| Over the years, shippers who have been using UPS | | | | Why am I going into such detail? The manufacturer |
| and FedEx may have experienced a time where one | | | | packaged the product to a standard they believed |
| or more of their products would have an ongoing | | | | would be adequate for palletized or containerized |
| problem of being damaged in transit. Often the carriers | | | | shipping. The reseller/distributor we purchased the |
| are quick to deny claims based on what they | | | | blender from knew from experience the factory |
| determine is "inadequate packaging". There is a fine line | | | | packed carton would not survive the trip in a small |
| between what the carrier considers inadequate and | | | | parcel environment. The blender was over packed in a |
| what the shipper considers adequate. Damages can | | | | carton designed to withstand the rugged trip through a |
| be a huge profit killer. Not only is there the extra | | | | small parcel carrier's sorting and distribution facility. |
| internal cost of a re-shipment, the customers | | | | How do shippers learn to package their parcels |
| confidence in the shipper can suffer. Even though the | | | | properly? Left to trial and error, some shippers would |
| situation may be handled well by the shipper, a | | | | be out of business very quickly. Different products |
| damaged product may just be the reason an additional | | | | have different packaging requirements. Fortunately, the |
| purchase is not made. | | | | carriers offer a service to help shippers improve their |
| By denying claims, the carriers have forced shippers to | | | | packaging. |
| improve the way in which their products are packaged. | | | | FedEx Design Services will create a new package |
| Is the improvement cost effective for the shipper? | | | | design, including engineering drawings and a prototype |
| Shippers have had to improve the quality of their | | | | package in as little as 15 days. They even advertise |
| packaging or ultimately stop shipping those problematic | | | | they will do this at no charge. (FedEx does not provide |
| products. One method shippers have used is "trial and | | | | this service for hazardous material items) Other |
| error". This can be an expensive learning curve. Often | | | | services include a testing lab in which they will subject |
| shippers will over pack the product to a point where | | | | a parcel to drop, impact, compression, and vibration |
| the cost of the packaging can sometimes exceed the | | | | tests to evaluate its ability to survive the FedEx air and |
| cost of the product. The result is a lot of wasted | | | | ground shipping environment. More information about |
| money spent by a shipper trying to fix a packaging | | | | FedEx Design Services can be found at the link below. |
| problem on their own. | | | | FedEx link: |
| My wife recently purchased a blender and it arrived | | | | UPS also offers a testing lab and will perform the |
| via UPS in a corrugated carton with a 175 pound | | | | same series of tests as Fed Ex. In addition, UPS has a |
| certification printed on the bottom. If you don't know | | | | testing process to simulate temperature extremes. A |
| what I am talking about, just pick up any cardboard | | | | significant amount of specialty food items are shipped |
| box you see and look on the bottom for the printed | | | | via the carriers. Think about a package sitting in a |
| certificate. The certificate tells you if the box is single | | | | trailer over a January weekend in Minnesota, or central |
| wall or double wall. There is a newer standard called | | | | Texas in August. Many food items would have a |
| the Edge Crush rating. This refers to the "stacking | | | | tough time surviving one or both of these conditions. |
| strength" of the carton. Also on this certificate are the | | | | If you use air services such as Next Day and Second |
| dimensions (L + W + H) of the box and the maximum | | | | Day, conditions are able to be simulated to measure |
| weight the box will hold. A 20 pound blender in a 175 | | | | any adverse affects to package contents at high |
| pound burst rated single wall container is a good start | | | | altitudes. More information about the UPS Testing Lab |
| to protecting the contents inside. Keep in mind these | | | | can be found at the link below. |
| ratings only apply to a new carton. Any carton | | | | UPS link: [ |
| previously used for shipping is now suspect as to its | | | | No one wants to receive a damaged package. |
| ability to safely transport the contents again. | | | | Shippers don't want their products damaged, and |
| Before opening the box, I performed the shake test | | | | believe it or not, the carriers don't want to see parcels |
| and listened for noise. No noise means everything was | | | | damaged in their distribution system. There is a way |
| packed the way it should be from the distributor. | | | | for shippers to work with the carriers to develop safe |
| Opening the box, we discovered the blender was in | | | | and effective packaging methods to get the product |
| the manufacturers shelf pack. This is the carton used | | | | to the consignee in good condition. Working with the |
| to put the blender on the shelf at a retail store. | | | | carriers to improve the survivability of the products |
| Opening the shelf pack, the blender was packaged to | | | | they ship is a smart way for shippers to keep their |
| prevent movement and to protect the components | | | | customers happy. |
| inside. | | | | |