Summary

Ensuring your shipped items are packaged appropriately is essential before using any delivery service, including Starling. This support article outlines how to choose the right packaging for courier delivery.

Packaging best practices

We want to ensure you and your customers have a stellar delivery experience. To help us achieve that, we need you to ensure packages shipped via Starling’s delivery service meet all of the following criteria:

Packaging must maintain food safety standards. For example, food items should not be shipped ‘naked’ or otherwise exposed; temperature-sensitive items should use appropriate packaging (request Cold Delivery service, when required).
Packaging must be sealed to prevent spills or leakage. For example, plastic wrap is insufficient to seal packaging; boxes must be sealed with packing tape, etc.
Small retail-ready items must be packed in a master case. This makes for efficient pickups and drop-offs, and prevents the loss of items.
Packaging must not be too big for the item(s) contained within. Shipping items within inadequately sized packaging will result in damage during transit due to shifting within the packaging. It will also result in higher shipping costs due to increased use of space.
Packaging must be robust for courier transport (i.e., stable/sturdy). Items packed in delicate packaging are at a higher risk for damage during transit and may be declined at pickup or require Special Handling services.

Starling reserves the right to decline pickup of any item not appropriately packaged for courier delivery.

Tip: To give your products the greatest flexibility for distribution, choose packaging that is intuitive to handle and is designed for transit (e.g., has handles, thicker walls, etc.).