Damaged packages

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So I just had my 4th damaged package from FedEx in the last two weeks. No problem in the past, but all of a sudden I get them in a row. All are when they are going out for delivery. They seem to get to the shipping depots fine, but I guess that somehow the delivery guys are the ones screwing it up.

So besides me bubble wrapping each bottle individually, packing the bottom and top with extra wrap and foam and air packets, not getting a box too much larger than I need, and adding additional packing material in the box, what should I do to prevent this from happening in the future? Some suggestions would be great. And how much is too much to add for packing stuff so that it is not a burden? Thanks in advance.

Although I’m pretty new to trading, I’ve found that the bubble wrap with the large bubbles works much better than the small bubbled wrap. I’ve also double boxed before, with bubble wrap in between the boxes.

Are you packing the bottles well enough? I never had anything get damaged for all the years I have shipped.

The best method, in my opinion, is to ship in a styrofoam bottle shipper. Put a little bubble wrap around the bottle to keep it from jostling, stick it in a slot, and voila! It’s almost destruction proof.

My aim is to package it in such a way that nothing moves inside the box. Wrap each bottle with bubble wrap, crumble up some newspaper for padding around the perimeter of the box (or use peanuts or styrofoam) and you should be good to go.

It takes practice; you’ll get better at it the more you do it.

Oh, and another method: Use the material from a previous trade. I’ve done this roughly 80% of the time. Keep the boxes and packing material. It’s a great way to re-use stuff and keep your costs down.

Now that I think of it, I might have been using the small bubbles instead of the larger ones. That might be the issue that I have been having. But I have been doing exactly what my previous 15 good shipments have been, and not having any problems.

Originally posted by Unclerudy

So besides me bubble wrapping each bottle individually

Are you saying that you do currently do this? Because if not, do it. It’s worth the extra effort.

I make sure all my bottles are contained in a sealed garbage bag or some other type of bag. That way if there is a break Fedex won’t know about it and the box will still reach its destination and you won’t have to reship everything. Although that does nothing for preventing breakage its still a good idea.

Packing bottles 101



-Start with a decent box, and not one that is too big for the contents.

-Use freezer bags (I learned this here) for each bottle. This is damage control incase a bottle should break.

-Bubble wrap each bottle so there is enough of a buffer from other bottles and the sides of the box.

-Add at least one layer of packing material on all sides of the box as you go.

-Fill in ALL gaps afterwards so the bottles cannot move around.

-Use certified shipping tape and lots of it to ensure the box won’t bust open for any reason.



Ship FedEx of UPS only.

I do wrap each one individually. I guess that I have not been putting them in a garbage bag, which I will have to do from now on. Plus having them in individual gallon sized bags to mitigate spillage. And only FedEx.

Box within a box works great for me.

Ditch the bagged air. You want everything to be very snug where it is tough to close the box. That way nothing can bang together. Bagged are is easily popped, then you’re hosed. Bigger bubble wrap seems to work well. Again, box within a box if possible. Have everything at least 2" away from any side of the box.

Can I say box within a box again? I ship thousands of cases of beer a year this way with zero bubble wrap.