How to Ship with Poly Mailers
Choosing the correct packing or mailing envelope for shipments affects everything from shipping costs to whether or not things reach safely at the customer’s door.
If your delivery costs are too high, you may never see a positive return on your client acquisition cost. If a consumer orders from you and discovers a broken item during the unwrapping process, they may never shop from you again.
While many people equate cardboard boxes with internet shopping, many deliveries aren’t actually delivered in boxes. Poly mailers are a popular packaging solution because they provide built-in cushioning to protect specific items at a lesser cost than corrugated cardboard packaging.
This guide explains how poly mailers function, when to use them instead of boxes, and where to buy them.
What exactly are poly mailers?
Poly mailers are lightweight yet strong plastic bags ideal for product shipping. They contain a self-sealing foldover lip that eliminates the need for tape, and a mailing label may be simply placed to the bag. They are thin and resilient, taking up little room on a truck while in transit.
Poly mailers are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, with some being cushioned with bubble wrap to eliminate the need for additional dunnage that many boxes require to keep products in place and avoid shipment damage.
Why should I use poly mailers instead of boxes?
Boxes are a shipping necessity, although they may be unneeded for certain items. Shoes, for example, are frequently wrapped in sturdy cardboard boxes, so sending them inside another cardboard box makes little sense.
Apparel is also an excellent choice for poly mailers since it is not sensitive to being crushed or damaged in the absence of a box. Here are a few reasons why you should use a poly mailer rather than a box.
Shipping costs are much lower
While corrugated boxes are strong, inexpensive, and resistant to damage, poly mailers protect while lowering shipping expenses. Poly mailers are less expensive per shipment than boxes because of their light weight and tiny size.
Dimensional weight, a pricing strategy employed by shipping companies in which they charge whatever figure is greater: the actual weight of the cargo or its computed dimensional weight, is a crucial component in shipment cost.
Carriers may charge extra for a lightweight cargo that takes up a lot of space on the truck this way. They also have fees for heavyweight shipping, thus keeping packages compact and light is in the best interests of any ecommerce firm.
Because poly mailers take up less space than boxes, they assist lower dimensional weight, allowing you to save even more money on shipping expenses. The more shipments that are sent in a box when they might be properly sent in a poly mailer, the more shipping expenses will eat into your margin over time.
Lighter and smaller
Because poly mailers are constructed of plastic, they are significantly easier to store in a warehouse. Because of their compact size, they take up less room in carrier trucks, resulting in lower transportation costs.
When it comes to delivery, poly mailers can occasionally fit in a mailbox, which decreases the likelihood of theft when compared to a product left on a doorstep.
Options for personalized branding
Custom packaging with your logo makes your shipments stand out. If you want a slick design, poly mailers, like boxes, may incorporate your brand, colors, and pictures. Not every item has to be delivered in a box. Poly mailers are an excellent packaging alternative for small ecommerce firms seeking to save money while ensuring product safety.
When to Avoid Using Poly Mailers
Despite its versatility, there are several situations when a poly mailer just will not suffice for shipping:
The contents are brittle
Products that are easily broken or damaged (fragile or sensitive materials, glass, etc.) should not be transported in a conventional poly mailer but may be shipped in a bubble-lined or padded poly mailer.
There are lots of items in an order
Poly mailers aren’t always the ideal packaging alternative when mailing many products at once, unless they’re soft clothes. A box with air cushioning is usually preferable, especially if the products are fragile.
The product does not fit properly in the poly mailer.
While it may appear to be simple to slide an item into whichever poly mailer you have on hand, improperly packed poly mailers can actually cause difficulties during the sorting process for both major carriers and USPS. Scanning devices may misunderstand flat patches or gaps, resulting in shipment problems, damages, delays, or even the dreaded Return to Sender.
For items that do not fit well in a poly mailer, a stiffer packing solution such as cushioned mailers, rigid mailers, or corrugated cardboard boxes may be your best alternative.
Why you should choose ShippingTree as your 3PL
If you’re ready to scale, you might be considering partnering with a 3PL partner. But why choose ShippingTree?
2-day delivery
Our fulfillment teams operate at the intersection of tech enablement of traditional expertise. When you work with ShippingTree, we help you streamline operational logistics and reach Amazon-level delivery speeds.
All-in-one fulfillment
Because freight companies and Amazon FBA can only help you out so much. Our all-in-one fulfillment offering will help you manage the entirety of your supply chain and logistics operations.
Reduced shipping costs
You can’t provide expedited shipping consistently at scale without either charging customers more or reducing your shipping costs. With ShippingTree, you don’t have to make the tough call – you can make the right one instead.
To learn more about how ShippingTree can help you with fulfillment, contact us.