No matter what you're sending or where it's going, there's one thing on your mind when you purchase a gift online: making sure that it gets to the recipient. Secure shipping is very important for those who are sending packages to their loved ones. To make sure that your package or parcel gets to its destination on time and intact, follow these five easy steps:

1. Package your shipment securely
   Reinforce all box edges with two-inch tape. Brown or clear packaging tape, reinforced packing tape, or paper tape should do the trick. When your package is in transit, it may roll around in the back of a truck, or it may be shuffled when it reaches a shopping centre. No matter how heavy duty the packaging is, it's good to play it safe and reinforce any perforated edges.
2. Label your package clearly
   Remember that when your package is delivered, the handler has to read the address you write on the package. If your numbers or letters aren't written clearly, your package may end up on someone else's doorstep. Type out your shipping label if you don't have the best handwriting, and maybe even have the recipient sign for the package, to make sure that they receive the correct item.
3. Don't send restricted items
   Even if you think something may make the perfect gift, carriers have a list of restricted or prohibited items that may not make it past the point of collection. These items may be refused, returned to the sender, or even destroyed. For security reasons, carriers cannot accept these items, so it's best not to even try shipping them.
4. Track your shipments online
   Each shipment should be assigned a tracking number, so you will know the approximate location of your shipment at all times. If your package does not reach the recipient within the estimated delivery dates, it would be worth checking where the shipment was last seen. If your shipment is marked as delivered, you may have become the victim of theft or a system error. Contact the merchant or shipping carrier directly in order to determine the cause of the loss.
5. Insure your package or parcel Package and parcel insurance with a secure delivery service gives you confidence that your package will be shipped safely and efficiently. If something does happen to the shipment, your package is covered, and will be replaced or reimbursed. Secure package and secure parcel delivery is very important, and shipping with insurance will only help you achieve this.

While the initial investment in secure package or secure parcel delivery may be steep, the cost of a package loss, especially for an expensive gift, will surely exceed it.