Every eCommerce business will have to answer this question several times a day: what package do I use for what orders? How do you decide whether poly mailers are the solution for you, or whether your order will be better received in a box? What may seem a simple choice at first can actually have more complexity than initially thought.
Choosing the right packaging has several benefits, not just for you, but for the customer – which ultimately translates back into benefits for you. Such a simple but crucial stage in the transaction deserves special attention. Just like pressing the wrong pedal on a car, sometimes getting the easiest stuff wrong can have disastrous consequences.
Therefore today we’re going to cover how to choose the right packaging for your business transactions.
Quick Answer: When to Choose a Mailer vs a Box
The decision is deceptively simple. Poly mailers, also known as shipping envelopes, are good for small, quick deliveries, while boxes are optimised for bulky, fragile deliveries. There is also a question of size, and generally the most basic rule is to go with whatever form of packaging allows you to send your package safely and effectively, but size isn’t the only decision. After all, if you have something small but sturdy, should you use a small box or a poly mailer? What if you have a large fragile item? Do you use a large poly mailer or a box?
What Poly Mailers Are Best For
As you have probably guessed by now it’s more than mere size that determines what we use to send packages, but the bulkiness and the fragility of the item(s) we’re sending as well.
Poly mailers are optimal for either single items, or small deliveries. Sending these items via poly mailer is handy because not only is it a good fit, but the lighter poly mailer means that there will be minimal added weight to the packages, saving you shipping costs.
Not only that, but many poly mailers are enhanced with bubble wrap attached to the insides of the envelope, ensuring that your items have additional cushioning at little to no extra charge.
Also poly mailers don’t miss out on the branding options afforded by boxes, as custom poly mailers can be ordered, or you can decorate your poly mailer with your own branding however you like.
Finally, poly mailers are good for shipping items that are fairly hard-wearing, and have minimal chance of being damaged or broken in transit. Although some of these envelopes have additional cushioning added, many do not, which means that items sent through them need to be able to stand the rough and tumble of delivery.
When Boxes Are Non-Negotiable
As you may be able to ascertain, boxes are good at everything that poly mailers aren’t.
They’re roomier, meaning that you can mail more items that you could with a poly mailer. Also the fact that the outside of the box is more sturdy than a poly mailer means that your items will be more protected from external impacts; and where necessary you can add additional packaging such as paper, packing peanuts, or wads of bubble wrap. This makes boxes ideal for shipping not only multiple items, but also fragile items.
Boxes also offer a unique opportunity for branding, with custom boxes in your brand’s colours, featuring the company name and logo on the box enables you to ensure that the unboxing experience is a memorable one, and one directly tied to your brand.
However, there are a few minor caveats to the postage box. Yes they are sturdier, more hard wearing, and able to handle larger loads than a poly mailer, but all of this means that they are also heavier. This means that parcels sent in boxes will generally be more expensive to post, owing to the large amount of items they carry, the additional weight of any packaging protection you may use, and the heavier material of the box itself.
Cost Factors
As discussed earlier, each type of packaging will have a certain effect on the overall price of the package.
The first thing to consider is DIM weight, or Dimensional Weight. This is the cost of sending your package, according to the height, length, and width of your item. As you may have guessed, poly mailers generally have a smaller DIM weight, and therefore a lower cost compared to boxes.
Additional considerations are your postage band, which (depending on your postal partner) can severely alter the cost of sending your package.
Decision Checklist
It’s always the simplest decisions that require the most care. Remember, if your package consists of one or two items that are small, robust, and don’t need much protection, then a poly mailer can be a completely effective method of sending them to their recipient. However, if you’re sending multiple items, or a single large item, or merchandise that is fragile or otherwise requires a lot of care, then the box is king. Just be prepared for slightly inflated shipping costs. But your customers will thank you for the proper care and diligence shown with loyalty, which translated to repeat customers and therefore, profits.
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