Some business owners might lose sleep at night when shipping high-value goods. This isn’t surprising, particularly when the business often covers the cost of damage, loss, and theft that could occur during transit. However, this is why you must work to ensure the safety of your products when they have been shipped.
Ensuring your items are safe and secure during the delivery process can be stressful, but this doesn’t mean you cannot simplify the process. Three practical tips have been shared in this post to protect your high-value products and give you a little peace of mind when they are dispatched.
Prioritize Robust Packaging
How an item is packaged can offer some protection, especially for products that are expensive or fragile. Packages can be bumped, dropped, or even tampered with during transit, so sufficient protection is required to prevent damage and loss. If this occurs, then you will often need to replace the item for the customer, and this can be a costly experience.
With this in mind, it is best to prioritize robust packaging materials that can minimize the risk of physical damage during shipping. This means selecting the right box, which should be of high-quality and ideally corrugated cardboard, and internal cushioning, like bubble wrap and packaging peanuts. If shipping multiple items, dividers and additional wrapping should be used to separate them.
All seams of the box should be sealed with strong packing tape, and this should be crossed in a grid pattern for added strength. It can also be worthwhile to use tamper-evident tape when sealing boxes. This tape will clearly show when a package has been opened, providing an extra layer of security.
Select a Reliable Courier
If your team does not handle deliveries, then you will need to be certain of the courier service you use. After all, you do not want to use a delivery service that has a history of losing parcels; this would not reflect positively on your business. You can ask others in your local area or industry what shipping companies are used and preferred to guarantee you choose correctly.
A professional courier will provide enhanced security when delivering packages, and this often includes real-time tracking through GPS systems. For example, Florida Couriers uses advanced GPS technology to provide real-time tracking updates as well as signature confirmation. This ensures that businesses and their customers, if the tracking information is shared, can follow the progress of packages until the delivery is completed.
Additionally, it could be useful to check the training the delivery drivers obtain when they are hired by a courier service. Drivers should be experienced in delivering all sorts of packages to ensure your orders are delivered safely and in good condition.
Consider Shipping Insurance
While a reliable courier should include shipping insurance, you will need to think about this if you handle deliveries in-house. Shipping insurance acts as a buffer for businesses, reimbursing for any financial losses when packages are damaged, lost, or even stolen during transit. This can offer businesses a confidence boost, allowing them to issue replacements to customers without worrying about the extra cost.
Like with any other insurance policy, it is vital to do your research if you want to purchase shipping insurance. The ideal policy will cover the full value of the item being shipped, so you must review the insurance terms and conditions thoroughly. Be aware of any exclusions or limitations before finalizing your decision.
To conclude, if you regularly ship expensive items, then you will need to keep them secure. This can help prevent you from having additional costs if products are damaged, lost, or stolen during transit. Thankfully, this post outlines three key tips to help you keep items secure.
