Best Packaging Practices for Direct-to-Customer Shipping
Hello Amazon sellers!
I wanted to share some essential packaging best practices for Direct-to-Customer Shipping that I've observed consistently leading to success across our seller community. Proper packaging is absolutely essential for protecting your goods and ensuring customer satisfaction.
Here are some proven packaging tips:
- Always use new, clean and undamaged packaging materials
- Ensure items are properly secured and don't jostle about inside the package
- Provide proper cushioning/support on all sides, with at least two inches of space between fragile items and the box exterior
- All products must be fully protected - no items covered only with stretch wrap or poly bags
- Seal all seams with 3-inch packaging tape or water-activated tape (must cause fibre tear when removed)
- Implement corner boards to prevent banding/strap damage
From reviewing numerous seller discussions, I've noticed it's particularly important to use boxes that maintain their shape during transit and aren't compromised by moisture.
Please indicate if you find this content helpful with a vote (👍 or 👎) or by sharing your experience in the comments.
Cheers! Ezra
Best Packaging Practices for Direct-to-Customer Shipping
Hello Amazon sellers!
I wanted to share some essential packaging best practices for Direct-to-Customer Shipping that I've observed consistently leading to success across our seller community. Proper packaging is absolutely essential for protecting your goods and ensuring customer satisfaction.
Here are some proven packaging tips:
- Always use new, clean and undamaged packaging materials
- Ensure items are properly secured and don't jostle about inside the package
- Provide proper cushioning/support on all sides, with at least two inches of space between fragile items and the box exterior
- All products must be fully protected - no items covered only with stretch wrap or poly bags
- Seal all seams with 3-inch packaging tape or water-activated tape (must cause fibre tear when removed)
- Implement corner boards to prevent banding/strap damage
From reviewing numerous seller discussions, I've noticed it's particularly important to use boxes that maintain their shape during transit and aren't compromised by moisture.
Please indicate if you find this content helpful with a vote (👍 or 👎) or by sharing your experience in the comments.
Cheers! Ezra
16 replies
Seller_76AUwmqvSyRIM
Thanks for your recommendations however they are very OTT for many items and IMHO, only apply to items in boxes or hard/delicate items.
All my items are despatched in either stretch wrap or polybags. This is perfectly fine for my products. It is rare to receive any bad feedback for packaging, quite the opposite.
Seller_oLG8iq4VBPVWg
You do realise FBA send out products WITHOUT any packaging and hence why we have a mass of returns that FBA mark as customer damaged and WITHOUT any original packaging.
And why are you telling buyers when they submit a return request that they do not need to box the return and to just put the label straight onto any packaging and thus returns are received as unsellable.
Practice what you preach.
Seller_d8YGbIjNqwFxn
Any seller who does not know how to package items correctly shouldn't be in this business. It is a fundmental knowledge that any seller should have.
Packaging though can often be very simple. For example I would only ever use a poly bag to send out a clothing item...no protection is required. For a greeting card I would use a hard back envelope just so it is unlikely to be bent in the post.
I would say with using new packaging materials is generally the correct way of going. However there is no problem in reusing card board boxes for some items if they are clean and in good condition, it is surely good to reuse where possible.
Seller_76AUwmqvSyRIM
I agree. We can always learn better ways to package our goods but it seems to me that the (unsolicited) post was written by a person who has no real life experience of packaging orders.
Seller_ixz1lZ3QOcOJa
it doesn't matter how the product is mailed, if its seller fulfilled then that refund request will get approved
Seller_RAXEWLxQ2dbmN
I never use a polybag as the sole packaging material but that means I am often unable to compete at the cheaper end of the BMVD market.
Most of the 'megasellers' send out chunky books wrapped in nothing more than a thin polybag.
They obviously do this to keep costs to the minimum but I think, sadly, that this has lowered the expectations of buyers across the board.
Possibly why I get lots of feedbacks mentioning my 'great' packaging even though, in my opinion, I am doing no more than I should.
That goes for any seller that cares about the buyer receiving their orders in the same condition they were posted out.
Seller_AlYpsVHv0gj21
Always use new, clean and undamaged packaging materials
Why "new". I try to use recycled packaging as much as possible. It's cheaper and better for the environment.
Putting to much packaging is just as bad as putting too little packaging
From reviewing numerous seller discussions, I've noticed it's particularly important to use boxes that maintain their shape during transit and aren't compromised by moisture.
I must admit I hadn't noticed that this subject was such a hot topic on the forum. Whilst I agree that packaging is important I would prefer it if you concentrated on the topics that sellers are really talking about on the forum .
Seller_i38MVIJDH23AY
Hi @Ezra_Amazon
Please would you share this with everyone who works at Amazon packing for FBA.
I am sure they would find it useful.
Seller_fcnANlwB930WM
What an absolute joke. They should practice what they preach
Seller_YcVj3IObF7ZOZ
Perhaps you should educate our Customers to use suitable packaging when returning items to Sellers !
As I think we know how to pack items !
This month,
1) I have had a Snorkel returned to me in a clear plastic bag with the return label just stuck on , no padding or packing materials , so it arrived back broken , and I had to put a safe t claim in.
2) I have just had a Full Face Snorkelling mask (retail is £100 !) returned without any packing whatsoever! with the return label just stuck on , so it arrived back broken and scratched after passing through the RM equipment .
