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When it comes to shipping merchandise, you may think about whether use padded mailers or boxes to enhance your ROI. The fact of the matter is that the packaging material can have a significant impact on profitability. In this article, we will discuss the characteristics of padded mailers and shipping boxes to determine their ability to help a business improve its bottom line.

The first thing you have to take into account is the product you ship. If you are shipping clothes, mailers will be a more viable option than boxes. On the other hand, you will need to use boxes if you are shipping breakable products. These smart choices can help you avoid product damages during transit, and your customer may want to purchase from you again.

Padded mailers

Here are a few advantages of padded mailers.

• Because these mailers are lightweight, they do not add much to the shipping costs.
• Padded mailers are usually less priced compared to cardboard boxes.
• Since these mailers come with padding inside, they may not need any additional protection.
• These mailers allow for fast product packaging. Businesses that count on every second may find these mailers more useful than other packaging options.
• Since these mailers do not take much space, they help save costs significantly. You will not need extra space in your warehouse to store these mailers.

Aside from advantages, these padded mailers also come with some pitfalls.

• While these mailers provide adequate protection, they are more susceptible to puncture. They also provide little protection against liquids.
• Products packed inside a mailer can be crushed if it ends up under a heavy box.
• Although you can buy large-sized mailers, they are not ideal for packing large items. Even the largest mailers may be too small for some products.
• These mailers are not designed to pack heavy items. Padded mailers are prone to tearing when used for packing heavy items.
• You will not be able to pack more than one product in a padded mailer.

Cartons

Here are the advantages of cartons.

• Corrugated boxes are usually sturdy and fit for shipping anything.
• These boxes can hold heavy items. Sealing them with water-activated tape can secure products in the best way possible.
• These boxes can be used several times. After they run their share of cycles, they can be recycled easily.
• Cartons are available in different sizes, from very small to very large. They can meet shipping needs for just about any product.
• If your shipment includes more than one item, there is nothing that can protect products like cardboard boxes.

Cartons also come with some pitfalls. Some of them are the following.

• They cost more than mailers.
• Their shipping costs are also higher than other materials used for outer packaging.
• They do not come with built-in padding, meaning that you will need to use protective packaging materials to add padding.
• Boxes have to be larger than the products due to the required room for protective packaging. That makes these boxes bulkier and hard to store.

 No matter what your packaging application is, think smartly about both options and choose wisely. You may want to discuss your requirements with a packaging consultant to have a better idea.