Mirrors are extremely fragile, and shipping them can be a challenge, if not done right. Considering the delicate nature of mirrors, they are more prone to cracks, chips and scratches that may occur due to accidents, falls or mishandling of the package.
As an e-commerce seller selling fragile items like mirrors, you have to be very cautious. Whether it's domestic or international shipping, you have to ensure you take due precautions so that the product reaches intact to the customer. With the right packing, you can ensure your product is not damaged during transit.
To have a seamless shopping experience with mirrors, we’ve listed some important things to keep in mind - let’s have a look:
How to Ship Mirrors
Pick the Right Sized Box
The perfect box for packing a mirror would be 2-4 inches bigger than the size of the mirror. This ensures ample space in the box to place additional packing material, which would help cushion the mirror. Too big or too small a box would only damage the product, so pick the right-sized box for packing orders.
Add Additional Packing Material
Cushioning the mirror with extra packaging material can help secure it from damage caused due to impacts during transit. Bubble wraps, packing papers, and packing tape are the best packing materials to cushion mirrors. The quantity of packing material required for large and small mirrors will vary - make sure you are generous with packing materials for larger mirrors.
You can also add Styrofoam or cushion foam sheets to line the mirror from the front and the back for added protection. Remember, the more cushioning, the safer the mirror will be inside the box. Once cushioned well, and placed securely inside the box, ensure you tape the box well from the outside.
Protect the Corners of Mirror
If the mirror has a frame, its corners are safe and protected. But if it does not have a frame, you need to protect the edges from chipping off with rubber or cardboard corner protectors. If these aren’t handy, you can also consider cutting cardboard and taping it to the corners of the mirror for protection.
Add a ‘Fragile’ and ‘Handle With Care’ Label
Even if you’ve secured the mirror well inside the box, you still need to stick ‘Fragile’ and ‘Handle’ with care’ labels. This is to caution the handlers of the package to be extra careful while lifting or placing the package anywhere during transit and delivery. Many shipping providers offer these labels for free, so stick them in a clear, visible place on the package.
Always Transport Mirrors Vertically
Shipping mirrors flat may save space, but in terms of the safety of the product, it’s a huge blunder. Always ensure mirrors are transported vertically. Placing them flat will make them more susceptible to cracks from jolts or shocks during transit. To make sure the mirror is placed upright throughout its shipping journey, you can add a ‘this side up’ sticker with a sticker of an arrow pointing upwards so that the handler knows how to place the mirror during transport.
Bonus Tip
Irrespective of how much care you take to pack your mirror, there’s still a possibility of it cracking during transit. To keep the mirror from shattering into multiple pieces, you can use masking tape on the surface of the mirror. Place the tape in multiple X-shaped patterns on the surface of the mirror to keep it intact even if it does end up cracking.
Summing Up
We’ve listed all the tips you need to follow to ensure your mirrors are delivered safely to your customers. Even as you follow all these tips, pick a reliable and experienced shipping service provider, who knows how to handle fragile items during shipping. We hope these tips help!
