Packaging: Preparing to Ship

These guidelines show how to package merchandise in cartons for shipping to Uncommon Goods. Following these guidelines will help ensure merchandise arrives to the Uncommon Goods warehouse undamaged.

General Packaging Guidelines

• Make sure all cartons are sturdy and have all flaps intact, no holes, tears, or corner dents
• Remove any labels and previous shipment markings from reused cartons before shipping 
• Seal cartons with strong tape designed for shipping 

• Do not use strings or paper over-wrap
• Shipment labels should not be placed on the seam of the carton to avoid damage when the box is opened
• Fragile merchandise should be packed with 3” of packing material on all sides (See Fragile Items section above)
• Merchandise with sharp edges should be wrapped to prevent damage (See Sharp Items section above)
• Heavy merchandise should be packed in double-walled cartons

• For a Unit that exceeds 50 lbs, attach a label that clearly indicates “Team Lift” on the top & sides of the box
• Provide a packing slip with your shipment (see Packing Slip section below for requirements)
• Clearly indicate on cartons what merchandise it contains—this will help the process run more smoothly
• If you are packing a family of SKUs together, you must clearly separate each SKU within the container using cardboard dividers or packaging, like boxes or bags (ex. all 12 months of a birthstone program must be separated)
• Purchase Order numbers should be written on the outside of all cartons

• Do not ship small cartons that are taped together
• Shipment labels should be consistently placed in a way that is easy to visually locate, either on the top or side of the carton. Top placement is preferred. 
• Position bottles that contain liquids upright. Each bottle should be individually wrapped to contain leaks.  Indicate which side is up.
• Items that are prone to heat or cold damage must be indicated as such on the outermost carton and on the inner containers

Freight Specific Guidelines

• Pallets should be no taller than 84 inches.
• Use standard pallet size – 48” x 40”
• DO NOT SIDE STACK PALLETS
• Pallets with fragile merchandise or glassware should be stacked to the appropriate height to prevent damage.
• Each pallet should be labeled, “1 of 1”, or “1 of 2”, as appropriate on each side.
• All pallets must be labeled on three sides with “Uncommon Goods” (to make them identifiable to our 3PL partners), the Vendor Name, and the PO Number.
• Pallet must be securely shrink-wrapped.
• We recommend placing merchandise at least one inch away from all edges of the pallet.
• Use cardboard along the sides of the pallet to help prevent damage in shipment.
• DO NOT USE BROKEN OR DAMAGED PALLETS

Packing Slips:  

Print your packing slip straight from the Extranet. Uncommon Goods requires that every shipment include at least one packing slip.  Packing slips should be placed in a waterproof envelope marked as “Packing Slip” attached on top of the lead box outside of the shipment. If an envelope is unavailable, place the packing slip inside the lead box on top of the merchandise and packing material. It must include company name, company address, best phone number, and email address for contact if Uncommon Goods has a delivery question.