Packaging glass ceramic breakable and fragile units

On this page, you will learn how to properly prep products that are breakable or fragile so that they are protected from breaking throughout the fulfillment process.

All breakable products or items which must be handled with extreme care fall under this category. Breaka-ble items must be packaged so that they cannot break during the normal process of receipt, storage and shipping. They should therefore be packed in a secure cardboard box that is shock proof and drop resistent. All articles which are to be sent to customers as individual items must be packed as such that they cannot be broken or damaged during transit.

How to prep fragile products

Fragile Units should be packaged so they will not break and possibly create a safety hazard during storage, shipment preparation, or shipment to the customer. A fragile Unit must be packaged in either a six solid-sided box, or completely secured in bubble wrap, so the Unit is not exposed in any way.

Watch this brief video for examples of how to prep your products for shipment to and storage in Amazon fulfillment centers.

Packaging guidelines

Do...	Do Not...
Individually wrap or box all units to prevent damage. For example, in a set of four wine glasses, each individual wine glass must be wrapped. Box fragile Units with six solid sides, so the Unit is not exposed in any way. Wrap multiple Units individually to prevent them from damaging one another within their package.	Leave empty space in the package, which may lower the chance of passing the 80 cm drop test and the shake test.

Shake test and drop test

We recommend to conduct following packaging tests for items that are prone to breakage.

Shake test: Units must meet the following criteria when shaken upside down vigorously 15 times:

• the content of the package does not become exposed
• the content does not move around within the box to make a clattering sound
• if multiple units are packed in a box, they don't damage one another

Drop test: Units can pass a 80-cm drop test onto a hard surface without breaking. A drop test consists of five drops:

• Flat on base
• Flat on top
• Flat on longest side
• Flat on shortest side
• On a corner

Packaging preserved flowers

• Each flower must be packed individually in a transparent container so any damage can be detected without opening
• Clearly mark "Preserved flowers" on the shipping label and arrange the shipment as such
• Label "This Ends Up" as well as "Fragile" along with shipping label

Packing fragile products as card or post card

Permitted packaging materials:

• Boxes
• Dunnage
• Labels

Examples of prepped units

Not permitted: The Unit is exposed and unprotected. Parts can snag and break.	Permitted: The Unit is protected with bubble wrap preventing parts from snagging.

Examples of good packaging
For folder type boxes, wind the box around with paper or plastic tape, or use a sleeve to keep the base and the lid together. Cover with shrink film or place in a plastic bag for added protection.	Box with a locking part fixes the main flap in place for increased sturdiness.
Cover folder type box with shrink film or place in a plastic bag to prevent the box from being opened during the transport.	The item is housed and secured in a cut-out mount, not in contact with the box thus withstands an external impact.

Recommended cushioning materials
Paper	Bubble wrap
Foam sheets	Air pillows

Additional notes on packaging

• When shipping books, CDs, and DVD using FBA, bubble wrap or air-cushion, or any other wrapping material that interfere with product identification are not permitted. (This rule does not apply for official bonus products and units sold as set).
• Plush units (fabric toys, puppets, etc.), apparel products, and unit in an open box need to be enclosed in sealed box/poly bag to avoid exposure to dust, dirt, and damage during the fulfillment process.
• Ensure that the unit is completely covered or enclosed in a poly bag, protected with shrink wrap or sealed in a box. The unit must not have exposed surface. Kitchen wrap is not permitted.
• Do not leave empty space in the package. The distance from the item to the outer package/presentation box must be less than 10 cm.
• For boxes that are readily open during the transport, seal it in a poly bag or secure the flap/top part onto the body with removable tape.
• Wrap the product itself or fill empty space in the box with cushioning material so the item stays in place.
• In packages containing multiple items, all items must be individually wrapped to prevent damage from other items within the container.
• For a unit consisting of multiple parts (e.g. a body and lid), each part must be wrapped individually. Consider using a divider or cardboard to separate each part within the container.
• When packing a heavy item or outer box is not sturdy enough to protect the content from external impact, use additional wrapping material to cover outer surface.