Benefits of Frustration-Free Packaging for Online Stores

8 min read

As an ecommerce business, packaging and presentation are critical to the customer experience that your company offers.

If your customer receives their package and it’s impossible to open, the box has been damaged during shipping, or it looks like it’s been poorly handled, it’s a direct reflection on your company.

Rather than risking a positive customer experience for cheap packaging, many companies opt for frustration-free packaging for order fulfillment.

Let’s explore everything there is to know about frustration-free packaging in this post.

Frustration-Free Packaging Explained

Have you been Googling “What is frustration free packaging?” and come up short? We’re here to help.

Frustration-free packaging is a concept that was introduced by Amazon to decrease material shipping waste and to safeguard products shipped to consumers.

This type of packaging is 100% recyclable, includes no extra shipping materials, and is easy to open when the consumer receives it.

Do you have to be an Amazon retailer to access frustration-free packaging? Absolutely not! Any ecommerce retailer can use this type of packaging to ship their products, but it’s essential to know the components that make packaging qualify for this initiative.

Here are the requirements for a package to be considered frustration-free.

Is it recyclable?

Frustration-free packaging is made from 100% recyclable material once it’s opened. Eco-friendly packaging is ideal for companies as more consumers are becoming conscious of the impact on natural resources and the excessive use of packaging materials by ecommerce retailers.

Mushroom packaging for Mr Bailey x adidas Originals OZLUCENT sneakers

Is it ready to ship?

Products should be able to be shipped in their original packaging, and just placed in the shipment box. There isn’t any need for additional packaging.

Is it easy to open?

There’s nothing worse than receiving a package in the mail, only to need several sharp items to open it! Frustration-free packaging requires no tools and should be easy to open by hand.

Is it designed for consumers?

If the packaging can protect their products and is easy to open, consumers will more than likely be satisfied with the item. They’re the ones receiving the items, so the packaging design should be completed with consumers in mind.

Benefits of Frustration-Free Packaging

Now that you know what to look for in frustration-free packaging, let’s discuss the ample benefits this type of shipping supplies can provide your ecommerce business.

Protection of Products

In standard packaging, products often arrive damaged or soiled because the shipping process is rough. This ruins the customer experience. Who wants to open a package for a broken item?

Frustration-free packaging offers a much more tailored fit for products, eliminating the risk of broken or damaged items during shipping. In a box that fits snugly, products won’t shift around, open, or spill as they make their way to your customers.

Cost Savings

As your ecommerce company ships more products using frustration-free packaging, you’ll begin to notice considerable cost savings along the way.

For one, your shipping prices will decrease as you pay for packages that weigh less. With fewer shipping materials (like paper) to protect your items, you will spend less on shipping costs.

Avoid returns and negative customer reviews by reducing the number of damaged products during shipment. This will contribute to your bottom line, while positive customer reviews will bring in more business.

Workforce Efficiency

Whether you’re running a one-man show or you have a warehouse full of employees, packaging plays a significant role in what your workforce spends its time on. With frustration-free packaging, your staff will spend less time packing boxes with extra material and can improve their efficiency along the way.

Frustration-Free Packaging vs. Standard Packaging

Many brands aren’t aware of the differences between standard and frustration-free packaging, so don’t sweat it if that’s you. Let’s highlight the key differences between the two here.

What is Standard Packaging?

Standard packaging refers to the boxes and shipping supplies used in typical retail settings.

Often, this kind of packaging is not designed to fit the box or items being shipped — it is significantly larger. Because of its distinct size, standard packaging often requires additional materials, including styrofoam peanuts, paper, and other soft materials to keep items secure and safe during transport.

You can use almost anything as a package filler

Aside from the extra materials required, standard packaging runs a higher risk of items being damaged during shipment. Lastly, standard packaging is often challenging to open, requiring scissors or a switchblade to slice through heavy-duty tape, wire, and zip ties used to secure the package.

As you can see, standard packaging is significantly different from frustration-free packaging. It’s not designed specifically for consumers and requires additional materials to ensure products are not damaged upon arrival.

What Frustration-Free Packaging Provides Ecommerce Retailers

Is frustration-free packaging really necessary for ecommerce retailers?

As more brands and companies become hyper-focused on customer experience, we think the answer is a resounding yes! Here are a few of the additional benefits you can expect to see as a retailer.

Improve the Customer Experience

Provide a positive experience every time with frustration-free packaging that is easy to open, eco-friendly, and ensures your products arrive safely.

In turn, your customers will be more satisfied with their purchase and may even write a review or refer your business to people they know.

Promote Your Brand

Every phase of the customer experience is a chance to showcase your brand, and shipping is no exception.

Promote your company as a sustainable, customer-focused business by utilizing frustration-free packaging to show your commitment to their satisfaction above all else.

Supercharge Your Ecommerce Shop with Ecwid

In the convoluted world of ecommerce, shipping often falls by the wayside as there are so many other tasks that need your attention. Whether you need tips on how to save money on shipping or general support on running an online store, we’re here to be a resource.

If you’re just getting started in ecommerce, Ecwid is a free, easy-to-use platform to set up and launch your online store and shopping cart. With Ecwid, you can sell anywhere — from popular social media sites to marketplaces or your brand website.

Get started today!

Sell online

With Ecwid Ecommerce, you can easily sell anywhere, to anyone — across the internet and around the world.

Get started

Nov 28, 2023

About the author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.