Whether some of your loved ones now live abroad or someone you know is traveling the world, being clued up on international parcels is always a good idea.
From birthday presents to ‘we’re really missing you’ gifts, there are many occasions when you might want to ship something to them.
Thankfully, with so many couriers now operating all over the world this couldn’t be easier. And to help you make sure your gifts get from A to B safely, we’ve come up with these top tips:
1. Package Your Parcel with the Utmost Precision
First, if you’re parcel’s going to get there in one piece, it needs packaging carefully. From being thrown on and off a plane to bumping along a conveyer belt, it’s going to face many different bumps and knocks along the way.
Start by finding the perfect box for your gift – one that’s big enough so you can wrap it in bubble wrap inside but one doesn’t give the item room to move around during transit.
You should also check whether the courier has any particular packaging stipulations. Some may only accept cardboard boxes that aren’t shrink-wrapped, for example.
2. Protect Your Item Inside, Too
While it’s imperative to wrap your parcel well, it’s also crucial you pad it as much as possible inside. Items you can find around your home work really well, including newspaper, bubble wrap and even old t-shirts and jumpers. All of these will help add those much-needed layers of padding.
3. Consider the Size and Weight of the Item
It’s a good idea to pack your item before you book your courier so you know exactly how big it is and how much it weighs. Limits tend to restrict parcels over 1.2m and 30kg tends to be the maximum weight (for standard international deliveries).
4. Insure Your Parcel
Despite all the efforts you’ve gone to to make sure your parcel is bump and drop proof, there are still no guarantees it won’t be damaged en-route. That’s why, if your gift has any value (even if it’s only sentimental), it could be worth paying a little extra for insurance.
For example, companies like Whistl often offer insured or non-insured options with the latter being cheaper but the former being necessary for higher-value items.
5. Add Your Return Address
After double- and triple-checking the address you’re sending the item too, it’s a good idea to write a return address on the box too. This will hopefully make sure the item comes back to you if there are any problems with delivering it.
Armed with all of the above, you’ll soon be posting gifts all over the world with ease.
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