The purpose of this article is to help you understand what packaging options are available to you when storing your items in the Postal warehouse(s).
Applies to: Admins
Contents
- Packaging Overview
- Standard Packaging Options
- Ship In Own Container (SIOC) Packaging
- Custom Packaging
PACKAGING OVERVIEW
Postal provides standard, non-branded packaging materials (boxes, bubble mailers, poly mailers, poster tubes, and book folds) free of charge for your orders. Alternatively, you can provide Postal with custom packaging materials, or in pre-kitted ready-to-ship packaging. Below, we go into detail on these options.
Important: If the dimensions of your product(s) are too large for Postal’s standard boxes below, then you are responsible for supplying custom boxes or sending your products to Postal as ship-ready.
- If custom packaging is not provided, then Postal’s Operations team will attempt to split your order so that it fits in our standard packaging.
- If splitting the order is not a possibility, then Postal will be unable to ship the product(s) until your company provides proper packaging.
STANDARD PACKAGING OPTIONS
Boxes: Below are the standard box dimensions that are available in all Postal fulfillment centers. The weight column depicts how much the container/packaging material weighs itself before your product(s) are added.
Additional notes:
- The 20-inch x 20-inch x 20-inch (50.8 cm x 50.8 cm x 50.8 cm) boxes are used for B2C shipments only (not supported for B2B orders).
- Any order weighing over 50 pounds (22 kg) may be split into multiple shipments by Postal’s Operations team as a safety measure.
Bubble mailers: Below are the standard bubble mailer dimensions that are available in all Postal fulfillment centers. The weight column depicts how much the container weighs before your product(s) are added.
Note: Bubble mailers differ from poly mailers, as bubble mailers have bubble wrap padding on the inside, while poly mailers do not.
Poly mailers: Below are the standard poly mailer dimensions that are available in all Postal fulfillment centers. The weight column depicts how much the container/packaging material itself weighs before your product(s) are added.
Poster Tubes: Below are the standard poster tubes that are available in all Postal fulfillment centers. The weight column depicts how much the container/packaging itself weighs before your product(s) are added.
Book folds: Below are the standard book folds that are available in all Postal fulfillment centers. The weight column depicts how much the container/packaging itself weighs before your product(s) are added.
SHIP IN OWN CONTAINER
Ship in Own Container (SIOC) is a form of product packaging that allows the product to be shipped to the recipient in the original product packaging in which it arrived at Postal. For an item to be shipped SIOC, you must note this on the WRO template when submitting your request for a WRO in the Postal Warehouse App.
Example: You order a custom pre-packaged kit through the Campaign Studio Team. These kits are then shipped directly from the Vendor to Postal’s Warehouse. At the time of individual orders, the pre-packaged kits will ship in their custom boxes to each recipient. We will not package the box within another box at the time of shipment.
Please be aware that if multiple items are part of the same order as the SIOC item (whether it’s additional SIOC products or products meant to ship in packaging such as boxes or mailers), all items will ship in the most optimal standard box as determined by the box algorithm.
Important notes for SIOC products:
- The SIOC product packaging must have at least 6 inches by 4 inches (or 15.24 cm by 10.16 cm) on any given side to fit a shipping label.
- Packaging can only contain markings that signify they contain hazardous materials if you have prior written approval from Postal.
- The total fulfillment cost of a shipment that uses a single SIOC unit will be based on the outer dimensions of the box, rounded up to the nearest inch.
CUSTOM PACKAGING
While Postal’s standard packing offerings help ensure your orders are delivered safely, we understand that some products may best fit in custom packaging containers. Custom packaging materials should be sent to the Postal fulfillment center(s) you use and stocked as their own SKU (part of your inventory).
Examples of custom packaging include:
- Custom box sizes
- Any color or custom-designed boxes or mailers
- Branded materials or materials other than the ones mentioned above
Important notes and limitations:
- We do not accept custom mailers that are larger than 18 inches (45.72 cm) in length or wider than 14 inches (35.56 cm).
- Custom boxes or mailers must be at least 6 inches x 4 inches (15.24 cm x 10.16 cm).
- Custom boxes must have a flat side that is at least 6 inches x 4 inches (15.24 cm x 10.16 cm) for the placement of a shipping label.
- Custom boxes cannot contain any markings that signify they contain hazardous materials without written prior approval from Postal.
- Any special boxes that require folding of inserts or more than 8 folds must go through a kitting request.