Match the material to the risk, not the budget—and give every order a better chance of arriving in the condition you packed it. Retail packaging is not always shipping packaging: choose a mailer, box or crate based on the item’s shape, fragility and need for cushioning.
Ready to send an order? Start on the Send page to see the options and prices that apply to your parcel.
Mailer, box or crate: what are you comparing?
Each option offers a different balance of flexibility, structure and protection. Start with the contents: can they bend, are they fragile or heavy, and could they be damaged if they shift or rub against another item?
When should you use a mailer?
Choose a soft mailer for flexible, non-fragile items such as clothing or paper goods that can tolerate bending and surface abrasion. A padded mailer adds some cushioning, but it is not a substitute for a protective box when the contents are fragile or need to keep their shape.
When is a corrugated box the better choice?
Use a corrugated box when your item needs structure or room for cushioning. If a product comes in branded retail packaging, treat that as the presentation layer—not automatically as the shipping container. Add an outer box when the retail pack alone does not provide the protection the parcel needs.
When does a crate or reusable container make sense?
Consider a rigid container for bulky, heavy, unusually shaped or repeat-shipment items when its strength and form suit the contents. Secure the item inside so it cannot shift or strike the container walls. Before dispatch, check that your selected delivery option accepts the parcel’s form and dimensions.
How do you stop a parcel from rattling or getting damaged?
Protect each item, cushion around it and fill empty space so the contents cannot move freely. Use separators when multiple items could knock against one another. Close the parcel, give it a gentle shake and listen or feel for movement. If anything shifts, add cushioning and test again.
A repeatable packing routine for customer orders
- Match the item to a mailer, box or rigid container.
- Protect individual items and add separators where they could collide.
- Fill gaps so the contents do not rattle or slide.
- Close and shake-test the parcel; add cushioning if anything moves.
- Check that the packaging is sturdy and the seal is secure.
- Make sure the recipient and sender details are clear, and cover any old address information on reused packaging.
- Group ready-to-send parcels with their order records and recipient details so handover and customer updates are easier to organise.
Which packaging mistakes should you avoid?
- Putting a fragile item in a mailer that cannot protect it.
- Leaving empty space in a box so the contents can move.
- Reusing weak or damaged packaging without checking its condition.
- Leaving old address details visible on reused packaging.
- Relying on unsuitable tape or string as the parcel’s main seal.
Better packing gives your dispatch routine a stronger start. Moveka is Kenya’s largest courier and one of Kenya’s most deeply connected courier networks—get your parcel ready, then view the options and prices that apply on the Send page.
