Holiday Gift Shipping Tips from a Pro

Guest blogger Cordell Golden has more than 18 years of experience working for FedEx. He spends his days during the busy holiday season assisting customers with their shipping challenges and sharing his tips on perfect packing & shipping techniques.

I’ve done a lot of packing and shipping in the time I’ve been with FedEx. And call me biased, but I think it’s one of the things we do best! I’ve seen it all, too. From toys and care packages to fragile and oddly shaped items…you name it, we’ve probably packed and shipped it. This holiday season, I’m sharing some of my best packing tips with you, our readers. I’ll let you in on some of the tips and tricks from the pros so you can make sure your holiday packages arrive intact and on time.

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• Select your packing materials carefully. We prefer that you pack the gift in the package that it came in. Usually, manufacturers have securely cushioned everything in the packaging and oftentimes the item is not yet assembled, so there is less chance of movement inside the box you use.  If this is not an option, use other materials to cushion the item and keep it from rattling around in a box. A great option is old newspapers (an easy form of recycling) or bubble wrap. If you’re sending something fragile, aim for four to six inches of bubble wrap around the object.

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• Keep the wrapping simple. I know some people like to get fancy with their presentation and wrap gifts up with big, decorative bows – but when you’re shipping the gift, I wouldn’t recommend this type of bow to top thing off If you choose to wrap the gift you’re shipping, use a flat bow or no bow at all. It’s not that easy to keep the bow as beautiful as when you first tied it, but you can still make beautiful packages with simple ribbons or raffia.

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• Use the H-Taping method. We use this lot at FedEx Office. When you’re assembling the box you’ll use for shipping, tape along the two edges and the center seam so that they form the letter H. This is the best way to keep your box secure and strong tape will help to keep the box snug and tight at these particular points.

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• Don’t forget these key shipping deadlines for the holiday season:

 

If you get in a pinch and want some help with those packages, we’re happy to lend a hand. Bring in your package to any FedEx Office location and we can securely pack it for you, starting at just $4.99. Just drop it off and we’ll handle the rest. It’s a pretty convenient option during the hectic holidays! 

 

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