What Is the Best Way to Ship High-Value Items?
Everything nowadays is getting shipped, from $5 phone cases to $200,000 antiques. People are getting used to ordering everything online. It’s easier and it’s cheaper. Even if you’re running a jewelry or antique store, you have probably noticed that the number of customers who enter your store is in decline for the last couple of years.
That’s because even such expensive goods are being ordered online today. You should look at this as good news because you have a chance to expand your business without increasing your expenses.
Besides online marketing, the most important aspect of e-commerce is shipping logistics. This is especially important for goods of a higher value. Companies like Unival Logistics specialize in transferring valuable goods and can do it all for you, but you should still learn some basics about shipping high-value items.
Pack Carefully
It is always important to pack your shipments properly, but when it comes to high-value items, it is crucial. You want to do everything that’s up to you to minimize the chance of your shipment getting lost or damaged.
If you’re shipping fragile goods, make sure to fixate and cushion them in order to prevent them from tumbling inside the package. The package should be closed tightly and checked for any tears that might grow (which could result in your goods falling out of the package).
Avoid using duct tape or masking tape, and use packing tape instead. You should use the H packing method, closing all of the open seams on the box. That way you reduce the chances of your package breaking open during the transport.
For smaller valuable items, it is wise to use at least two boxes in order to protect the goods. The outer box should be plain-looking because that way you will keep your valuable item from any unwanted attention.
In order to make sure that the package gets to the right person, you should pay special attention to the shipping label. You have to fill in the exact name and address of the recipient, and you should check for any typos a couple of times.
Outsource Logistics
If you’re regularly shipping high-value items, we strongly suggest that you partner with a shipping logistics company. Some of these companies specialize in securely shipping high-value packages on time, which is exactly what you need.
If you’re not outsourcing, you’re definitely spending more money and energy on logistics than you should. You’re probably spending thousands of dollars and years of training just to maintain reliable staff, and still, taking on a security risk
Besides saving money, logistics outsourcing is also about security. Logistics companies train and hire extremely capable individuals who know exactly how to take care of expensive packages. A good logistics company always stays up to date with the latest innovations in the security field, so you know that you’re getting the best service possible.
Every reputable logistics company nowadays works with API software that allows both your and your partner’s teams and software to integrate, in order to simplify communication and optimize the shipping process.
Be careful when picking the right shipping company to partner with. There’s nothing inherently bad about major carriers, but you should know what kind of service your company needs.
Most of the major carriers won’t pay special attention to your valuable packages, because they already have too many shipments that they struggle to deliver on time. What you need is a specialized logistics company that will pay special attention to every one of your packages, fully aware of their value.
Buy Insurance
There’s no doubt that buying insurance for high-value shipments is a smart investment. It might be cheaper to ship without insurance now, but if you’re a regular shipper, it’s only a matter of time before one of your valuable shipments gets damaged, lost, or stolen. Such events can’t always be prevented, and once they occur, they might cost you your business.
That being said, it’s also very important to know what kind of insurance suits you the best. You should be aware of the difference between the declared value and shipping insurance.
- Declared Value stands for the value of the package declared by the shipper (you). When you declare the value of your shipment, it will be taken into account in cases of damage and loss, and the carrier will refund your loss once you file a claim. However, most shippers can only cover up to $100 of the declared value.
- Shipping Insurance has to be bought separately, but you have many more options and you can ensure packages of basically any value, as long as the goods are legal. Reimbursement is much more simple with shipping insurance, as you don’t have to prove anything.
It’s clear that in cases of more expensive shipments the right choice for you is shipping insurance. Major shipping companies can only cover up to $100 of the declared value, but you can buy third-party insurance for more valuable items.
Logistics companies that specialize in transferring valuable goods usually offer good shipping insurance for packages of any value, so you have the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. A good company will offer discounts for regular shippers, so in the end, you will definitely profit by taking out shipping insurance.
Require a Signature
A lot of carriers will not automatically require a signature from the recipient unless you specifically demand it. Unfortunately, that’s how most of the packages get stolen; the carrier leaves it on the front porch, and a looter picks it up a couple of minutes or even hours later.
A good shipping company that specializes in transferring valuable goods will probably require a signature by default because they know that every package can cost both their company and you a fortune.
However, whatever carrier you choose, it won’t hurt to bring it to their attention. Always require a signature for delivered items. Only then you can rest assured that you have earned money and your liability has ended.
Summary
The best way to handle shipping logistics if you’re dealing with high-value goods is to let professionals handle it. It’s much cheaper, less stressful, and safer. After all, these companies specialize in safely transferring valuable goods, just like you specialize in trading valuable goods.
You should stay focused on your primary branch of business, and let your partners handle everything else. And, once again: don’t hesitate about buying shipping insurance.
