SENDING ELECTRONIC
ITEMS THROUGH THE POST

A guide to sending electronic items in the post

Posting anything delicate can be daunting; there's always a risk your item could get broken in transit. Electrical products can be particularly difficult to send - many courier services will not insure many items due to the fact they are such fragile items.

It is possible to package and post electronics in such a way that will ensure they’re as secure as they can possibly be. However, when sending electrical items with us, you also need to check first to make sure our network will deliver them.

CAN YOU SEND ELECTRICAL ITEMS IN THE POST?

You can send most electrical goods, with a few exceptions. We do not carry:

• White goods such as fridges, freezers, dishwashers, clothes dryers, washing machines etc.
• Televisions, monitors, or other graphical display equipment with a screen size greater than 37 inches

Take a look at the International restricted and prohibited items and the prohibited items list for the UK for further information about what you can send. It’s also important to note that some electronic items can be sent within the UK and Republic of Ireland, but not Internationally. Every country has its own prohibited and restricted items which should be checked by you, the sender to ensure your parcel isn’t breaking any rules or regulations for that particular country – check the Customs information for the destination you’re posting to and take a look at our specific international pages for details.

When sending an electrical item anywhere, to make sure it reaches its destination safely and in good condition, you’ll need to take some time and make a little effort when preparing your parcel for shipping, before you hand it over to our electronics courier.

SENDING ELECTRONIC ITEMS THROUGH A COURIER

Assuming the electronic item you want to send is suitable for shipping in the first place, you then need to package it well – you’ll want it to arrive in good shape and undamaged – so protect it with the right packaging material and boxes. Fortunately, we have pages of help and advice on the subject of posting and packaging. For a quick reference guide on sending electronic items through courier, see below:

The box

Think about what size and type of box you'll need. Don't pick a box that’s too small; remember your electronic item will need much more room later on after it's been wrapped in bubble wrap. It's best to pick a cardboard box that is thick, sturdy and able to take a lot of pressure. This is important because if your box ends up stacked underneath other boxes, the box could crumple under the weight - which could lead to the item getting damaged.

You also might want to consider double boxing. This is most advisable when you're shipping an item that is quite large and heavy but not as necessary if you're only sending something small and light.

The packaging

There are several different ways in which you could potentially package when you post electronics. Some people like to use newspaper it’s not always a good idea as newspaper is very thin and can get flattened during delivery. The best way to package electrical items is to use a combination of packing peanuts (usually made of foam) and bubble wrap. Bubble wrap comes in three different bubble sizes: small bubbles for fragile and light items, medium bubbles for larger and less delicate items and large, though these are mostly used to fill up space rather than to protect items.

Once you've chosen your bubble size, wrap it around the item in several layers but don’t use too much. If the recipient can’t get the item out, they might break it trying. When taping the bubble wrap up its best to use Sellotape as it's easier to remove than parcel tape.

Packing peanuts are used to fill up the box to make sure your item doesn't move around and break in transit. One of the best ways to use them is to fill up two or three inches of the box with packing peanuts before you've placed the item inside, as close to the middle as possible. Then simply put the electronic item on top of the layer of peanuts and continue to fill the rest of the box. If you're double boxing, make sure to place packing peanuts down the gap between the outer box and the inner box. This should stop the inner box moving around.

The label

Every parcel is important to us, and our aim is to deliver your parcel on time, safely, and in the same condition in which it was sent. We will ensure that your parcel is handled with care but it's always a good idea to place a reminder on the box itself, so if you can, use 'FRAGILE' or 'Handle With Care' stickers on the outside of the box. If your item needs to be opened or left a certain way up, you can also purchase 'This way up' stickers.

Applying stickers to the outer box might not help an automated parcel sorting machine understand the contents are delicate, but it will highlight the presence of a fragile item for the delivery driver so they can take extra care handling it.

It's a good idea to include your name (or your company's name) and address on both the inside and outside of your package in case it needs to be returned for some reason. This is especially important if you've sold the electronic item you are sending because if there is a problem with it, the buyer will want to know where to send it back to, so include a business card with your contact details if you have one. In addition, placing a return address on the outside of the box is useful if the parcel can't be delivered, or remains uncollected by the receiver.

Contents cover

Included as standard with all UK deliveries is £25 free contents cover, rising to £50 free contents cover for International deliveries. When booking your parcel, you can choose to add extended contents cover up to the value of £1,000 to cover items of greater value.

Just remember with extended cover; we will not be able to compensate you if your item is broken as a result of you not packaging it correctly, or if the item is classed as prohibited or restricted. So make sure you take note of these guidelines and spend time getting your items ready for posting. By packaging your electrical products correctly, you not only ensure that they are as secure as possible, you also cover yourself should your item get broken on its journey.

Please do not use black outer packaging to wrap your parcel - our automated parcel sortation systems can’t process it and using it will result in either your international parcel being automatically returned or your domestic parcel being delayed.

POST ELECTRONICS

If you need to post electronic items that you’ve sold, or you need to send an item to friends and family, then we can offer you a leading electronics courier service.

Use our quick quote tool to get started today.