The various online buying and selling sites, such as eBay, Vinted, Depop and many others, make it possible to sell second-hand clothes, jewellery and accessories, but not only: to keep up with the times also from a technological point of view, on these various sites it is also possible to buy and selling electronic devices, perhaps the model prior to the latest release that you so badly want to buy, without leaving the previous one unused and gathering dust in a drawer of your bedside table.
Electronic devices, in fact, very often represent a rather conspicuous expense and one way to give them a new lease of life, to ensure that this expenditure has not been unnecessary, is to buy or sell them. In the case of the sale of these used electronic devices (which can, of course, also be new) on these online buying and selling platforms, it is necessary to be at least a little familiar with the shipmentsBy selling your electronic device, in fact, you have to get it to its destination, i.e. the home of the buyer who bought it.
But what, then, is the method for shipping electronic devices without damaging them? First of all, it must be said that - like many other products - electronic devices are also characterised by an important delicacy and, for this reason, are particularly exposed to the risk of being damaged during transport. This risk, which derives precisely from the particular delicacy of these electronic devices, is linked to multiple factors, such as temperature, gravitational forces and the movements of the means of transport through which they reach their destination.
What and how to do, then, to minimise these risks of possible damage to electronic devices to be shipped? By simply taking into account two important factors, which are the protection of the battery, an essential element for any electronic device, and the choice of the correct packaging. It is precisely these two fundamental issues that we will discuss in the next two paragraphs, through which we will provide a kind of guide on the correct and safe shipment of electronic devices.
The first important factor when shipping electronic devices: battery protection
As we mentioned in the introduction to this article, one of the most important factors to consider when shipping an electronic device is undoubtedly battery protection.
Before understanding how to deal with electronic device batteries during the various parcel shipments, it must be specified what these batteries are made of: the batteries of electronic devices, in fact, are for the most part rechargeable and function thanks to the presence of the lithium. Precisely because of the presence of lithium, batteries are very dangerous objects to ship and transport, especially for very long distances (as in the case of international shipments): lithium is in fact a particularly sensitive substance to changes in temperature and pressure, which can often occur during the various transports required for shipping.
For all these reasons, the protection and packaging of lithium batteries is regulated by international safety standards, which must be observed in order to complete your shipment smoothly and without damage of any kind. But what do these regulations provide for?
- First of all, the regulations concerning the shipment of lithium batteries are very strict and require that they be packed both internally and externally, This must be made of a suitable material, which must be strong and robust enough to avoid (or at least reduce) any ruinous conditions and shocks.
- Secondly, these regulations also provide for the application of specific labels on the boxes containing these batteries, so that it is notified that dangerous goods are present inside those boxes.
The second important factor when shipping electronic devices: care in the choice of packaging
Given the importance of battery protection, now is the time to turn to the choice of packaging for the shipment of an electronic device, which must be taken care of down to the last detail. The choice obviously concerns the materials of these packages, which must be solid, strong and of a size suitable for the contents, so that they do not fit too tightly or too loosely inside the box to be sent via the express courier (which may be, for example, the TNT courier or the UPS courier).
So what materials are needed for this particular type of shipment? For this particular type of shipment, the following materials are required:
- a box resistant or reinforced;
- of filler material, such as bubble wrap or polystyrene;
- of padded envelopes, inside which the electronic device and all its parts can be inserted.
The box, it goes without saying, must be of the appropriate size so that it can hold the electronic device, which can be as small as a smartphone, but can also be as large as a PC. Precisely because of the various different sizes of electronic devices, in addition to having a suitable box, it is necessary to fill in any gaps with filler material so that the electronic device, protected in its original packaging or padded envelopes, cannot move around inside the package that will be shipped.
In addition to the material we listed a few lines ago, it is of course also necessary to use some adhesive tape thick and strong, which will serve to further seal the package once it is closed and ready for shipment. In addition, it is also necessary to apply a shipping label, which contains all the recipient's data, so that the parcel arrives at the right destination.
Finally, it is always advisable to apply an additional label that reads “”fragile“”, so that the dispatcher knows what kind of products he is dealing with and can use the greatest possible care during the various stages of dispatch.
By following all these indications and suggestions, we are certain that the shipment of an electronic device will certainly be successful, and we are certain, above all, that the electronic device will arrive at its destination in perfect condition, so that the purchaser can enjoy all its performance and functionality.
