Packaging Tips

In this blog we'll discuss the finer points of preparing an international shipment.

First of all, some terminology:

an Ecommerce shipment is the box or package that goes from a merchant (the entity that has a shipping contract with Yakit) to a single consignee (the buyer in B2C eCommerce).  

A Shipment Group is a collection of shipments sent by a merchant at the same time.  Yakit shipments must have a 4" x 6" Yakit Shipment Label:

The ecommerce merchant prints these labels using the Yakit Shipper (Web) Interface or the Yakit Shipper API.  The Yakit Shipment Label may be printed on a Zebra format thermal printer or on a standard printer (e.g. Laser or InkJet).

The Yakit Ecommerce Shipment Label has a barcode (the Yakit ID).  Sometimes a second barcode—usually for a carrier partner—is present.  Barcodes must be exposed to air: they should not be covered by any material, including transparent tape and shrink wrap (these codes are read at high speed by automated sorting machines in the Yakit Logistics Network).  If you are concerned about the label coming lose during transit, go ahead and tape the edges, but make sure the bar codes are not covered.

Ecommerce Shipments should be as small as possible to avoid additional charges based; carriers expect a given volume to weigh a certain amount, and charge accordingly.  For many international legs, the expected volume for a given weight is 139 in³/lb (6,000 cm³/kg).  This means that if a package is 278 cubic inches then the carriers expect to charge for at least 2 lbs.  If it is lighter than that, they may charge for 2 lbs anyway.  This system is called dimensional weight or dimensional billing.

Yakit helps merchants navigate the complexity of international Ecommerce shipping:

1. Our calculations are very accurate in order to give you a good idea of your international shipping costs.
2. Since packages travel the first mile (from your warehouse to the forwarder) and the line haul (from the forwarder to the destination country) bundled in our Yakit Boxes, a denser shipment will compensate for a lighter shipment in the same job.  With Yakit, unlike with many other couriers, you get the benefit of this mixing.
3. Yakit uses first mile carriers who don't use dimensional weight (such as USPS) wherever possible.

A familiarity with packing and dimensional weight, as discussed above, will help you optimize your shipments for the lowest prices and the best delivery experience for your customers.  At the same time, Yakit is always trying to minimize your shipping costs so you and your customers come out ahead. Cross Border Ecommerce Shipping has never been easier and more accurate than with Yakit. Your International Ecommerce Shipping Software Platform. Yakit can integrate in your shipping cart platform and we have a Shopify App in the Shopify Store Here