Businesses that regularly ship merchandise to clients can’t afford to put package safety on the backburner. If your enterprise develops a reputation for subpar shipping practices, you’re liable to see your client base begin to dwindle. Even if the fault lies with delivery personnel, many clients are likely to attribute any damage their packages endure to error on your end. As such, any company that does a fair amount of shipping would be wise to re-examine its shipping practices – especially if damaged merchandise is a common occurrence.
Work With a Dependable Shipping Service
When a package is damaged while in transit, the fault often lies with delivery personnel. This isn’t to say that every shipping mishap can be blamed on these individuals, but a fair number of them are directly attributable to personnel negligence. That being the case, it’s important that any shipping service with which you do business have a stellar reputation and proven track record for timeliness, courtesy and all-around professionalism. Even if you’ve worked with a certain shipping company for years, there’s no sense in continuing your patronage if they’ve proven themselves consistently unreliable. Additionally, while there’s nothing wrong with giving a company a second chance, you should begin to rethink your relationship once you enter the realm of fourth and fifth chances.
Be Aware of Any Special Considerations Your Cargo Requires
As previously stated, damaged shipments can’t always be blamed on delivery personnel. In some cases, companies are unaware that certain cargo requires special treatment throughout its journey. For example, if the cargo you’re shipping is sensitive to warm temperatures, it may require the aid of cooling packets or temperature indicators. Additionally, cargo that’s sensitive to rocking, jostling or shocks may benefit from the inclusion of dependable RFID tags. This is why it’s important to consult with your preferred shipping service before sending out packages. Once they’re aware of the type of cargo they’ll be handling, they can arrange for the package to be treated with the level of care it requires.
Use the Proper Shipping Containers
Packing materials play a large role in determining a package’s overall safety. For starters, you’ll need to be mindful of a shipping container’s size. If the cargo has an abundance of free space in which to move around, it’s practically guaranteed to endure a fair amount of rocking and jostling while en route to its destination. With this in mind, opt for shipping containers that are roughly the same size as the cargo and provide just a little bit of breathing room. Furthermore, for maximum safety, that breathing room should be filled with cushioning.
Dedicated clients are the lifeblood of any enterprise. However, no matter how loyal your clients are, you can’t simply expect them to roll with the punches indefinitely. There are limits to client loyalty, and slapdash, unsafe shipping practices can truly put those limits to the test. Any company that values its client base and wishes to ensure customer satisfaction should take the previously discussed pointers to heart.
