Wednesday, November 20, 2002

PTC shipper offers holiday tips

This holiday season marks the shortest possible period of time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so consumers need to start thinking about getting holiday gifts to their destinations on time and in one piece. The professional holiday helpers at Mail Boxes Etc. offer a full range of services designed to take the hassle out of the holidays.

"Many of our customers simply do not have the time or expertise to properly prepare their gifts for shipping, so we do all the packaging for them," said Paresh Master, who owns the MBE located at Kedron Kroger Shopping Center.

"We are here to provide real help and make the holidays as stress free as possible."

To promote secure delivery of all holiday packages, MBE offers the following packaging tips:

It'salways best to use a new box specifically designed for shipping.

Such boxes are engineered to withstand shipping stress, including stacking with other packages.

If using previously used boxes, select boxes that are strong and in good condition with the flaps intact. Be sure to remove old labels.

Never exceed the maximum weight for the box, which is usually printed on the bottom flap.

Don't forget to cushion the bottom of the package with a minimum of two inches of cushioning material. The bottom of a box receives the most pressure during shipping.

Protect individual items by wrapping each separately in protective cushioning material and placing them inside the box so they do not touch one another.

Items that are unusual in shape or that have sharp edges should be wrapped with a minimum of two inches of cushioning material, so that no one can be harmed or other items damaged.

Fill the box on all sides with a minimum of two inches of cushioning material, such as air-filled wrapping, polystyrene +IBw-peanuts,+IB0 corrugated dividers, or styrofoam.

If you open an item before shipping, be sure to repack it exactly the way it was originally packed.

Electronic equipment should be shipped in its original packaging, surrounded by additional cushioning materials and placed inside a larger box.

If the original packaging is not available, use special non-static packing materials available at MBE.

Secure each seam of your container with heavy-duty, pressure-sensitive plastic or nylon-reinforced tape on both the top and bottom sides. Do not use masking tape, cellophane tape, or string.

Do not wrap the exterior box with gift wrap or kraft paper.

Label properly. The mailing label must contain the sender's address as well as the recipient's complete name and address, with the ZIP code.

If necessary, include the business name, apartment or floor number. Pay extra attention to ensure all the information is correct. Avoid using words such as "jeweler"that would indicate a valuable shipment.

Include a second mailing label inside the package indicating the recipient's and sender's addresses in the event that the exterior labels are damaged during the shipping process.

Include the recipient's and sender's telephone numbers on the inside label as well.

It is a good idea to call the package recipient ahead of time, so that he/she knows to expect a package.

Fragile items should be sent via air service to minimize transit time and reduce the possibility of damage.

Customers concerned about properly packaging their holiday gifts can bring them into any MBE location to have them packed by trained and experienced professionals. Additionally, MBE can help lighten the load for holiday travelers by shipping holiday gifts and luggage to their destinations.

"We anticipate the week of December 16 will be very busy," said Paresh Master.

"To avoid the holiday rush, plan to ship early, although we can accept packages as late as Monday, December 23, for delivery on Tuesday,December 24."

For added convenience, the MBE located at Kedron Kroger Shopping Center is offering extended holiday hours. Special hours of operation are: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. -7 p.m., Sat.-10 a.m. -5 pm and Sun.-noon -4 p.m.

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