In November and December, many people rely on shipping and packing services to deliver gifts and holiday cheer to friends, loved ones, and family members. A 2018 FedEx survey reveals that, on average, Americans send around five to six packages in the months of November and December.
During these uncertain times created by COVID-19, it is essential to preserve the holiday spirit. A carefully selected gift that arrives just in time for Christmas can bring a smile to a person’s face and lift his or her spirits. Spreading joy is more important than ever.
The UPS Store at Westwood Shopping Center in Fayetteville, NC, is sharing tips to help people make sure that their packages are delivered on-time and undamaged.
Consider insuring the package or packages.
If a package’s contents are particularly valuable, it might be a good idea to insure the package. Packages containing high-dollar electronics like tablets, smartphones, or gaming systems would benefit from being insured.
Bankrate notes, “If the contents of your package are worth $100 or less, you already may be covered. Each domestic UPS parcel is covered automatically up to a value of $100 against loss or damage.”
When people are thinking about insuring a package, they need to consider the following important questions:
- Which items can be covered by insurance?
- Which destinations are included in the coverage?
- What are the limits to the declared value of an item or items?
- What packing standards are required for the item to be covered by insurance?
Remember, if the package is lost, damaged, or stolen, a claim will have to be filed within a specified timeframe, and appropriate documentation will be required.
Pay special consideration to packing fragile items.
MarthaStewart.com offers the following tips for packing fragile gifts: “Start by layering the bottom of your box with soft, absorbent tissue paper or shredded materials; then, if possible, bubble-wrap your item before wrapping it in a layer of tissue paper. If the gift is hollow (like a vase or bowl), then you’ll want to stuff extra packing material inside the box to keep the item supported. Be sure to place the item inside the right-sized box; you don’t want the box to be too small as it could rip open during transit, but too-large boxes may also collapse or continually shift the contents inside. Believe it or not, asking for a simple “fragile” stamp on your package will help postage handlers quickly identify that it may need an extra set of hands, or be packed delicately into a truck or air cargo hold.”
In addition, the Certified Packing Experts® at The UPS Store at Westwood Shopping Center specialize in packing fragile items, such as electronics, antiques, glassware, and collectibles. People who are unsure that they will be able to properly pack fragile gifts can rely on the team’s experience and The UPS Store’s Pack & Ship Guarantee.
Think outside the shipping box.
Just because a gift will not fit in a traditional shipping box does not mean that it can not be sent. The UPS Store at Westwood Shopping Center can help people ship large or irregularly-shaped items.
Shipping solutions include:
- Custom boxes, cartons, and crates
- Custom packaging and handling
- Freight shipping
Plan beforehand.
If people want their package to arrive at its destination on a specific day, they will have to plan ahead. Make sure to choose the delivery option that allows the package plenty of time to reach its destination before the holidays. Take possible delays into consideration. Double-check the shipping information to avoid having the package returned to the sender.
Although surprise gifts are fun, the sender may want to let the recipient know about the package if it contains expensive or temperature-sensitive items. Telling the recipient that a package is on the way and providing a general timeframe for the package’s arrival helps prevent the possibility that the package will be damaged by rain or snow or overlooked by the recipient.
Other helpful shipping and packing tips include:
- To prevent confusion with the shipping service, remove old shipping labels from reused boxes.
- Make sure the shipping box is not too small or too large for its contents.
- When sending multiple items in the same box, wrap each individual item in bubble wrap.
- Use real packing tape to seal packages.
- Remove batteries from gifts before shipping them.
- Remember to take note of the package’s tracking number, which enables the sender to use The UPS Store’s package tracking feature.
- Ask to receive email notifications from The UPS Store in order to check a shipment’s status or progress.
To learn more about Fayetteville, NC, shipping services, call The UPS Store at Westwood Shopping Center at (910) 860-1220 or email the store at store2974@theupsstore.com.
