The most common causes of damage to delivery packaging and its contents in e-commerce

The most common causes of damage to delivery packaging and its contents in e-commerce

Defective products are an unfortunate but often unavoidable cost of doing business. When you buy a product in a shop, you may sometimes notice damaged packaging or even a defective product before you buy it. But in the world of e-commerce, consumers do not have the possibility to physically inspect the product before purchase, thus excluding this quality control step. Packages can be damaged in transit by shippers, mishandling, exposure to water and many other possibilities that can degrade the quality of the shipment. Damaged products are a huge pain for traders as they are often beyond their control, can affect customer satisfaction and are a very expensive additional cost due to returned damaged goods. The visual appearance of a parcel received can affect the credibility of the brand and the manufacturer.

The four most common causes of damage to delivery packaging and its contents in e-commerce:

Here are some of the reasons why packages are damaged at some point during the shipping process.

➲ 1. Too much empty space in the packaging

If the box or parcel you are using is much bigger than the product you are sending, the product is more likely to roll inside and be damaged if there is not enough padding and void fillers. It is therefore important to choose the optimum size of the box so that it is not too big, while void fillers often make the shipment more expensive.

Another problem with using a box that is too big is that you will have to pay more for the space it takes up. Dimensional weight is how carriers calculate and charge for delivery. Even if the package is light, if it is large you will be charged for the size because it takes up more space on the delivery truck or parcel van.

➲ 2. Insufficient cushioning material

Not all packages require a certain type of filler (e.g. bulk cushions, air bags), but sufficient cushioning to protect the object can reduce the likelihood of transport damage.

The amount used will depend on the type of products you sell (and bubble wrap is not always necessary). Most of the time, recycled Kraft paper will do the job to avoid damaged goods (and it’s cheaper and less harmful to the environment). In special cases, we recommend the more durable Kraft paperboard types, which are less moisture-absorbing and less deformable, as well as properly designed boxes, such as those with double sides, which protect the product more.

➲ 3. Wrong handling

Your parcel will be handled by several different people along the supply chain, and even boxes marked “FRAGILE” are not always considered as such.  Although a product is labelled “FRAGILE”, this does not exclude the possibility of the package being exposed to adverse environmental influences during transport. Therefore, if you have glass jars or delicate electrical appliances, they should still be packed very carefully and gently.

➲ 4. Water, temperature and humidity damage

Changes in temperature or bad weather on the transport route, including condensation, can cause damage to the packaging. In addition, if the packaging is left outside for long periods of time.