The e-cigarette market in the United States is thriving, but regulations continue to become more strict. As a seller of vapes and vaping products, how can you ensure that products sold online reach customers safely and on time? It’s all a matter of understanding state and federal regulations, choosing the right carrier, and having a backup plan for when packages get lost, stolen, or damaged.
Vape Shipping Regulations
Ecommerce is a convenient way for consumers to order the products they need. But for products that are legally restricted by age, online shopping poses some challenges.
In order to limit children’s access to vape products, the U.S. government enacted the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children (PACT) Act in 2020. The law restricts the sale of e-cigarettes to anybody under the legal age to buy tobacco products. It also prohibits the United States Postal Service (USPS) from transporting them.
In addition to the PACT Act and other federal laws, states have their own restrictions and requirements for transporting nicotine products such as vaping devices and e-liquid. Make sure to carefully research a state’s laws before shipping nicotine products there.
Which Carriers To Use
Shortly after USPS stopped shipping vapes and similar products in 2021, UPS and FedEx followed suit. That means the three largest carriers in the United States won’t transport your products!
While this might seem like an impossible dilemma, the solution is simple: use regional carriers instead. Many regional carriers still ship vapes—the trick is finding options that deliver to the areas where your customers are located.
Consider looking into GLS, Better Trucks, Lone Star Overnight (LSO), IntelliQuick, and LaserShip.
How To Package and Ship Vapes
When preparing vaping devices and e-liquid for packaging, your goal should be to minimize the chances of damage occurring in transit. Follow these steps to protect your packages:
1. Choose a Sturdy Box
Choose a durable box that can withstand handling and transportation. The box should be slightly larger than the product to allow room for padding. Just make sure it’s not too big, or the product could shift and be damaged during transit.
2. Wrap the Product
Wrap fragile products in foam or bubble wrap as an extra layer of protection. If products have the potential to leak, wrap them tightly in plastic bags or shrink wrap.
3. Add Filler Material
Fill any extra space in the box with filler material like shredded paper, bubble wrap, or packing peanuts. This will help prevent the product from getting damaged if the box is jostled or crushed.
4. Label With Applicable Warnings
Consider adding a “Fragile” label so carriers know to be extra careful with your package. Additionally, if the package contains a lithium battery, you may need to include a lithium battery label. Because batteries are at risk of exploding or causing fires, they should only be transported by ground shipping.
5. Require Proof of Delivery
Make sure to choose the signature on delivery option to ensure that an adult over the age of 21 receives the package.
The Importance of Shipping Insurance
Proper packaging goes a long way toward ensuring the safety of your shipment. But things can still go wrong! With millions of packages being transported every day, some of them are bound to be damaged. On top of that, your shipments face other risks, including loss and theft.
Lost, stolen, and damaged packages are costly for businesses and frustrating for customers. To help your bottom line and provide a better delivery experience, consider giving online shoppers the option to purchase shipping insurance.
Norton Shopping Guarantee with Package Protection by EasyPost, available for Shopify and WooCommerce stores, allows your customers to insure their orders for a small percentage of the total cost. If something goes wrong during shipping, our team handles everything to ensure the customer gets a timely refund. The result? Money and time saved for your team, greater buyer satisfaction, and a more loyal customer base.
Learn how to protect your packages and increase your conversions for free.
