Wholesale liquidation merchandise is typically shipped in one of two ways: by the case (in boxes) or by the pallet (boxes stacked on top of wooden pallets).
Depending on the types of liquidation goods you are working with, the quantity and the weight of the individual items and boxes, one shipping method may be more appropriate than the other.
In general, if a single shipment is to contain more than 20 individual boxes, it is usually more cost-effective to ship it on a pallet rather than by the box.
Wholesale liquidation companies who will liquidate your goods for you are likely to need the items to be packed in these ways.
1. By the case.
Smaller loads of items (under 20 cases) can be packaged in brown boxes and sealed with packing tape. These boxes would then be weighed individually so that the liquidator can generate shipping labels for each box in preparation for shipping the lot to the end buyer.
You can use new or used boxes for this, as long as they are in decent condition. Boxes can have printing or markings on the outside – they do not need to be blank. Ensure the packing tape used is strong enough to withstand handling by shipping carriers.
2. By the pallet.
Larger loads (over 20 cases) should be stacked on top of pallets. Pallets are wooden grids on top of which boxes are stacked for each maneuvering and shipping. Boxes should be stacked with the heaviest ones on the bottom, and no more than 8 feet tall so that they can fit into the back of a truck.
Pallets should then be shrink-wrapped (preferably with blank shrink-wrap) to keep the items steady on the pallet and to hide the contents from curious eyes. Shrink-wrap can be purchased from any warehouse supply store or ordered online.
Each pallet should be individually labeled and a total weight for the full load should be provided to the liquidator and/or shipping carrier.
Important Terms:
Pallet
A “grid” of wood on top of which boxes are stacked for easy shipping and maneuvering.
Pallets have space for a forklift to pick them up and move them in and out of a truck.
Liftgate
A motorized platform on the back of a truck that allows the pallet to be lowered to the ground from the truck’s bed for easy loading and unloading. If your load is being picked up from a shipping location that does not have a loading dock, your goods will require a truck with a liftgate – an important detail!
Shrink Wrap
Shrink wrap is plastic film that is used to keep boxes steady on top of a pallet, and to hide/protect the items from being seen during shipping. Shrink wrap can be clear/transparent or black. Black wrap is typically preferable when preparing items for shipping, while transparent shrink wrap is appropriate for staging merchandise in a warehouse so customers can still see the contents of the pallet.