General Guidance

You are organising to send a parcel through a parcel network, please take a minute to read through the following information to ensure that your item is suitable for a parcel network.

1. A parcel network service is partly automated and your parcel will at some point be moved on a conveyor belt; your parcel will be taken to a central sortation centre and processed automatically in a similar way to an airport baggage handling system.  This means your parcel will be loaded and unloaded onto a minimum of 3 vehicles and will almost certainly be stacked on or under other parcels. All items should therefore be boxed and securely taped, with no loose ends, plastic bags, or protruding edges.
2. The parcel sortation centre will be, in the main, automated which means that machines can’t read your own labels.  You cannot therefore rely on “Fragile” or “This way up” labels. You need to ensure that your packaging is sufficient to protect your item.  Never rely on labels!

Packaging Advice

A basic rule of thumb – due to the collection, sorting and delivery process, any parcel may be dropped from waist height. If your parcel is not sufficiently packed to withstand a drop from waist height, it will be deemed insufficiently packed.

Good Practice

• Your parcel should be fully encased in durable, thick cardboard. If you’re unsure about your packaging, please contact us for further information (01292 310 410).
• Choose the size of the package according to its content. Under-filled boxes are likely to collapse, overloaded ones may burst.
• Always use high quality materials for your shipments. Consider strength, cushioning, and durability when selecting your wrapping supplies.
• Choose boxes made of corrugated cardboard, with good quality outer liners. Use heavy-duty double-layered board for valuable items.
• Make use of cushioning materials, especially to stop your packaging contents from moving.
• Use strapping, when suitable, as a good way to seal and secure your box. Use strong tape if a strapping machine is not available.
• Put fragile goods in the centre of a package, ensuring they don’t touch the sides. Your item should be well cushioned on all sides.
• Place powders and fine grains in strong plastic bags, securely sealed, and then pack in a rigid fibreboard box.
• Repack your gifts properly. Many goods sold in attractive packaging may not be suitable for shipping.
• Use triangular tubes – not round tube-type cylinders – to pack rolled plans, maps and blueprints.
• Protect your data discs, audio and video tapes with soft cushioning material around each item.
• Complete the address clearly and completely, using uppercase letters when handwriting labels to improve readability.
• If you are provided with shipping labels by ParcelsPlease, we would recommend that you also attach a hand-written label to your parcel in the event that the shipping label falls off.
• When shipping sharp items, such as knives or scissors, ensure that you fully protect the edges and points. Heavy cardboard is suitable for this. Fix the protective material securely so that it cannot be accidentally removed in transit.
• Always use cardboard dividers when sending flat, fragile material (such as vinyl records).
• When re-using a box, remove all labels and stickers. Ensure that the box is in good shape and not worn out.

Bad Practice

• Do not use bubble wrap as your sole packaging. Bubble wrap can be used inside your package but not on the outside.
• Do not tape parcels together. Each parcel should remain seperate. As some carriers operate on a ‘per parcel’ basis, the additional charges for consignments which are strapped together, will be passed onto the customer.
• Do not use bags made of fabric or cloth.
• Do not over seal your package if for export. Remember – all shipments can be opened by customs authorities for inspection.
• Do not use cellophane tape or rope to seal your shipment.
• Do not consider “Fragile” and “Handle with care” labels as a substitute for careful packaging. They are only appropriate for information purposes.* Please note that the above points are for guide purposes only. ParcelsPlease will not accept liability for the packaging advice it provides. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure packaging is adequate for transportation.

Prohibited Items, Own Risk Items and Loss/Damage Cover

• There are a number of items that are forbidden to be shipped through a parcel network that we classify as “Prohibited Items”, please check your item is not included on this list.
• In addition to “Prohibited Items” there is also a list of “Own Risk” items which, whilst acceptable to be sent through a parcel network, may only be done so entirely at your (the shipper’s) own risk (ie. no claim can be made). Please check both lists below to see if your item falls into either of these categories.
• Loss/Damage Cover (Standard Cover) – This is the maximum sum you will receive should your shipment be lost or damaged, providing it is not on our list of “Prohibited Items” or “Own Risk Items”. Loss/Damage Cover (Additional Cover) – There are two options available to you which, depending on what option you have selected, will be the maximum sum you will receive should your items be lost or damaged, subject to your goods being (a) not listed on the Prohibited Items list, (b) not listed on the Own Risk Items list and (c) being sufficiently packed.

If you have “High Value”, “Fragile”, “Prohibited” or “Own Risk” items to send we recommend you call us on 01292 310410 to discuss alternative shipment methods.

Prohibited Items (cannot be carried)
Description	Added
Adhesives	20/09/2010
Aerosols	20/09/2010
Alcoholic beverages	20/09/2010
Ammunition	20/09/2010
Air Bag	20/09/2010
Air Rifle	20/09/2010
Animals (alive or dead)	20/09/2010
Animal skins	20/09/2010
Articles of exceptional value (eg. Antiques, precious stones, gold and silver)	20/09/2010
Batteries containing fluid, gel or acid	20/09/2010
Biological samples	20/09/2010
Boiler	19/01/2012
Car batteries	20/09/2010
Cartridges Ink or Toner (by Air)	20/09/2010
Cash	20/09/2010
Cheques	20/09/2010
Christmas Crackers	20/09/2010
Counterfeit currency	20/09/2010
Currency	20/09/2010
Dangerous Goods/Hazardous Materials (following IATA regulations for air freight and ADR regulations for road)	20/09/2010
Dishwasher	01/09/2011
Drugs (including prescription)	20/09/2010
Dry Ice	01/09/2011
Engines (unless new &/or drained of fluids)	01/09/2011
Filth, foul or disgusting material	20/09/2010
Firearms (of any kind – including replica guns, toy guns, water pistols whether functioning or not)	01/09/2011
Fire extinguisher	20/09/2010
Fireworks	01/09/2011
Fish (unless vacuum sealed)	20/09/2010
Fluid	20/09/2010
Flammable goods	20/09/2010
Fridges	01/09/2011
Freezers	01/09/2011
Furs	01/09/2011
Gas cylinders	01/09/2011
Guns (of any kind – including replica guns, toy guns, water pistols whether functioning or not)	20/09/2010
Hazardous goods	20/09/2010
Human remains	20/09/2010
Indecent, obscene or offensive articles	20/09/2010
Infectious substances	20/09/2010
Ink Cartridges (by Air)	20/09/2010
Insect larvae (pupae)	20/09/2010
Ivory and ivory products	20/09/2010
Jewellery	20/09/2010
Life jackets	20/09/2010
Liquids	20/09/2010
Living creatures	20/09/2010
Lottery tickets	20/09/2010
Magnets	20/09/2010
Meat (unless vacuum packed)	20/09/2010
Microwaves	20/09/2010
Money, negotiable items and pre-paid cards	20/09/2010
Oil – (small quantities of cooking oil may be shipped but as an own risk item)	20/09/2010
Paint	20/09/2010
Passport	20/09/2010
Perishable goods	20/09/2010
Plants/seeds	20/09/2010
Plasma Televisions	03/02/2012
Pornographic materials	20/09/2010
Precious metals	20/09/2010
Pyrotechnics	20/09/2010
Replica weapons	20/09/2010
Plants	20/09/2010
Rifle	20/09/2010
Sink	20/09/2010
Sofa	20/09/2010
Suitcases (Prohibited by UPS only)	01/09/2011
Tobacco and tobacco products	20/09/2010
Televisions over 32inches	03/02/2012
Toilet	20/09/2010
Toner Cartridges (by Air)	20/09/2010
Tumble Dryer	01/09/2011
Washing Machine	01/09/2011
Weapons	20/09/2010
White Goods	01/09/2011
Wine	20/09/2010

Own Risk Items (no claim can be made)
Description	Added
Alloy Wheels (unless boxed)	05/04/2012
Amber	20/09/2010
Antiques	20/09/2010
Bathroom Suite	23/03/2012
Beswick figures	20/09/2010
Bicycles (unless in a hard bike case/box)	06/03/2012
Bottle(s)	20/09/2010
Bulbs (Glass)	20/09/2010
Cameras	01/09/2011
Car Bonnet and similar car body work	20/09/2010
Car Bumpers and similar car body work	20/09/2010
Ceramic(s)	20/09/2010
Chandelier	20/09/2010
China	20/09/2010
Clocks	20/09/2010
Computer monitors	20/09/2010
Concrete	20/09/2010
Crystal	20/09/2010
Delicate items	20/09/2010
Detergent	20/09/2010
Diamonds	20/09/2010
Dinner service	20/09/2010
Documents	17/02/2012
Doors	01/09/2011
Figurines	20/09/2010
Fireplace	19/04/2012
Fish (vacuum packed)	20/09/2010
Fishing rod	20/09/2010
Fish tank	20/09/2010
Flowers	20/09/2010
Food Stuff	20/09/2010
Gems or gemstones	20/09/2010
Glass (all items containing glass or glass-like materials are shipped at your own risk)	20/09/2010
Glassware	20/09/2010
Gold	20/09/2010
Guitars (unless in a hard case)	20/09/2010
Hamper	20/09/2010
Headlights	20/09/2010
Iphones and Ipads	12/03/2012
Jewellery	20/09/2010
Lladro figures	20/09/2010
Lamp	20/09/2010
Laptops (if this is item is in original packaging, it will be subject to a maximum liability of £60)	20/09/2010
LCD Televisions (televisions larger than 32inch are prohibited)	03/02/2012
Lenses	20/09/2010
Lights	20/09/2010
Lighting	20/09/2010
Marble (or stone derivatives)	20/09/2010
Microscope	20/09/2010
Meat (vacuum packed)	20/09/2010
Medicines	01/09/2011
Microwave	20/09/2010
Mirror	20/09/2010
Mobile Phones	12/03/2012
Monitor	20/09/2010
Musical Instruments (unless in hard case)	20/09/2010
Negotiable documents	20/09/2010
Oil – small quantities of cooking oil may be sent as an own risk item	15/05/2012
Ornament	20/09/2010
Oven	19/04/2012
Overhead projector	20/09/2010
Paintings	20/09/2010
Perspex	20/03/2012
PC (if this is item is in original packaging, it will be subject to a maximum liability of £60)	13/03/2012
Personal belongings	20/09/2010
Personal Computer (if this is item is in original packaging, it will be subject to a maximum liability of £60)	13/03/2012
Pewter figures	20/09/2010
Picture (framed or otherwise)	20/09/2010
Plates	20/09/2010
Porcelain	20/09/2010
Pottery	20/09/2010
Precious metals	20/09/2010
Precious stones	20/09/2010
Projector	20/09/2010
Resin	20/09/2010
Scanner	20/09/2010
Server (if this is item is in original packaging, it will be subject to a maximum liability of £60)	13/03/2012
Shower screen	20/09/2010
Silver	20/09/2010
SIM cards	20/09/2010
Spectacles	20/09/2010
Stove	19/04/2012
Surfboards	01/09/2011
Tablet Devices	12/03/2012
Tea set	20/09/2010
Telescope	20/09/2010
Television monitor	20/09/2010
Tender documents	20/09/2010
Tickets	20/09/2010
Tiles	20/09/2010
Toilet	23/03/2012
Toilet Cistern	23/03/2012
Torch	20/09/2010
Vase	20/09/2010
Velux window	20/09/2010
Vouchers	20/09/2010
Watch	20/09/2010
Window	20/09/2010
Window frame	20/09/2010