If you’re sending a gift to a friend who lives abroad, shipping an item to a customer or even returning an item you purchased online from an international retailer, you’ll understand the anxiety involved. From worrying if it gets lots in transit to fear of it being mishandled, sometimes sending a parcel overseas can be stressful. So here’s 5 IDEAL tips for sending packages abroad to ease the process.
PACKAGE IT WELL
Sending parcels internationally means there’s much more opportunity for the parcel to get damaged whilst in transition. Ensuring that your parcel is secure is the first thing to do. Here’s our three top tips for packaging your parcel:
- Pick a container of appropriate size – under filled boxes may collapse, especially if there’s not enough padding or cushioning to keep the contents in place.
- Make sure your box and your items are firmly secured with strong and durable tape, double layered boxes and use flexible plastic liners or box coverings.
- Consider the climate of where you’re sending the parcel to. Is it snowing or does it rain frequently? Then waterproof packaging is a must.
USE A REPUTABLE COURIER
The best way to guarantee safe delivery overseas is to use a reputable and experienced courier service. Simple. Couriers offer flexibility in terms of pricing, time frames and have options for specialised delivery. For postage to USA, a company like Parcelabc even offers tracking.
KNOW WHAT ITEMS ARE PROHIBITED
The first thing to do when sending a parcel abroad for same day delivery is to check whether or not your package includes anything that could be prohibited in the country it’s heading to. With international customs being different in each country, it always pays to check the customs regulations before posting to prevent any unwanted delays. If unsure, check the country’s official website where you should be able to find a list of prohibited items. For example, you can’t send the following items to the US:
- Fresh, chilled, frozen or cured meat and poultry
- Table eggs from countries which are known to have been infected Salmonella Enteriditis
- Milk, cream and other products of animal origin
- Trees and plants (live)
- Edible fruits, vegetables, roots, nuts, peel of citrus fruits, coffee
- Wheat products
- Opium
- All taxable, flammable, potable beverages of 5% alcoholic content by weight
- Bird guano
PROVIDE CONTACT DETAILS
Should there be any additional queries or questions to be resolved when your parcel reaches its desired country, clearly having the contact details of both the sender and the recipient means that any issues can be ironed out asap. This ensures your parcel doesn’t encounter any unnecessary delays. Bear in mind, some countries won’t deliver without the correct phone number for the recipient.
