Packaging Guidelines and Tips

Parcel Monkey is happy to help you find a reliable courier for all your cross-border shipping needs, however, it is down to the sender to prepare the package before it is shipped.

This is a vital part of the process of shipping either domestically or internationally, as couriers use vast networks and your package will be in transit with thousands of others going through airports, depots and warehouses.

If you follow our packaging advice closely, it will provide you with a guide to follow to make sure there will be no issues.

Once you have packaged your items, choose a reliable courier service to ship with. 

Here are some quick tips to help ensure that your items arrive in perfect condition:

• Wrap each item in the box individually as this will offer better protection of the items whilst in transit. 
• Consider using polystyrene, bubble wrap, and foam wrapping for internal packaging to prevent movement in the box
• Use strong tape around edges of boxes and packets to prevent damage.
• Use heavy duty/corrugated cardboard boxes for shipping, ideally new ones. Double box the item you are shipping, place one box inside the other. 
• Ensure that the shipping labels address details cannot be smudged or liable to water damage and customs documents are securely fastened.
• Remember it is the sender's responsibility to reduce the chance of damage in transit, courier networks are huge carrying masses of parcels so be sure to pack it as best you can to reduce the risk of any issues.
• Don't think that just because your parcel is being sent next day or same day that you don't need any extra packaging. An extra few minutes wrapping and securing your item can save an hour or more sorting out a claim with the protection cover policy that often comes with a delivery order.
• A comprehensive Parcel Monkey packaging guideline list can be found here.
• An important recent issue that has come up has been customers using old boxes, with old labels and stickers on. Of course, this is no problem as long as the box is still sturdy and not damaged but what can cause the courier's confusion is when in some instances dangerous goods labels are left on boxes, meaning the goods are held or can be sent back. Likewise, old address labels or customs documents may mislead drivers or people handling the parcel.
• Please remove any old documentation, labels or stickers on a reused box to avoid an unwanted headache with your parcel/package delivery. 

Once your package has been prepared it is then time to weigh it. Do not weigh the contents before you package it as by the time you have packed it the box will be bigger and could be heavier too. The couriers use dimensional weight to work out the cost of shipping, so this is built into our shipping calculator but it does rely on the sender providing the correct package details.

If you want to learn more about how to then send your package we have some useful shipping advice.