If you are sending any parcels this festive season then it is vital you know how to ensure your gifts will arrive safely and in one piece
. Some points may seem a little obvious but it is surprising how many people fail to pay attention to detail and end up in a frustrating situation of either not successfully delivering goods or goods arriving damaged right before Christmas.
Firstly it is a good idea to send your parcels via a courier rather than the Post Office. This is because a courier service gives you far greater options for shipment protection, delivery areas and rates, tracing your delivery and arranging a rapid delivery if you have left things to the last minute!
It is important that you choose a courier that specialises in home deliveries. There are a great many couriers offering a range of services with some couriers specialising in handling large freight or palletised deliveries, others specialising in commercial deliveries, deliveries abroad and many specialising in home deliveries. Presumably your parcel will be below the size and weight of a freight delivery, unless you are sending a particularly large and exciting gift! This typically applies to any parcels that are greater than 1m3 in size and weigh over 30Kg. As long as your parcel is below these dimensions then you will have no problem finding a suitable home delivery service online.
Once you have booked your collection you will need to pack your gifts carefully so that they do not become damaged in transit. It is also a good idea to check the level of protection offered by the couriers shipment insurance. This will cover any goods that are damaged or lost during the delivery process but it will not cover a parcel that has been poorly packaged.
When packing your items make sure that you use plenty of protective layers like thick card and bubble wrap. Old cloths and fabric are great for wrapping fragile items too. Pack the box so that no item is loose and free to move around and always pack sharp objects in the centre of the box so that they cannot pierce the sides and potentially cause injury. Label the box clearly with a delivery name and address and a sender name and address. If you are sending more than one parcel to a single address you should label each box like this in case one becomes separated. If possible, include a delivery note too so that the recipient knows whether anything is missing.