A Broken Gift Isn’t on Anyone’s Holiday Wish List!
During the holiday season FedEx Office® sees a huge increase in the volume of packages that come through our centers. We love helping people make sure those special gifts arrive in perfect condition. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of dos and don’ts for everyone planning to ship a gift this holiday season.
DO bring in your shipments early. You can save money by using our cost-effective FedEx Ground® services to get your packages there if you have a few days to spare. For you last minute shoppers, FedEx Express® services are also available to get gifts there a little quicker.
DO make sure your box is new or otherwise suitable for shipping. It must be corrugated and free of holes and dents. If a package breaks open on the conveyer belt during shipment it can become a big problem – and may even delay your gift’s delivery. The experts at FedEx Office can help you determine if your box is strong enough to survive the journey. We also have a wide range of options available if your box’s shipping life has expired.
DON’T wrap your packages in brown Kraft paper. The paper can tear off and get caught in the sorting machines – and if that happens the package’s delivery information would be lost. You can ship wrapped gifts, but they will need to be placed inside a regular shipping box.
DO make sure your package does not shake or rattle once you’ve packed it all up. For the most secure package, you don’t want the contents to shift inside the box at all. If they do, that means there is room for another large or heavy box to puncture your package. Place your items in the center of the box – not pushing against the edges – and put 1” of filler materials (paper, bubble wrap, etc.) on all sides. If you have questions, the shipping experts at FedEx Office can examine your package and determine if your packaging is sufficient. FedEx Office locations even have filler materials available for purchase if you need a little extra padding.
DON’T assume a box from a retail store is sufficient for shipping. When you buy items, such as electronics, they are packaged for pallet shipping, not individual shipping. FedEx Office offers a wide range of packing services for odd shaped items and even special items such as phones and laptops. Keep in mind your package will be on conveyor belt with other packages and we want to keep it as safe and secure as possible!
DO make sure fragile items are packed properly. Around the holidays people bring in gifts wrapped in beautiful wrapping paper, but sometimes if the item is fragile we may have to unwrap it to pack it properly to avoid damage. The best idea is to bring in your wrapping paper, have the FedEx Office experts box your gift securely, then you can wrap it in wrapping paper and we’ll package the wrapped gift in an appropriate box.
DON’T use anything but packing tape to seal your packages (no duct tape please!). FedEx Office recommends that each box is H-taped, which means each seam of the box is taped completely to keep out the winter weather. If you do not have packing tape at home FedEx Office can provide this to you.
This list is not meant to be all inclusive, but will give you some insight to common questions we get, especially around this time of year. We want to make sure each package arrives on time and safely this holiday season. If you have any questions visit our “How to Pack” tips site, call 1-800-GO-FEDEX 1-800-463-3339, or contact your nearest FedEx Office location.
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