Thousands of parcels are sent abroad from Estonia every day. DPD Estonia statistics show that they are most often sent to neighbouring countries – Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, as well as Germany and Poland. If the parcel has to travel thousands of kilometres before it reaches its destination, it is extremely important to pack it carefully and check the requirements of the destination country. DPD Estonia shares five important steps to follow when sending a parcel abroad. According to the courier company DPD, over the past year, almost two-thirds (62%) of international parcels were sent to an address with a courier, and one-third (37%) to parcel machines. When sending a parcel, you must first choose whether it is more convenient for the courier to collect the parcel from your address or from a parcel machine. The delivery time of the parcel depends on the destination country, for example, a parcel arrives in Latvia in one working day, while delivery to Lithuania takes two days. When sending a parcel to a parcel machine in Finland, it will arrive at its destination within one to three working days, to Germany within three to five working days, and to Spain and Italy within four to six working days. The journey of all parcels can also be tracked outside of Estonia in the service provider’s system using the parcel number – from the moment the parcel was sent until the moment it was delivered. Compared to last year, the number of international parcels sent from private individuals to private individuals to parcel machines has increased by approximately a quarter. Thus, the share of parcels from Estonia continues to increase. When sending a parcel from Estonia, it is necessary to check the requirements of the destination country for parcels arriving in the country. European Union countries often have different rules regarding what can be sent to the respective country. Therefore, before sending a parcel, you should familiarise yourself with the terms and conditions of the parcel company to find out what and in what quantities is allowed to be sent to the desired destination country. For example, documents, cash, jewellery or perishable goods cannot be sent to a parcel machine or with a courier. As the parcel passes through various sorting centers and transport vehicles throughout the supply chain, it is extremely important to pack it carefully. When choosing outer packaging, you need to make sure that it is reliable and durable, and its size and material are suitable for the contents of the package. The free space between the product and the outer packaging should be filled on all sides with filler so that the transport packaging does not lose its shape and there is no free space inside for the product to shift. For inner packaging, use bubble wrap, shredded paper, corrugated cardboard, special air bags filled with air for safety, etc. To ensure environmental friendliness, you can use empty cardboard egg cartons, terry towels, crumpled newspapers, etc., which are available at home, as filler. Fragile items must be marked with the appropriate red "Fragile" sign (a red wine glass) or a red "Top" sign with instructions on how to handle the parcel. However, the marking alone does not provide sufficient protection for the parcel, so proper packaging is the best guarantee that the contents of the parcel will be delivered intact. Before placing the parcel in a parcel machine or handing it over to the courier, make sure that the dimensions of the parcel correspond to the dimensions and weight permitted for parcel machines and courier parcels. You can usually find this information in the general terms and conditions of the courier company. Parcels that exceed the size limits may be returned to the sender or an additional fee may be charged. The parcel must be marked with a parcel label with the contact details of the sender and recipient; It is especially important to add a phone number so that, if necessary, you can clarify the delivery details and ensure that the parcel reaches the right addressee or, if necessary, is returned to the sender. Double-check the details to make sure they are correct. Read RusDelfi wherever it is convenient for you. Follow us on Facebook, Telegram, Instagram or TikTok.
