Generally, parcels with regular, symmetrical shapes and smooth surfaces are less likely to attract an AHS.

Shipments wrapped with polystyrene and paper are not robust enough for outer packaging. They can be fragile and easily break.

Materials such as polystyrene, leather and soft plastics can ‘stick’ to the sortation machines in hubs and potentially cause blockages or damages to your shipment, hence requiring manual sorting.

Materials such as hessian and canvas will slide on the sortation machine in hubs and potentially cause blockages or damages to your shipment.

A large sized polythene sack can often mean loose wrapping, which can cause issues with the contents shifting in the package, leading to the potential of tearing and causing blockages on sortation machines or damages to your shipment.

Corrugated cardboard is the preferred packaging for shipments due to its strength and durability. Plastic Paks are also, in some cases, a suitable choice.

Tubes are generally unstable and can roll, hence cannot go over sortation machines where they will potentially cause blockages or damages to your shipment, hence requires additional manual sorting.

Items which can catch on staff, machinery and cause harm or damage, for example handles, tags, straps, wheels, casters and handlebars. Any irregular shape that become entangled in or cause damage to our sortation systems or to other packages.

Excessive tape / plastic film or shrink wrap can interfere with automated sorting systems, requiring manual handling and potentially causing delays.

Using boxes to package your items and ensuring that parcels are securely closed without excessive packaging, can help to avoid AHS charges. Please see our Packaging Guidelines for more information.