Planning your shipment well is the key for timely delivery. So make sure to follow these simple on how to plan your shipment.
Have the complete address of your recipient which includes the zip code, home and work telephone numbers and other instructions about where and to whom the package should be delivered. Be precise in putting the information; avoid nicknames and abbreviations for it will appear on the shipping documentation.
Double check when the recipient needs to have the package so you can decide whether to use an overnight delivery or you still have few days to spare. Once you have an exact date, contact USPS for any shipping option, gather as many information as you can as well as the rates and delivery schedules.
Choose the right box or envelope for your package or mails. Make sure you have enough room for cushioning you package. Once you’re done packing, try and shake the box to see whether you have enough cushion, and if not try to add newspaper or Styrofoam to avoid the package from shifting. If you are reusing an old box, make sure all labels and markings are properly covered by heavy black marker or adhesive labels.
After packing and cushioning, proper sealing is highly recommended. Using a brown and clear packaging tape, paper tape and reinforced packing tape are great sealers for any type of package. Avoid using twine, cord and string in sealing your package for it can get caught in mailing processing equipment.
Weigh you package before mailing it, this will help you decide whether to ship it by air or by ocean. Proper cubic footage estimation for big cargo is recommended and this is the key to appropriately estimate freight cost.
Prepare an itemized inventory of your package. The inventory should contain piece number of the items, contents in each piece (avoid specifying every details of the package, instead group the items into big categories), customs value for the items under contents and insurance value for the items under contents. This complete form will be used to support your insurance coverage. Don’t forget to keep a copy for yourself for further reference.
Once you are done with the packing and weighing, decide what carrier you need for it will determine your package’s departure port. These ports could be an airport, an inland terminal or a seaport.
Decide whether you want to arrange a pickup or take the package to the delivery company. For USPS, packages can be dropped into a blue collection box but it comes with a few restrictions; the stamped package should not weight more than 13 ounces and packages with postage printed using PC postage and Click-N-Ship should weigh more than one pound. Make sure you have completed all the necessary shipping documentation before taking any further steps.
Shipping receipts are very important, so make sure to hold on to it. By suing the receipt you can track down the delivery status.
Call the recipient to make sure the package was delivered in a timely manner and to check whether the package is in good condition.