I've been raving about Fervet in my previous reviews - I sell products on marketplaces like Ozon and Yandex Market. The more orders I get, and the more units in each order, the more I earn, which makes sense. But as sales volumes grow, so do packaging costs. I've had to think about how to optimize those costs.
I use a range of packaging materials to send my orders: four-flap corrugated boxes, self-assembly boxes (for smaller shipments), self-sealing bags, bubble wrap, craft paper, and packing tape. Everything I need is available from Fervet. I recently bought these small craft boxes. They're 15x7x6 cm in size and cost around 10.5 rubles each at the time of purchase.
Fervet self-assembly boxI try to choose the right-sized boxes for each order. I don't want the product to be rattling around inside the box like something in a bathroom cabinet. And there's no point overpaying for a bigger box - the bigger the box, the more expensive it is. If there's free space in the box, I fill it with crumpled craft paper. Ultimately, my goal is to ensure the customer receives their order intact.
I always try to follow the principle of one order, one box - if a customer has multiple items in one order, I never split the order into multiple shipments. Instead, I pack the order as a single freight item. If I don't have a large enough box, I pack the items in two boxes and then wrap them in stretch film and tape as a single shipment. This is cheaper and minimizes the risk of losing one of the two or three boxes during delivery.
Fervet packaging boxI never skimp on packing tape. I once witnessed a customer on Ozon receiving a wall lamp that was missing its mounting bracket - the box had indicated that the bracket was included. The problem was that the box wasn't even wrapped in tape or stretch film - the box had an open edge. And that's where the bracket went: it fell out, was stolen, or simply wasn't included in the packaging. Needless to say, the customer immediately rejected the item.
I've had my fair share of packages getting lost in transit, but thankfully, that's rare. Sometimes, it takes a while for the package to reach me in Tula after being sent to some customer in Siberia. When that happens, the boxes often arrive damaged, but the products inside are still intact.
For flat items that don't require sturdy packaging, I use these black, non-transparent bags with adhesive tape. They're super convenient.
Fervet courier bagsI label my packages and boxes according to Yandex and Ozon's requirements using self-adhesive labels that are 75*120 mm in size. I print them on this thermal printer.
Once, Fervet really came through with these labels when our country imposed sanctions, and paper prices skyrocketed. Even the check-out tape disappeared from stores. Fervet was one of the few places where I could order the labels at reasonable prices.
Thermal label for XprinterRussian Post is probably wondering how I manage to save so much money.
I'm sure it's no secret that packaging and plastic bags cost a lot more on Russian Post than on Ozon or WB. And Fervet is even cheaper! Although Fervet is a seller on WB, I've seen them there.
Fervet reviewsI mostly buy products for resale in other cities, and I rarely order in Tula. My suppliers are mostly based in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Most of them still use paper invoices, and I have to send them back by mail. When I receive the goods, I get two copies of the invoice - one for myself and one for the supplier. I sign and stamp the supplier's copy and send it back. Occasionally, I also have to send contracts, verification acts, and other documents. If I had to buy packaging and envelopes on Russian Post, I would have wasted a lot of money, but I managed to save some.
The most common package sizes I use are 162*229 mm and 229*324 mm.
Fervet shipping boxesI used to buy shipping boxes from the Russian postal service, but they're ridiculously expensive. Fervet offers them at a much better price point, with a wide range of sizes starting from tiny ones and going up to 60*60*40 cm.
In my time, I used to sell crafting materials on the YarMarket website and send orders via mail. I ended up buying a bunch of shipping boxes from the Russian postal service, back when they still had the old design. I haven't sold anything on YarMarket for ages now, but I still use those old boxes from time to time.
From what I recall, Fervet no longer sells shipping boxes with the Russian postal service's logo on them, but you can still send packages via mail using plain brown boxes as long as they're clean, not creased, and without any signs of re-taping.
shipping boxesOne thing that really stands out to me is how Fervet has everything I need to run my online sales business efficiently. And their prices are pretty sweet.
I wanted to mention Fervet's service in general. They take care of transporting the packages to the transport company themselves, and I only pay for the inter-terminal shipping fee.
Fervet reviewI usually don't send packages that weigh more than 5 kg, and the SDEK is right next door, so I just order from there and pick up my package at the PVS.
They ship orders really quickly. From my recent one, for example - I ordered and paid on Thursday (I buy in bulk using my business account), and by evening I'd already received a notification from SDEK about my package being ready. By Friday, it was already handed over to SDEK, and by Monday I'd picked it up.
I've got nothing to complain about, except maybe that they don't have a wider range of box sizes. And, yeah, the constant advertising can get a bit annoying - I had to turn off their newsletter, but that's not a big deal.
I'm hoping Fervet will keep up the good work!
I've been really impressed with the quality of their products. The design is sleek and modern, and the buttons are all laid out in a way that makes sense. It's clear that they've put a lot of thought into creating a premium product.