Since we are in the middle of the holiday giving season, you may be looking at a few gifts wondering how you will get them to their recipients. If you live far away from some friends or family and just can’t get to visit before the holidays are over, you may want to ship those items so they get there on time. Of course, getting those items there in one piece is one of your biggest concerns. Here are a few tips to help get you on your way:
• Unless you are shipping clothing or other very flexible items, use a box. It might seem like a good idea to put that book you want to send to your niece in a bubble envelope, but it’s really not. Without the sturdiness of a box, you will run the risk of the book’s corners being crushed. If you do not have a box, make sure you sandwich the book and secure it between two larger pieces of cardboard when mailing in an envelope.
• Use items you already have for packing material. Crumple up some old magazines or newspapers to pad the items you are sending. Just remember that some of the ink may rub off so protect your items in plastic bags or plastic wrap before packaging them. You can also use paper towels or even balloons! If your items do not have sharp edges, balloons can be a really fun way to make your gift even more festive.
• Find out if buying the insurance offered by your mail service is worth it. If your item will be sorely missed and not easily replaceable if it were lost in transit, you might want to consider purchasing it. Weigh the price and availability of the item against the cost of the insurance to decide.
Have a great holiday shopping (and mailing) season!
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