Decide first whether the item is suitable for shipping

Not every item should be shipped at any cost. Before packing, assess value, fragility, weight, dimensions, access to suitable materials and distance.

A very heavy, rare or delicate item, or one without an adequate container, may require a specialised service or local handover. Shipping is a logistics decision, not an automatic step in a sale.

If you cannot build packaging that prevents movement and protects vulnerable areas, change the delivery method rather than trying to compensate with more tape or random filler.