How to Safely Pack and Ship a Set of Dishes

If I’ve learned one thing from owning and operating a UPS Store franchise, it’s how to safely pack and ship a set of fragile dishes. The UPS Store chains, formerly know as Mail Boxes Etc., are the industry’s leader in packaging, shipping, mail box rental and more. When you visit a convenient UPS Store, you pay a premium for professional packaging service, but your delicate items will arrive to their destination in one piece, with a money back guarantee.

When a customer would enter our store with a large set of dishes, we embattled two sets of emotions. On the one hand, we knew dishes equaled dollar signs, but on the other hand, we also knew that packing dishes was a time consuming undertaking and an immense responsibility. I am proud to say that in our eight years of running our business and packing and shipping countless sets of precious china, we never had word of a broken dish.

Follow these steps to ensure a safe delivery:

The Box:

Always use a brand new corrugated box. Used boxes weaken over time thus causing dents and tears during shipping. We always made an effort to safely fit as many dishes into one box as possible to provide our customers with the best price. Usually a box that measures 24 inches cubed will house around 12 large dishes and 15 to 20 small to medium sized dishes. Most sets of china would be shipped in three to four boxes of this size. Be sure to reinforce both ends of the box with several layers of thick packing tape.

The Bubble Wrap:

Always use large �½ inch bubble wrap for dishes. Individually wrap each dish with the bubbles facing the inside and then be sure to securely tape the wrapped item so that it fits snuggly inside the bubbles.

The Styrofoam Peanuts:

To ensure protection against vibration, compression and ultimately breakage, always pack fragile items in recyclable Styrofoam peanuts. Never, ever use newspaper! Newspaper will not protect an item against the sometimes harsh and bumpy conditions that occur during travel.

The Technique:

Once your dishes are securely bubble wrapped and your new, large box is properly assembled, you must layer the bottom of the box with two inches of the Styrofoam peanuts. Place the dishes on the peanuts while ensuring that there is also two inches of space on each side of every dish. Shake the box lightly so the peanuts evenly disperse. Next, pour another two inch layer of peanuts into the box and continue to add dishes. Repeat the process until the box is full. Then seal the box with sturdy packing tape, clearly label it and apply fragile stickers to each side. Remember to always cover address labels with clear tape, so that the information doesn’t smear in the event of rain.

Finally, when shipping valuable items, UPS, FedEx and the Postal Service offer the opportunity to purchase insurance. Keep in mind that in the event of breakage or loss of an item, a receipt must be produced to prove the value of the shipment for reimbursement. It’s a good idea to make copies of receipts or have items appraised prior to shipping.

So, with moving season upon us, be sure to follow these helpful hints and tips when packing precious treasures, to protect against broken dishes and broken hearts!