Packing Guide
How to Pack for Shipping from Bali
Prices and rules checked
Four mistakes account for nearly everything that arrives damaged or costs more than it should: fragile items wrapped in bubble and nothing else, clothing packed loose so you pay for air, a box too weak for the journey, and seams that were taped once instead of properly.
A parcel leaving Bali is handled more times than most people picture. It is sorted here, flown, sorted again at a hub, possibly flown again, and delivered by someone who has never seen it before. Packing is not about the first few metres, it is about the fifty pairs of hands in between.
We repack a lot of what arrives at the counter, and it is almost always the same four problems. None of them are exotic. All of them are cheap to fix before the shipment and expensive to fix after it.
If you would rather not think about any of this, bring the item in and we'll pack it. But if you are packing yourself, these are the four that matter.
Who this is for
- Anyone posting fragile goods: ceramics, glass, carvings, framed art
- Brands sending clothing who have been surprised by a volumetric charge
- Makers shipping regularly who want to stop losing items to damage
- People reusing a box that arrived with something else in it
- Anyone who has had a claim refused because of packing
Not a fit: None of this helps with items that shouldn't ship at all. If you're not sure yours can, start with what can I ship instead.
What's included
Fragile goods need wood, not bubble wrap
Bubble wrap stops scuffs. It does not stop a box being dropped or crushed under other freight. Ceramics, glass, stone and framed pieces need a wooden crate, and we build them here.
Clothing must be vacuum packed
Loose garments fill a box with air, and couriers bill on volume when it beats weight. Vacuum packing is the difference between paying for what your parcel weighs and paying for the space it wastes. See clothing shipping.
The box has to be strong enough
A single-wall box that carried something light once will not survive an export journey. Double wall, correctly sized, with 5 to 7 cm of cushioning on all six sides so nothing touches a wall.
Tape every seam, not just the middle
The H-taping method: all three seams top and bottom, with wide pressure-sensitive tape. Never cellophane, masking tape, duct tape, string or rope. Those are what a carrier points at when a claim is refused.
How it works
- 01Chat us your shipment details
- 02Get courier options & estimated cost
- 03Drop off or request pickup
- 04We help with packing & documents
- 05Shipment processed, tracking shared
Frequently asked questions
- Is bubble wrap enough for fragile items?
- No, and this is the most common thing we fix. Bubble wrap protects a surface, it does not protect a shape. Anything breakable going overseas needs a rigid outer, which for ceramics, glass, stone or framed art means a wooden crate rather than cardboard.
- Why does my clothing parcel cost so much?
- Because you are being charged for volume rather than weight. Clothes are light and bulky, and every courier bills whichever of the two is greater. Vacuum packing compresses the air out and brings the chargeable weight down towards the real one.
- Can I reuse the box my item came in?
- Sometimes, if it is double wall, undamaged, and the right size. Usually not: a box weakens every time it is used, and one sized for a domestic delivery is rarely right for an export journey. We sell boxes at the counter if yours will not do.
- How much cushioning do I need?
- Five to seven centimetres on all six sides, so the item cannot touch any wall of the box. If it shifts when you shake it gently, it needs more.
- What tape should I use?
- Wide pressure-sensitive plastic tape or water-activated paper tape, across every seam top and bottom. Cellophane tape, masking tape, duct tape, string and rope are all explicitly unacceptable to carriers, and using them can cost you a damage claim.
- Can you just pack it for me?
- Yes, and for anything fragile or valuable we would rather you let us. Packing is included in the quote for most shipments, and crating is quoted separately because it is built to the item.
Ready to ship from Bali?
Tell us what you have and we'll come back with courier options and a cost estimate. No commitment.
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