subject: Secure Packing Of Parcels Is Vital As Traffic Rises Towards Festive Peak [print this page] It's a nightmare scenario that carefully-researched and purchased gift intended for someone close to you arrives at its destination having undergone a rough journey, and is damaged as a result.
Of course, most carriers will be covered by automatic insurance allowing them to offer some degree of compensation to people who have this happen to them. But in truth, in most cases, that recompense is small, and won't cover the full cost of replacing the gift that didn't make it.
Extra cover on top of the minimum provided by the delivery company is widely available, and it could be worth stopping for a moment before sending off those Christmas parcels, to consider whether this might be a worthwhile expense.
It is important to bear in mind, though, that any compensation will be limited to expenses relating to the damaged item itself. So, for example, it is not possible to claim for lost earnings as a result of having to go and buy a replacement and then post that.
Time limits also apply to when claims will be accepted, so it is best to act as soon as a case of damage arises. These can vary between carriers, but one of the biggest in the UK, Parcelforce, imposes a 30-day limit for notification of claims relating to items for delivery within the UK, its priority worldwide delivery service, and parcels to Ireland, while for global express parcels, the cut-off point is 15 days from the date of sending.
Many parcel delivery companies, and their agents, sell a range of protective materials which can be used to help securely wrap a package. Foam nuggets, bubble wrap, corrugated paper and padded envelopes are all widely available, and it is likely that these can be bought at a cheaper price from specialist packaging materials suppliers if large quantities are needed.
The best way to avoid the heartache and hassle of making a claim for a lost or damaged parcel is to wrap it securely in the first place. Nevertheless, every Christmas the media carries stories about items which have become casualties of the postage system due to being poorly wrapped, so it seems that many people just don't get the message, or take the attitude that 'it won't happen to my parcel'.
To avoid becoming one of these unfortunate people, be sure to use a reputable courier, but most importantly of all spend a little time making sure that a package is securely wrapped and clearly addressed, so that it can find its way through the 'rush hour' conditions at the sorting office.
