Many eBay entrepreneurs and other small business owners increase their profitability by offering to ship items for customers. When doing this, it is important to properly package those items. If the product arrives damaged, the sale is lost. Whether to use corrugated shipping boxes or flat ones is a necessary and important decision.
The kind of box is a factor which could also affect the shipment of the item to the customer. Corrugated shipping boxes are a good option since a corrugated boxes will add extra protection and "shock absorbency" to the box and thus more protection to the item. Ultimately, the a thicker shipping box works best for items that need more protection and the flat shipping boxes or a padded mailer works best for items which are neither unbreakable nor fragile.
Steps for Packing Your eBay Customers, Shipping Box
The kind of item to be shipped and where it is going is determinant of how to ship it.
Shipping Like An eBay Pro Check List
1. The kind of corrugated box needed and the size is a good way to start. Once the box is gathered, it is important to pack the box properly.
2. If the item is fragile with any possibility of damage or breakage during the shipping, extra care is required in packing the item.
3. Bubble wrap is a great packing material to use as protection for the item from any damage during shipping. Also lining the bottom of the box and the top of the box with newspaper or Styrofoam peanuts is another protection for the item.
4.Packing the item in the box tightly is another essential step in maintaining that the shipment will arrive unscathed.
5.Include a professional packing slip. Free templates for packing slips are available online. 5. The final step to packing boxes for shipping is the sealing of the box securely.
Packaging tip: Make sure your box passes the "rattle test." Gently shake the box. If you can feel or hear the item moving, add more packaging material.
A clear heavy-duty packing tape is all that is needed to properly and securely seal the box at top and bottom. Nothing more is required. Moreover, many times the postal service will not accept a package with the incorrect tape on the outside of the box. Once the box is sealed, it can be weighed in order to determine the amount of postage or fee that will be needed in order to ship the package.
Options on mailing are also available. The package can be sent through the USPS in a variety of ways, media mail, first class, priority, or express mail, or the package can be sent through UPS or FedEx. However the package goes to the customer, packaging it properly is important. In this way, the customer will be pleased not only by the product they have ordered, but that it came to them undamaged.
Doing the shipping correctly will increase chances of a repeat order. Mastering packing, communicating with packing slips, and shipping like a pro should be part of all small business marketing plans.
Margaret Ross is president of Visible-Strategies Communications, a leading Small Business Marketing Consultancy and founder of the Kamaron Institute, kamaron.org. An award winning speaker and author, Margaret Ross is a frequently featured guest on America's top radio shows.
For additional small business marketing strategies and ideas visit Visible Strategies blog at visible-strategies.com and click Contact Us.
2011 Copyright Margaret Ross. World-wide rights reserved
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margaret_Ross
No comments:
Post a Comment