Packaging, Tagging and Shipping

 

The container, interior packaging and the packaging of the product as the
customer will receive it are the vendor's responsibility. If the product is shipped to

us in a box that will be shipped to the customer (reshipper), QA will drop test the product to ensure that it will remain intact during transport to the customer. If the product needs to be over-boxed at the Fulfillment Centers, QA will determine the box size that will be used.

QA needs to receive a production sample of each SKU before approval can be
given.

The presentation appearance of the final product that will be shipped to the

customer is also a concern of HSN Merchandising. A production sample identical

to the one received by QA needs to be sent to HSN Merchandising.

QA evaluators may suggest certain packaging, based on their experience. However, it is the responsibility of the vendor to ensure that products are packaged so that they do not become damaged or leak during transport. The vendor should always do their own drop, freeze, vibration or other testing to ensure that the packaging prevents leaks or other damage.

HSN has established a Vendor Packaging Compliance program with the UPS
Professional Services Packaging Laboratory to help vendors ensure that their

packaging will withstand the small parcel distribution environment. Vendors are

encouraged to consult with UPS through this program and take advantage of the discounted testing rates negotiated by HSN.

Each SKU should be packaged in a sealed outer package that holds all separate

components of a SKU securely together (e.g. a sealed poly bag). A bar code

sticker must be on the outside of the packaging for each SKU. (See Vendor

Compliance Manual for details of the bar code stickers.)

 

For guidelines on palletizing, master cartons, tagging and shipping, refer to the HSN "Vendor Compliance Manual". Consult your partner in HSN's Merchandising Department for copies of these documents and assistance.

NOTE: Vendors are not, under any circumstances, permitted to substitute boxes or packaging for any item(s) unless approved by the HSN Buyer and QA.

 

Internal Packaging

Components of multi-item SKU's must be secured in the inner carton to prevent scuffing and rattling. It is recommended that components be individually wrapped to prevent excessive movement and breakage.

Packages are subject to crush loads in small parcel shipping; thus, a minimum

200-lb. burst strength or 32-lb ECT corrugated box is required.          (When boxes are

excessively large for their contents, the crushing of box walls can occur.)

 

 

 

 

 

• Bubble wrap is becoming the universal internal cushioning medium where
       no custom foam or die/partitioning has been designed. Use small bubbles
       for items with fine features. Place bubble side facing the object. Consider

using labor efficient preformed self-sealing bubble pouches for small items.

•    Paper wrapping and fill offer little impact resistance. Foam "peanuts" are
      primarily intended to fill voids, not to suspend and protect the item. Items
      tend to migrate against box walls and receive impact.

• Avoid glass-to-glass or ceramic-to-ceramic contact. If there is no custom
      designed protection, items must be individually bubble wrapped (small

bubbles, with bubble side touching the item).

•    Packaging for delicate protruding features require custom designed foam,
      or die-cuts that contact only those areas of the item strong enough to

support the items weight during drop testing.

• Be wary of using a non-bubble "foam blanket" other than as a separator,
        because it has little impact resistance.

• Gift baskets and similar product configurations must be packaged so

individual components will be secured for transit and not be susceptible to

mechanical damage that can occur in shipping. Shrink-wrapping or other suitable means may accomplish this.

•    Multi-item packages can range from twin-packs of a single item to full skin
      care or color make-up lines containing as many as twenty-five separate

components. Each type has separate packaging needs and will be addressed individually as follows:

Each component must be secured in the inner carton to prevent random movement in transit. This may be done by:

1.     Tissue wrap each individual item

2. Injection molded polyethylene carton insert

3. Pre-cut cardboard tray

4. Each item in its own gift-type box

5. Each item individually bubble-wrapped

O                     Each component must have a leak proof / tamper-evident seal.

(Unsealed containers in a shrink-wrapped box or a Polybag will
not meet these criteria.) All labeling requirements of the

container and/or enclosure apply to each component in the set in accordance with statutory requirements.

•    Sharp points and edges offering a hazard upon opening the package must

be covered and secured.

 

 

Revised: January 2003                                                                                                                                             8

 

 

Hardlines Product Standards

 

•    Plastic bags must be a minimum of 1.0 mil thick and be sealed. A "Child
      Suffocation Hazard Warning" must be on all flat, polybags measuring 5x7
      inches or larger. The letters must measure a minimum of 1/8-inches in
      height.

"Warning - To avoid danger of suffocation, keep away from babies and
      children. Do not use in cribs, beds, or play pens. This bag is not a toy."
 • Internal packaging must be consumer "return-friendly" and not likely to be
      destroyed when unwrapped. Customers should be able to repack in the

event they choose to return the item to HSN.

•    "Bonus" and/or "Gift with a Purchase" are two phrases used
      interchangeably to describe a product enhancement item that is included
      without additional charge to the customer. Whenever possible, the bonus
      item must be included by the vendor in the same outer box as the main
      item, or set, and secured in such a way appropriate to its size. When this
      is not possible, the bonus item(s) must be boxed separately and shrink-
      wrapped together with the primary item. Any product with a "Bonus" or
      "Gift" included will require prior approval by the Legal Department to assure

compliance with FTC guidelines.

•    "Twin Packs" and/or "Two-Per Deal" are two phrases used interchangeably
      to describe two identical products sold together as a unit. The two
      individual items may be placed together in a re-shipper box, or may be
      shrink-wrapped together to form a single unit.

• Vendors should perform their own ISTA drop testing or consult with UPS
      Professional Services Packaging Laboratory for ISTA 3A Series testing on
       their proposed pack recipe prior to submitting samples to HSN QA.

• HSN QA may, at its discretion, require a vendor to submit samples of its

product to UPS Professional Service for ISTA 3A Testing. Successful completion of this testing would be a condition of approval.

NOTE: Shipping trailer temperatures can vary from below zero to 920 ° F. Such
temperature extremes can cause items to melt, make contents brittle, or affect
adhesives, etc. Packaging must be adequate to protect against these conditions.

 

Box Types

•     Retail    - When individual items are packaged in lightweight boxes,

protected by master cartons, and contents remain upright through the distribution channel, the retail box must be over-boxed prior to shipment to the customer.

•     Long, Narrow Packages - Must be boxed with over-lapping end-flaps and

end-caps.

•    Gift Box Packaging          - Requires over-boxing by the vendor or by the

Fulfillment Center.

Reshipper - Refers to a vendor package capable of being reshipped, as is, by

HSN to our customer via the rigors of USPS, UPS, FED EX, etc.

• Your packaging (for product in re-shippers) must be able to withstand the

standard ISTA         (International Safe Transit Association) drop test AND

transit to the customer.

NOTE: The Buyer and Vendor must address reshipper-packaging options
in negotiations. A Vendor must supply a reshippable box whenever

feasible.

Outer (Shipping) Box - For an item weighing up to 65-lbs.,
there must be a minimum 200-lb. bursting strength, or a 32-lb
edge crush test, single wall, single flute, certified test. All

reshipper boxes must meet this requirement.

2.      Items weighing over 65-lbs. must be packaged in a minimum

275-lb box.

3.     Upgrading to a 275-lb. Double Wall Box (two walls and two
      sets of cushioning flutes) - If the package fails the drop test,
      upgrading to a 275-lb. double wall box is an economical means
      of adding impact protection with minimal increase in the outer
      box cube, versus upgrading to a larger single wall box to
      accommodate more internal padding.

4. "Easy-Fold Mailer"        - For reshipper packaging of smaller

items, consider the readily available 200-lb. test type of boxing.

 

 

Packaging Specifications

Conducting a Drop-Test

 

The following method follows the recommendations outlined under the

International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) 2 Series Integrity-Plus Test

Procedure - Performance Test for Individual Packaged-Products Weighing 150 lb. (68 kg) or Less. This test method covers procedures for the drop testing of
packaged products by the free-fall method. The impact surface shall be of
concrete, stone or steel. If the dropping surface is a steel plate, it must be at least Y inch (13 mm) thick and must be anchored firmly.

 

This test method is intended for use in evaluating the capability of a container to
withstand the sudden shock resulting from a free fall, or to evaluate the capability
of a container and its inner packing to protect its contents during a sudden shock

resulting from a free fall.

Identification of Faces, Edges and Corners

Prior to beginning the test identify the faces, edges and corners according to the

following procedure:

1.      Place the packaged-product in its intended shipping position as determined by
       shipper. If the shipping position can be variable, place the packaged-product
       so that the primary shipping label location is on the top face.

2. Does the packaged-product have only six faces (2 sides, 2 ends, top and
        bottom)?

•           If Yes, then go to step 4.

•        If No, continue to next step.

3. Develop a method to identify each face, edge and corner and document

diagram.

4. Is the package a corrugated container?

•          If Yes, continue to next step.

•        If No, then go to step 7.

5. Does the package have a manufacturer's joint connecting a side and an end

face?

•          If Yes, continue to next step.

•           If No, then go to step 7.

6. Turn the packaged-product so that you are looking directly at a face with the
        manufacturer's joint on the observer's right and go to step 8.

7. Position one of the smallest width faces of the packaged-product directly in

front of you.

 

 

 

 

Hardlines Product Standards

 

PRODUCT EVALUATION

 

 

8. Identify faces according to the following diagram:

 

 

 

 

9. Identify edges using the numbers of the two faces forming that edge. Example:
      Edge 1-2 is the edge formed by face 1 and face 2 of the packaged-product.

10. Identify corners using the numbers of the three faces that meet to form that

corner. Example: Corner 2-3-5 is the corner formed by face 2, face 3, and face 5 of the packaged-product.

 

 

 

 

 

PRODUCT EVALUATION

 

 

The test drop height varies with the weight of the packaged-product. You must determine the total weight of the packaged-product. Find the weight of the packaged-product in the following chart to determine a drop height:

 

Drop Testing Procedure

1.     Determine the drop height required.

2. Do you have a packaged-product with only 6 faces as identified in the Face,
      Edge and Corner Identification Section?

• If Yes, continue with the next step.

• If no, then go to step 5.

3. Test the packaged-product according to the height determined in step 1.

Follow the sequence in the table below.

 

Sequence #           Orientation

1                       Corner

2                        Edge

3                               Edge

4                               Edge

5                               Face

6                               Face

7                        Face

8                        Face

9                        Face

10                       Face

 

4. Testing is now complete.

 

Specific Face, Edge or Corner

Most fragile face-3 corner, if not known, test 2-3-5 Shortest edge radiating from the corner tested

Next longest edge radiating from the corner tested Longest edge radiating from the corner tested One of the smallest faces

Opposite small face

One of the medium faces

Opposite medium face

One of the largest faces

Opposite large face

5. Select a bottom face corner to replace the corner required in Step 3 Sequence

1 to begin the test.

6. Identify the edges of the packaged-product that meet the Step 3 Sequence 2

and 3 requirements.

 

Revised: January 2003                                                                                                                                           13