Then place that box in a larger one, surrounded by two more inches of packing material.
� Place fresh-baked cookies in a cylindrical can (like a coffee can) to avoid breakage. If there's extra space in the can, seal cookies in plastic wrap and toss in a bit of Bubble Wrap to fill gaps.
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To generate a never-ending stream of referrals where she does all the work and you pick up the business, visit her site http://www.communitybasedmarketing.com. Please follow her on Twitter http://twitter.com/MardiLoFaso
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