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Pack each handmade piece so it survives a drop, photograph it before sealing the box, and send the buyer a tracking link with a short personal note. Handmade buyers judge the unboxing as part of the product, so the parcel itself is the last piece of craft you deliver, and it should look like you meant it.
Handmade goods break in specific ways: ceramics chip at rims and handles, textiles crease and snag, candles dent and pick up scent from packing material, and jewellery tangles and scratches. Wrap each piece individually, even if several go in one box, and keep different materials apart. Tissue paper works for most items; plastic wrap traps moisture against natural fibres and unfinished wood, so use it only where water protection matters more than breathability.
Fill every gap in the box. A piece that can shift can build up speed before it hits a wall, and that impact is what breaks things. Crumpled paper, shredded cardboard, or tissue all work; loose packing peanuts migrate and leave voids, so they are a poor choice for heavy items. Tape all seams, and if the box has been used before, remove old labels completely so sorting equipment does not read the wrong destination.
| Item type | Main risk | Packing fix |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramics and glass | Chipped rims and handles | Wrap individually, cushion handles separately |
| Textiles | Creases, snags, moisture | Tissue wrap, sealed bag, no loose staples nearby |
| Candles and soap | Dents, scent transfer | Separate wrap, keep away from strong-smelling fill |
| Jewellery | Tangles and scratches | Card mounts or pouches, one piece per pouch |
Send three messages: confirmation when the order ships, with the tracking link; a short note inside the parcel, handwritten if your hand allows it, thanking them by name; and a follow-up after delivery asking whether it arrived safely. The middle message matters most. A packing slip with a price on it ruins a gift purchase, so if the buyer says the order is a gift, leave prices off the paper inside the box and put the note on top, where it is seen first.
Include a care card for anything that needs it: washing instructions for textiles, burn guidance for candles, or handling notes for delicate pieces. Buyers who know how to care for a handmade item keep it longer and complain less, and the card doubles as proof of the care you took if a damage claim ever arises. Photograph the finished parcel, with the label visible, before drop-off: that photo is your evidence if a buyer says the box arrived empty or damaged.
For a Canadian seller, a Canada Post Xpresspost label covers parcels up to 5 kg anywhere in Canada, and LetterAgent can provide that label through your AI assistant: you describe the parcel, approve the exact quoted price, pay once through Stripe, and receive the label as a PDF to print. Flat-rate pricing removes the weighing-and-measuring arithmetic from small-shop shipping, but the 5 kg ceiling still matters: weigh a box of ceramics before promising a delivery date, not after.
Set a clear shop policy before your first sale: how quickly orders ship, whether you combine shipping for multiple items, and who pays return shipping if something arrives damaged. State the policy on the listing, not just in a message after purchase. Buyers accept firm policies they saw up front; they resent the same policy delivered as a surprise.
Ask the buyer for photos of the box, the packing, and the damage, and keep the tone warm: most damage claims are genuine, and a defensive reply costs more in reputation than a replacement costs in materials. Replace or refund promptly, then look at your packing: damage to the same part twice means the packing failed, not the carrier. Adjust that one weak point before the next order goes out.
Ready to ship it? Get a shipping label with LetterAgent: describe it to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and get your label.
LetterAgent is a working name. Prices include print, postage, and our service fee. US prices in USD, Canadian prices in CAD (Canadian prices exclude applicable sales tax, added at checkout). Currently in private testing.
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