Sealed delivery: how to tell if a package has been opened in transit
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
6 min reading time
A customer reports that the box was open and something is missing. With seals, shrink wrap, and the right tape, you can determine if a package was opened en route — and you'll immediately see it yourself too.
A customer emails that the box was open and something is missing. You're sure you packed everything, but you can't prove it. The package passed through multiple hands, rolled over a conveyor belt, and perhaps sat in a doorway somewhere. Without a trace on the packaging, it's your word against the customer's — and in practice, you'll end up on the losing side.
There's a simple solution for this: package in such a way that you can tell from the outside if someone has opened the package. This costs a few cents per shipment and saves you discussions, goodwill shipments, and hassle with returns.
What "sealed" means in practice
A seal does not make a package unbreakable. Anyone with a knife can get through cardboard. What a seal DOES do is make it visible that something has happened. This is called tamper-evident: not unopenable, but not openable unnoticed.
That difference is exactly what you need. If the customer receives a box with an intact seal, the discussion is quickly over. If the seal is damaged or loose, you know it happened en route and not at your packing table. This is useful for the customer AND for your carrier.
VOID seals: how they work and where to apply them
A VOID sticker leaves a pattern on the box, usually the word "VOID", when removed. If you reapply it, that pattern remains visible. The Security Seal Stickers VOID - 60 pieces cost €9.95 per set — that's about €0.17 per seal, which is less than what a roll of void fill material costs you per package.
Where you apply them determines if it works:
Across the seam, not next to it. A seal in the middle of the lid won't stop anyone.
Half on the flap, half on the side, so the sticker must tear to open the box.
On smooth cardboard. Seals adhere poorly to dusty or greasy boxes; wipe the area clean first.
Two seals for valuable shipments, on both short sides. One loosened seal is a coincidence, two is a pattern.
For expensive shipments, briefly note which package you sealed and with how many seals. A line in your shipping overview is enough.
Sealing: bags you can't open unnoticed
For bags, film, and grip-seal bags, heat sealing is the sturdiest option. A Manual Heat Sealer Blue (€79.95) melts the bag shut into a tight seam. To get back in, you have to cut it — and that's visible.
Sealing makes particular sense if you bundle loose products, pack small parts in sets, or send something that needs to arrive clean and dust-free. If you work with fixed sets, a grip-seal bag (€2.00 per set) is a cheaper intermediate step: close, heat-seal, or apply a seal over it.
When using a heat sealer, pay attention to two things: the width of your bags (it must fit within the bar) and the thickness of the film. Film that is too thick won't seal properly; film that is too thin will melt through. Test a few times with an empty bag before doing an entire batch.
Tape is your base — which roll for what
Most packages are not cut open but pulled open: with a poorly applied seam, you only need to pry. Good tape is therefore your first line of defense.
Apply tape using the H-method: one strip over the center seam, two strips over the short edges. This way, every opening is closed. Let the tape extend at least five centimeters beyond the edge on both sides, otherwise it will come loose faster in cold or humid conditions.
Packaging that gives itself away
Some packaging already shows that it has been opened, without any extra aids.
In short: choose the packaging based on what's inside, and add a seal where the closure itself leaves no traces.
What to record if things still go wrong
Sealing only helps if you also have something to show. Keep it simple:
Take one photo of the packed, sealed package just before shipping. Make sure the shipping label is legible.
Note the weight. A package arriving lighter than its shipped weight is a concrete starting point.
If a customer reports an issue, ask for photos of the outside, including the seal or seam, BEFORE it is unpacked.
Save this with the order. What a carrier does with such a report varies per party and per package type — check the terms and conditions and the damage procedure of your carrier for this.
What does this cost per package?
Item
Price
Approx. per package
VOID seal (set of 60)
€9.95
€0.17 per seal
Packaging tape 50 meters
€3.00
a few cents
Grip-seal bags (set)
€2.00
€0.20 per bag
Bubble mailer 20x26 cm
€0.90
€0.90 per shipment
Heat sealer (one-time)
€79.95
one-time investment
So, one seal per package costs you about a sixth of what one piece of void fill costs. Compare that to one shipment you have to resend, and the math is quickly done.
A workable standard for your packing table
You don't have to treat every order like a safe. Work with three levels: standard shipments only get good tape applied with the H-method; shipments above an amount you determine also get one VOID seal over the seam; and anything small, expensive, or sensitive goes into the box sealed or in a sealed bag. Write down this rule on a note above your packing table, so everyone does it the same way — even temporary staff in December.
Do you want to adjust your packaging supplies for this? Check Packaging & Shipping for boxes and envelopes, Tape for rolls and dispensers, and Stickers & Tapes for seals and labels. If you're unsure which combination suits what you send, feel free to email your situation to info@verpakkingdeals.nl — and we'll help you consider box size, closure, and your cost per shipment.
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