BIG Amazon Shipping Changes Are On the Way — Is this the end of the smiley-face box?
March 13, 2019
Stop the presses, we’ve got BIG news! There are sweeping changes coming to the way you’ll do business with Amazon…
Could this spell the end of the smiley-face box??
These changes will have major implications for your bottom line, but Ernest has your back! Here’s everything you need to know.
THE GOOD:
Amazon finally caught up to customer backlash on wasteful packaging. Gone are the days of ordering a single book and seeing it arrive in a box that could fit an entire library. To conserve cardboard, Amazon is implementing a new policy targeting jumbo products — it’s called “frustration-free packaging.”
If you ship products that are larger than 18” x 14” x 8” or heavier than 20 pounds, you’ll be charged unless they Ship In their Own Container (SIOC). If you play nice with Amazon’s rules before July 31, you’ll get a $1 credit per unit! Woo hoo!
THE BAD:
These changes are coming fast, and vendors like you have to do all of the heavy lifting. If you don’t, it’ll cost you! Amazon will gladly keep supplying you with their branded overboxes… for a price. If you don’t fall in line by August 1, you’ll be charged $1.99 per unit. Ouch!
THE BEAUTIFUL:
If you partner with Ernest Packaging Solutions, it doesn’t matter what Amazon throws at us. With over 70 years of experience under our belts, we can design, supply and test your package to get it in shape. Oh, and for those who aren’t partnering with Ernest yet, Amazon has put together the Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier Network (APASS).
Long story short: if your business ships big, heavy products through Amazon, then you need to take action. Let’s get to it!
Rather than pay fees for a protective Amazon overbox, it’s time for your packaging to hit the gym. A great place to start is pumping some iron with our proprietary SteelBoard®. It stands up to the toughest conditions packages can face during shipping, and kicks the industry standard to the curb.
To see protective packaging in motion, look no further than our client Martin Door. Their garage doors were too big to fit in a box, and shipping damage was a reality Martin Door reluctantly accepted. Watch our video to see how Ernest came to the rescue!
Strong packaging doesn’t have to come at the expense of good looks. When protection and great branding combine, your product can stand up to damage and stand out to the consumer — like Ernest’s work with SnackNation.
Strengthening SnackNation’s snack delivery boxes was just the first step. The real magic happens when you open the box to find a fully branded experience on the inside. In the era of Youtube, your branding can wow customers at every stage of the unboxing experience. That’s what we call thinking INSIDE the box!
Amazon’s policy spells big changes for vendors this year, but this is just phase 1. Who knows what Jeff Bezos has up his sleeve for the years to come? If Amazon sales are a vital part of your business, you need to stay on your toes to roll with the punches. Ernest’s team of senior design specialists approaches your packaging holistically, so you can be ready for whatever is around the corner. Give us a call today!
