Avoid these 10 common packaging mistakes
5min read
07/09/2018
A poorly packaged product is also a poorly protected product. Unfortunately, a damaged product will not put a smile on the face of your customers. On the contrary: most of them will even consider ordering elsewhere from now on. Our packaging specialists therefore analysed the 10 most common packaging errors and explain how you can easily avoid them.
Experience tells us that it is not only the outside of the box that matters. You should also consider how you pack everything on the inside. Finally, the right shipping labels should not be missing. That way, your package will immediately reach the correct destination without first taking an unnecessary trip around the world.
Top ten common packaging mistakes
► 1. Reuse old boxes
A cardboard box is not like a cat with nine lives. In any case, it is not a good idea to reuse an old box, masking its flaws with a layer of packaging tape.
Our advice: with every order, opt for a new sturdy box that protects your products in the best possible way.
► 2. Packing tape in abundance
Being sparing on packaging tape is not good, but using too much of it is not a good strategy either. Not only is it detrimental to your packaging costs, but it also increases the annoyance of the person who has to open the box. There is nothing more frustrating for an impatient customer than a box that is difficult to open. Moreover, he then often starts using ‘crude means’ that can damage the contents.
Our advice: use tape in moderation and learn how to correctly close a box with it here. Did you know that there are boxes with a tear-open perforation? You open them with the same ease as a zip!
► 3. Padding material was ‘forgotten’
A box without padding may be a bit cheaper, but the risks of product damage during transport are significantly higher. And a damaged product is absolutely avoidable. This is one of the many packaging mistakes that will leave your customer dissatisfied and saddle you with more after-sales work.
Our advice: always use sufficient protective material to firmly secure and protect your products inside the box.
]► 4. Oversized boxes
‘More’ does not always equal ‘better’. In a box that is too big, for example, your products can be damaged more easily because they have more space to collide with each other. Too big a box also equals more filling material, which in turn drives up your packaging costs.
Our advice: avoid boxes that are bigger than necessary and choose a box that is tailored to the size of your product.
Save with a box with variable fill height: one box is adjustable up to 12 heights, perfectly tailored to your product. Purchase only 1 type of box anymore and gain masses of storage space.
► 5. Crumpled forms
“What does that crumpled piece of paper represent, here between my order? Oy! It’s the invoice I should have received undamaged!” Invoices and other shipping forms are important documents that your customer would prefer to receive in pristine condition.
Our advice: first put important documents such as invoices separately in an envelope. It is best to put these on the bottom of the box. That way you have the least chance of damaging them.
► 6. Why does my parcel just not arrive?
Where would your parcel be anyway? For days you’ve been waiting fruitlessly…. Without the right labels, you have a higher risk of your box wandering.
Our advice: always stick the right shipping labels on your box. By the way, you can easily prevent damage to the address label with a protective cover.
]► 7. One padding material will do
]Bubble wrap, paper pads, foam… They all have specific properties and applications. Yet you still often see a company using 1 filling material for all types of products and packaging. However, this risks damaging some of your products or causing scratches and dents.
Our advice: choose the right filling material, adapted to your product. Fill voids or protect against shocks? You will find the right protection for every application.
Save: if your article allows it, you can even opt for packaging that is completely custom-made and no longer requires any cushioning material. This is the case with books or electronics, for example.
► 8. Return it, who does that?
The lack of an easy return policy is one of the main packaging mistakes, it turns out. Almost 60% of millennials (meaning anyone between 18 and 35 years old) tend to choose only a company with a return policy, a 2018 survey by ReBOUND found. But not only the younger generation is sensitive to this. Virtually all internet users carefully scrutinise a webshop’s return options before placing an order.
Our advice: a ‘return box‘ makes it a lot easier for your customer to return an unwanted purchase.
► 9. Shipping bags are OK, but not always
A shipping bag is a low-cost shipping solution that is increasingly used in the e-commerce sector. They are water- and tear-resistant and easy to reuse. Ideal for textiles and clothing, for example. But for fragile or breakable products, this type of packaging material is often not a good solution.
Our advice: ship fragile products in a sturdy postal box with shock-absorbent padding material. The chances of your glass carafe arriving in 1000 and 1 pieces will then be much smaller.
]► 10. Personalised packaging is an unnecessary luxury
Your customer will be happy if their order arrives intact in a sturdy, plain brown box. But why not take your communication policy a step further? Why not opt for a personalised box with your logo, slogan or company colours? Not an unnecessary luxury, but a rational marketing option.
Our advice: with the RajaPrint service, create your own personalised packaging. Boxes, tape or carrier bags… anything is possible. Make your brand stand out more clearly and gain brand awareness.
Save by choosing personalised packaging tape. It is not only cheap but also a versatile material that you can use everywhere: on boxes, post boxes, bags, promotional material, etc.
