To protect your inventory and ensure a smooth fulfillment process, all items shipped to Manifest must be appropriately packaged before arrival. The guidelines below outline what's required for compliant, scannable, and damage-resistant packaging.
General Packaging Standards
All units must be individually packaged and sealed for safe storage and shipping. Packaging must prevent dust, dirt, or damage during storage and must be retail-ready — no exposed raw product or open bags. Each unit must be barcoded with a scannable label that matches what's registered in ShipHero.
Acceptable Packaging Formats
Polybag with suffocation warning where required by law (≥1.5 mil thickness, sealed). Retail box or inner carton (taped or sealed shut). Shrink wrap or vacuum-sealed plastic.
Unacceptable Packaging
The following will be flagged as non-compliant upon receipt: open or loosely folded polybags; unsealed units that could spill or become unboxed during handling; packaging that lacks a barcode or has multiple conflicting barcodes; retail boxes that are unsealed or easily opened in transit.
Drop Test Recommendation
Before sending inventory to Manifest, we recommend performing a basic drop test to confirm your packaging can withstand typical shipping and handling. Drop the packaged unit from 3 feet (0.9 meters) onto a hard surface and repeat on at least 6 sides: top, bottom, front, back, left, and right. The product and packaging should remain fully intact after all drops. Items that don't hold up to basic handling are more likely to arrive damaged or cause fulfillment delays — testing before you ship is the easiest way to avoid issues.
Non-Compliant Packaging
Units that arrive in non-compliant packaging may be subject to a repackaging fee or held pending resolution. If you're unsure whether your packaging meets requirements, reach out before you ship — it's much easier to address upfront.
Need Help?
Contact Manifest's account managers. We're happy to review photos or samples before you ship.
For barcode and label specifications that apply to each individual unit, see Barcoding Your Products.