Fragile item fulfillment is about packaging engineering as much as careful hands. We set protective packaging rules by SKU, track damage by cause, and adjust until breakables arrive intact.
Why breakables break in parcel networks
Parcel networks are built for speed, not gentleness. Packages ride conveyors, drop between belts, get stacked under heavier cartons and are sorted several times before delivery. A box can be dropped, compressed and vibrated many times between your warehouse and your customer's door.
Glass, ceramics, candles in glass vessels, mirrors and framed art survive that journey when packaging keeps the item from moving and keeps it away from the box walls. Most breakage traces back to one of three causes: too little cushioning between product and carton, items touching each other in multi-unit orders, or cartons too weak to survive stacking.
Packaging rules by SKU and order
We set packaging rules at the SKU and order-combination level. A single candle might ship in a molded pulp insert inside a right-sized carton; three candles might require dividers or individual wraps in a larger box. Rules specify the carton, the cushioning material and the minimum clearance around the product so every packer builds the same protection.
Where you have designed packaging, such as a printed rigid box with a fitted insert, we evaluate whether it can ship as-is or needs an outer shipping carton. Many retail-style boxes look beautiful but are not built to survive parcel handling on their own.
Measuring and reducing damage
You cannot reduce damage you do not measure. We log damage reports and returns by SKU, packaging format and carrier, and review them with you. When a pattern appears, such as one product cracking more often or one order combination failing, we change the packaging rule and track whether claims drop.
Carrier choice also matters. Insurance and declared value rules can be applied automatically to higher-value orders, and documentation of packing method supports claims when they happen. Because our network lets you ship from closer to customers, fewer handoffs and shorter transit also reduce exposure for breakables.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pack glass items for shipping?
Glass items are packed so they cannot move or touch the carton walls, using fitted inserts, molded pulp, wraps or dividers and a sufficiently strong outer carton, according to a packaging rule set for each SKU.
Can my retail box ship on its own?
Sometimes. Many retail boxes need an outer shipping carton to survive parcel handling. We evaluate your packaging and recommend whether it can ship as-is.
Do you track damage rates?
Yes. We log damage reports and returns by SKU, packaging format and carrier, and use the data to adjust packaging rules.