How to pack a parcel safely: a practical guide for shipping in Slovenia

The right box is half the job

Use a sturdy double-wall corrugated cardboard box. Shoe boxes and thin gift boxes tend to give way in transit. The box should leave 2–3 cm of space around the item for cushioning, but no more, because contents shift in an oversized box.

If you're shipping electronics and still have the original packaging, use it, but put it inside an outer box. Retail boxes aren't transport packaging, and keeping the original box undamaged raises the resale value.

Cushioning: nothing should move

• ·Wrap each item separately in bubble wrap (at least two layers for electronics).
• ·Fill every gap with paper, foam or polystyrene so nothing shifts.
• ·Put circuit boards, drives and graphics cards in an anti-static bag.
• ·Batteries belong in the device or individually protected, never loose in the box.
• ·Do the shake test: if you hear anything when gently shaking the box, add more filling.

Tape it with the H method

Apply quality packing tape (PP or reinforced, at least 48 mm wide) along all seams in an H shape: one strip over the centre seam, two over the side edges. Same on the bottom. For heavier parcels, add a cross of tape underneath.

Office tape and string don't belong on a parcel. String can jam sorting machines and most carriers explicitly prohibit it.

Address and label

• ·Stick the label on the largest face of the parcel, away from seams and tape.
• ·Remove or cover old labels and barcodes, otherwise the parcel may follow its old route.
• ·Put a slip with the recipient's address and your phone number inside the box: if the outer label is destroyed, the parcel can still find its way.

Shipping within Slovenia: Pošta, GLS or DPD?

For parcels up to 30 kg the three most common options in Slovenia are Pošta Slovenije, GLS and DPD. All three offer tracking and delivery to parcel lockers, which is usually the cheapest option and the most practical for second-hand deals, since the buyer picks the parcel up whenever it suits them.

Expect a few euros for a smaller locker parcel; check current price lists as they change. For pricier items (phones, laptops) pay the small premium to insure the shipment to its full value.

When selling to a stranger, cash on delivery is the safest arrangement: the buyer pays on pickup and the money is transferred to you. It avoids the "I'll pay once it arrives" stories that tend to end without payment.

Extra care for electronics

• ·Photograph the device from all sides before packing (proof of condition at handover).
• ·Power the device off; keep lithium batteries installed in the device where possible.
• ·Coil and wrap cables and chargers separately so they can't scratch the device in transit.
• ·Protect screens with a rigid sheet (cardboard or foam) across the whole surface.

What if the parcel still arrives damaged?

Tell the buyer to document any packaging damage at pickup and report it to the carrier immediately. Visibly damaged parcels can also be refused. As the sender you then file a claim with the carrier; this is where insurance and your pre-shipping photos pay off.