As summer progresses, the volume of fresh food and forest products being sent through parcel lockers increases. SmartPosti’s experience shows, however, that not everything people wish to send to their loved ones is suitable for parcel transport.
Only recently, a parcel containing fresh chanterelle mushrooms arrived at a SmartPosti sorting centre after the package had started leaking during transport. Earlier this spring, employees had to deal with a shipment containing a fresh, bloody animal hide. One of the latest discoveries was a consignment of cheese sent from Germany that had swollen in the heat and started leaking.
According to Triinu Luidalepp, Head of Customer Experience for SmartPosti Baltics, the issue is usually not caused by ill intent but by a lack of awareness.
“In most cases, people simply do not think about what happens to a parcel during transport. Every parcel passes through a sorting centre and is transported in a delivery van. During hot summer days, temperatures can also rise above normal indoors, causing perishable food items or poorly packaged shipments to leak and potentially damage both other parcels and the contents of the shipment itself.”
Luidalepp advises customers to always make sure that an item is suitable for parcel transport and complies with the carrier’s terms and conditions before sending it.
“Just because an item fits into a parcel locker does not mean it is suitable for parcel delivery. A leaking or spoiled shipment can damage dozens of other customers’ parcels. Spending a few extra minutes on careful packaging can easily prevent such situations.”
SmartPosti reminds customers that shipments must be packed in a way that prevents the contents from moving inside the package during transport or coming into contact with the outer packaging. When sending multiple items, they should be separated with cushioning materials. If necessary, bubble wrap, foam, corrugated cardboard, filling material or air cushions should be used to keep the shipment secure and protect it from impacts.
Liquids and powders must be sealed airtight and placed inside a sturdy transport package. Fragile items should be protected with appropriate cushioning and corner protectors to ensure they reach their destination intact.
“While parcel shipping terms provide clear guidelines, in practice we also encounter situations where people seek advice regarding very personal or sensitive shipments. In such cases, we always try to help customers find the most suitable and safest solution,” says Luidalepp.
In addition to highly perishable food products (such as berries, dairy products and ready-made fresh meals), the following items are not suitable for parcel lockers:
Corrosive, flammable, radioactive or infectious substances
Liquids or fragile containers that may leak or stain other parcels
Sharp objects or magnets without special packaging
Cash, bank cards and documents
Narcotics, weapons and other illegal items