Today, most consumers have turned to online shopping to meet their everyday needs. Mobile phones, laptops, and other electronic items are popular among eCommerce buyers, particularly now that most professionals and businesses are adopting the work-from-home model.
More and more merchants are listing various products under gadgets and accessories to benefit from this increasing demand. However, shipping these electronics goods requires some care and caution to avoid damage during transit.
In this guide, let us break down everything you need to know about ecommerce shipping solutions, gadgets shipping, and accessories.
Key Factors To Consider For Gadgets Shipping
- Battery Classification
When you are looking to ship gadgets containing batteries, it helps to identify the type of battery. This step is also useful in labeling the shipment because different batteries have different requirements for safe packaging.
Lithium batteries, for example, are classified as lithium-ion and lithium metal and are used for small power devices such as watches and smartphones.
Dry batteries contain zinc, carbon, nickel, and lead and work as a power source for small to large motors used in remote controls, flashlights, and other portable devices. Wet batteries are called so because they are liquid electrolyte solutions. Such batteries are often known to be the power source for machinery.
- Documentation
Once the shipment containing batteries is classified under dangerous goods, it requires crafting a Declaration by the supplier or the shipper possessing the certificate of dangerous goods training compliant with IATA DGR (Dangerous Goods Regulations).
This is just the beginning of the cumbersome processes and paperwork involved when you ship gadgets and accessories. A specialized service provider can help you in this regard, but it remains a hassle, nonetheless.
- Insurance Coverage for Gadget Shipping
It is good to add insurance to electronics items and gadgets to cover yourself against any possible damage during transit. Before you ship your products, do proper research to make sure the insurance you are using covers your items. There is no point in spending extra to cover your shipment if the insurance company excludes the items from coverage.
Some of the items that insurance companies generally do not cover include televisions, screens, LCD monitors, mobile phones, and laptop computers. Also, take pictures of your products before shipment to prove if you need to file a claim. This should help the company evaluate the value and repair costs faster.
- Packing Considerations
You should carefully package your gadgets and accessories to provide optimum protection during a transit like delicate items. When the items are sturdy, there is not much effort required in packaging.
A sturdy box with some basic packaging will do the job. Some other items may be prone to breaking and require extra care. You do not want to end up sending a broken gadget to your buyer, so make sure you are cautious in these cases.
Start by separating your item into components – adapters, chargers, cords, and other things. Detach them from the main product and package them separately if possible. Next, you can wrap each piece carefully and add protective layers of bubble wrap to whatever looks fragile.
Also, consider putting them into separate waterproof bags if you doubt the weather should damage them. Once packed, give the box a shake to ensure that nothing moves inside and the item can go through transit with a low risk of damage. This minimal risk is understood and accepted as an undeniable aspect of gadget shipping.
- Packaging Materials
One of the most important considerations for successful gadget shipping is packaging material. The type of packaging material you should use depends on the size and type of product you are shipping.
When shipping small cell phone accessories, you can use a padded envelope made of plastic. Avoid choosing paper envelopes as they are likely to rip in transit. If you are shipping multiple accessories at once or a bigger gadget, use a cardboard box.
You can reuse old boxes lying around after removing any existing labels on them. Alternatively, you can buy a cardboard box, but make sure you get the smallest one that safely stores the item.
Double boxing is the safest packaging technique for large items like screens and TVs. It means packing the box inside another box. Such extra protection will go a long way in ensuring your products don’t get cracked during the shipment.
You should also consider wrapping the gadgets in bubble wrap and filling any space in the package using packing peanuts or more bubble wrap. If you do not have such materials available, you can always use paper towels.
If you have used a padded envelope, you will likely get a self-sealing adhesive strip that you can easily use to seal the package. For other types of packaging, make sure to seal the product closed with packing tape to ensure safe gadget shipping.
- Labeling & Positioning
Electronics items are fragile and valuable, so the placement of the box is quite important. For example, screens should always be positioned in an upright position to prevent damage from vibrations and reduce the chances of cracking. To avoid wrong handling by delivery people and movers, make sure you label the box with clear directional arrows and notes.
Also, there are strict requirements for shipments containing dry, wet, or lithium batteries. Shipments should be labeled using the numbers identified by the United Nations Committee of Experts to transport dangerous goods. These are some of the intricacies you need to familiarize yourself with before you ship gadgets and accessories.
These labels help logistics companies understand how to package particular items. For instance, wet-cell batteries are generally packaged in metal containers with a leak-proof acid liner to prevent leakage. On the other hand, dry batteries are often packaged between non-conductive dividers and cushioned pads.
- Gadgets Shipping Method
Priority Mail services are, in general, the cheapest and the most effective way to ship gadgets and accessories. USPS also adds an insurance cover with these shipments.
You can consider using online shipping software to access special services and discounts and schedule the shipments right from the comfort of your home.
Final Thoughts
We hope this guide on gadget shipping proves useful to you. As long as you plan well, package the items carefully, cover against damages and losses during the transit and comply with country-specific requirements, you are all set with shipping your products safely.
It will surely take a while for anyone to get the hang of the intricacies involved in gadget shipping. However, given the rate at which online retail continues to grow, you can no longer ignore this segment.
