A motorbike delivery in Accra goes over speed humps, through potholes and around sudden stops. The parcel is strapped to a rack, not floating in a padded van. A few minutes of packing saves a difficult conversation later.
Choose the right box
Use a rigid carton that closes flat, with no soft sides and no torn corners. A box that is much larger than the item lets it slide around inside; a box that bulges does not stack or strap well. If the original packaging is flimsy, put it inside a stronger carton.
For documents, use a rigid envelope or a small box rather than a paper envelope. Paper creases the moment it is pressed against a delivery bag.
Cushion all six sides
The item should not move when you shake the closed box. Fill gaps with bubble wrap, foam, crumpled paper or clean cloth. Pay attention to corners and the side that faces the road.
Wrap liquids separately in a sealed bag before they go into the box. A leaking bottle ruins everything around it, and no amount of careful riding fixes a bad seal.
For glass and electronics, wrap the item first, then fill the outer box so the wrapped item sits in the middle, not against a wall.
Tape like you mean it
Run packing tape along the centre seam and then across both ends of the box, forming an H. One strip down the middle is not enough for a parcel that will be strapped down and unstrapped several times.
Do not use masking tape or cello tape as the main seal. They lift in heat and dust.
Label the parcel clearly
Write the receiver's name and phone number on the box itself, not only on a loose slip of paper. Add the order number if you have it. Put the label on the largest flat face and cover it with clear tape so rain and rubbing do not erase it.
If the parcel is fragile, write FRAGILE on two sides. Our riders and warehouse team look for it, and it costs nothing.
Hand it over sealed
Seal the parcel before the rider arrives. The rider will check that it is closed and that the label matches the order, then secure it to the bike. If you still need to add something at the last minute, open and reseal it properly rather than tucking the item under the flap.
A quick checklist
- Rigid box, no soft sides, no torn corners.
- Nothing moves when the box is shaken.
- Liquids bagged and padded.
- H-seal with packing tape.
- Name, phone and order number on the box.
- Fragile marked on two sides.
Pack once, pack properly. The parcel then has a much quieter journey than the one you would have worried about.
