What happens when a parent needs to ship a tuba to a son or daughter who just joined the college band and needs their instrument after all? How can someone mail that family heirloom or precious, antique, full-length mirror? Odd shaped packages can be a challenge for people whose shipping needs require sending those items. There are the obvious questions of how to keep the item safe during transit, free from damage, and the costs can be exorbitant if the item is over-packed or wrongly labeled. Both FedEx and UPS have preferred methods for their shipping customers to follow when sending awkwardly shaped items, and the proactive shipper can capitalize on smart packing to save money.

When it comes to a mirror, the standard bubble wrap along with cardboard edge braces and a sturdy fitted box all ensure safe travels for such a fragile item. Shipping that tuba requires the instrument’s hard case, in addition to a large box that fits the item closely on at least four sides, bubble wrap and orientation arrows to keep UPS or FedEx employees from flipping it too much during its trip. The bigger challenge, as well as the higher costs, arises when shipping something like furniture. With so many styles and sizes, each has various shipping needs. Both UPS and FedEx will ship most furniture items (as long as the items are weight appropriate) but finding the needed packaging to send a couch is an obvious challenge.

The simplest, most carefree route to travel when shipping large items like furniture is to let UPS or FedEx do the packaging for the customer. Of course, taking the easy route is equal to taking the most costly one, but when the shipper has concerns about doing good work, keeping the couch, chair or other large item safe, it may also be the best. If the shipper decides to make his or her own packaging, he or she should keep in mind what type of material will be useful. As long as the item can ship without a pallet, the shipper is relatively safe constructing or finding a box for the job. However, to ship such a large item with sharp corners and unevenly distributed weight, thick cardboard is essential, as well as foot coverings for any legged item such as a couch.