Top 10 Tips for Packing and Shipping Sports Equipment
People have resorted to sports as a way of enjoying their vacation and passing the time. People usually associate sports with a lot of traveling for various tours and tournaments for the different games held in several parts of the world throughout the year. It, therefore, means that as a sports lover, you will have to move around with your sports gear at some point. However, it is important that the shipping is handled carefully to ensure that your equipment is safe and sound upon arrival at the destination. This idea of traveling calls for proper packing and shipping. RunRex provides you with these tips to ensure you have a great experience as you ship your equipment.
1. Get a secure shipping box or padded bag
The first step in ensuring the safety of your sports equipment during transit is making sure that you get a secure shipping box or the appropriate shipping bag. If it is a bag, it should be heavily padded and of the right size to fit your equipment comfortably. For a shipping box, it should, also, be hard and of the right size for proper storage of your equipment.
2. Pad each gear separately
Do not be tempted to stack the sports gear together because they are usually very fragile and stacking them up increases the chances of any damage happening to them. As such, it is good practice to pad each gear separately to avoid them scratching each other. Take extra care when handling parts that have sharp edges. Padding will require that you incur some costs for the padding material, but you cannot compare that to the amount you would spend replacing the damaged parts.
3. Fasten and lock bags and cases with security padlocks
Padlocks also come in handy when shipping. You will be handing over your equipment to other people, and some people may not be able to resist the temptation of stealing your stuff. It is, therefore, crucial that after you have put all your equipment in the shipping bag, fasten it with the zipper and the straps and add a security padlock to prevent unauthorized access to your sports equipment.
4. You can get professional to help you with the packing
There are shipping companies that have professionals who can pack sports gear securely. These people have handled such tasks in the past and can help you safely pack your sports equipment. Employing professional packing services can help you save time and assure you of the safety of your sports gear.
5. Hire a trusted and reputable shipping company
Shipping companies are the best option when you want to ship your sports equipment internationally. They have cheaper shipping costs and are more reliable with regards to safety and the shipping process. You should, however, be keen when picking a shipping company. Opt for a company with a trusted and proven track record and also one that has insurance in case your shipment is damaged or lost.
6. Have your equipment insured
One cannot know what might happen to their gear before it gets to the destination. It is not strange to hear cases of sports equipment getting lost or getting damaged during transit. Having an insurance cover helps minimize risk on your side by ensuring that if your equipment is lost or damaged while being shipped, you are compensated accordingly.
7. Include extra shipping labels
The chances are that the shipping company is handling shipment for hundreds of other clients too. It is not uncommon to find shipments with no tags that make it hard to identify the owners. As such, it is good practice to add additional labels on the outside and the inside of your equipment shipment. It will help in identification of your package in case the tag is missing.
8. Know the shipping policies in the destination country
Before you ship your equipment, get to find out the policies put in place by the country you are sending your shipment to with regards to international shipments. Make sure you have complied with all their policies and requirements before you ship your sports equipment. Otherwise, you stand a chance of being inconvenienced as your sports equipment may be shipped back.
9. Look out for shipping discounts
Some shipping companies offer shipping discounts for loyal customers or large shipment volumes. If a person is traveling with a bunch of friends, they can opt to ship all their sports equipment as one instead and enjoy the discounts. You need to find out whether your shipping company offers such discounts as most companies do not announce.
10. Track your shipment
As a security measure, ensure that you monitor the progress of your shipments right from the time the company picks it up to the time it arrives at the destination. A reliable shipping company is the one that provides you with an avenue to monitor the progress of your shipment. Also, ensure that you have made prior arrangements for your shipment to be picked and securely stored upon arrival as it waits for you.