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Examples of how to package and wrap items

The following suggestions are examples only and don’t guarantee safe delivery of items. Also, restrictions and limitations apply to loss and damage claims regardless of how an item is packaged. See the General Terms and Conditions for details.

Suggested ways to package and wrap items

Item (example) Outer packaging Packing material Special markings
Fragile items (china)

Choose a rigid, good, quality, corrugated carboard box

 

Tape all seams with reinforced tape

Wrap or secure the item using:

  • Bubble wrap
  • Tissue paper
  • Newspaper
  • Foam peanuts
  • Inflatables
 Mark the item with the word "FRAGILE" on the top and on one side near the shipping label.
Perishable items (fruit)

Choose a rigid, good quality, corrugated cardboard box

 

Tape all seams with reinforced tape

Wrap or secure the item using:

  • Bubble wrap
  • Tissue paper
  • Newspaper
 Mark the item with the word "PERISHABLE" on the top and on one side near the shipping label.
Crushable items (art prints)

Choose triangular shaped outer packaging (a surcharge is payable on cylindrical mailing tubes)

 

Tape all seams with reinforced tape

Wrap or secure the item by:

  • Rolling it around a rigid cylinder
  • Placing it in a triangular package
 Mark the item with the word "FRAGILE" on the top and on one side near the shipping label.
Long items (umbrella)

Choose a rigid, good quality:

  • Cardboard box
  • Triangular shaped outer package

 

Tape all seams with reinforced tape

Wrap or secure the item by:

  • Placing it in a rigid box
  • Placing it into a triangular package
 We don't suggest any special markings.
Sharp items (garden shears)

Choose a rigid, good quality, corrugated cardboard box

 

Tape all seams with reinforced tape

Wrap or secure the item using:

  • Bubble wrap
  • Tissue paper
  • Newspaper

 

Tightly roll packaging material around the blades and secure with reinforced tape (100 mm beyond the tip)

 Mark the item with the words "HANDLE WITH CARE" on the top and on one side near the shipping label.
Liquids, liquefiable substances, and powders

Choose a leak-proof container made of:

  • Metal
  • Heavy cardboard
  • Styrofoam

 

Tape all seams with reinforced tape

Wrap or secure the item by:

  • Placing the inner container (bottle) into the outer container
  • Surronding the inner container with enough absorbent material to contain a leak

 

Screw-type covers should have rubber or cork washers.

 Mark the item with the words "FRAGILE" and "KEEP FROM HEAT" (if appropriate) on the top and at least one side near the shipping label.
Latex paints and tubes of artist's paints

You must fasten metal containers with friction lids that mechanically seal the lids with metal rings. This is to prevent accidental removal of the lids during transit.

You must use a seperate container to ship each 4-litre can. You can ship 4 1-litre cans of latex paint in 1 container but you must separate each can with durable separators.

 We don't suggest any special markings.
Magnetic tapes The item itself should be packaged, but we don't suggest any outer packaging. You must protect the tapes from being accidentally erased by wrapping them in lead foil. Mark the item with the words "MAGNETIC TAPE" near the shipping label.
Scented items You must seal the item to prevent the scent from escaping (including samples). Perfumes and toiletries with an alcohol base are considered dangerous goods (flammable liquids). So, they're not allowed in the mail stream. See Non-mailable Matter for more information. We don't suggest any special markings.