Packing Policy

Packing is the difference between an uneventful move and a disaster. This policy describes our packing standards, materials, customer responsibilities, and what's covered when we pack vs when you pack.

1. Our packing standards

Every Gati packing job follows a 5-layer protection method:

1. Inner cushioning: Bubble wrap, foam, or specialised pouches around the item itself
2. Item wrap: Individual stretch film or paper wrap to prevent surface scratches
3. Box padding: Crumpled paper, peanuts, or foam at the base and sides of the carton
4. Outer carton: Double-walled corrugated cardboard rated for the item's weight
5. Seal & label: Reinforced packing tape and a label showing destination room, fragile status, and box number

2. Materials we use

2.1 Standard packing materials (included in all packages)

• Double-walled corrugated cartons (small/medium/large sizes)
• Bubble wrap (10mm and 25mm thickness)
• Stretch film (100m rolls)
• Brown packing tape (50mm wide, reinforced)
• Permanent marker pens for labelling
• Bundling rope and shrink wrap for furniture
• Furniture sliders for hard floors
• Lift-protection blankets

2.2 Premium materials (Standard and Premium packages)

• Wardrobe boxes with hanging rods (clothes don't crease)
• Picture/mirror boxes with foam corner protectors
• Dish-pack inserts for crockery
• TV/monitor boxes with foam cradles
• Mattress bags (waterproof)

2.3 Specialty materials (Premium package only)

• Wooden crates for high-value or fragile items (musical instruments, art, antiques)
• Anti-static bubble wrap for electronics
• Climate-control inserts for moisture-sensitive items
• Custom foam-cut inserts for unusual-shaped valuables

3. Item-specific packing approach

3.1 Glass & ceramics

Each item individually wrapped in bubble wrap, packed in dedicated dish-pack cartons with cardboard dividers. Glasses upright with stems padded. Plates stacked vertically (not flat) with paper between each.

3.2 Electronics

Original boxes used wherever possible (we ask you to keep them). When unavailable: anti-static bubble wrap, foam cradles in custom boxes. Cables labelled and bagged separately. TVs over 32" packed in dedicated TV boxes only.

3.3 Furniture

Modular pieces dismantled at source and reassembled at destination. All hardware bagged and tagged. Surfaces wrapped in furniture blankets, then stretch film. Glass tabletops removed and packed separately in mirror boxes.

3.4 Mattresses

Mattress bags (full encapsulation) prevent dust, water, and pest contamination during transit. Memory foam mattresses are NOT folded or rolled (warranty void).

3.5 Clothes

Hanging clothes go into wardrobe boxes (no creasing). Folded clothes in standard cartons. Suits and formal wear in garment bags within wardrobe boxes.

3.6 Books

Small to medium boxes only (max 25 kg per box). Heavy single-layer packing — no overstuffing. Hardcovers spine-down, paperbacks tightly packed to prevent flexing.

3.7 Kitchen

Sharp items (knives, scissors) wrapped with blade covers, marked clearly. Spices double-bagged to prevent leakage. Glassware in dish-packs. Refrigerator items NOT moved (we ask you to consume or discard).

4. What you pack vs what we pack

4.1 Self-packed items

You can choose to pack some or all items yourself to save cost. Self-packed items:

• Are still loaded, transported, and unloaded by our crew
• Are still covered by transit insurance, but with 25% reduced coverage limit
• Will not have damage claims approved if the damage is attributable to packing failure (e.g. inadequate cushioning)
• Should be clearly labelled "SELF-PACKED" on each box

4.2 Items we strongly recommend NOT to self-pack

• Glass tabletops, mirrors, framed art
• Electronics over ₹25,000 in value
• Antiques and high-value decor
• Items going on long interstate journeys (1,000+ km)
• Anything you'd be unable to easily replace

5. Items we won't pack or transport

Per Indian law and insurance terms, we cannot pack or transport:

• Cash, jewellery, gold/silver, precious stones (you carry these personally)
• Important documents (passports, property papers, original certificates)
• Firearms, ammunition, explosives
• Flammable liquids (petrol, kerosene, paint thinners), aerosols, gas cylinders
• Perishable food items (fresh produce, dairy, frozen items)
• Live animals (we can refer pet-relocation specialists)
• Plants for interstate moves (state-specific phytosanitary laws apply)
• Illegal substances of any kind
• Hazardous chemicals or industrial materials

If we discover any prohibited items during packing, we'll set them aside and ask you to handle them separately. Knowingly attempting to ship prohibited items voids insurance and may result in legal action.

6. Customer responsibilities

Even when we pack, you have a few responsibilities for a smooth move:

• Inventory walk-through: Be present during the pre-move survey to identify special items
• Defrosting: Refrigerators must be defrosted 24 hours before pickup, dry inside
• Draining: Washing machines drained, AC gas evacuation arranged separately
• Sorting: Identify donate/discard items before packing day to save cost and effort
• Personal items: Keep jewellery, cash, documents in your hand-carry bag
• Sign-off: Verify the inventory list at packing completion before crew departs

7. Packing timelines

For larger homes, we typically pack the day before the move. The packing crew arrives early morning. By evening, everything is packed; the loading crew arrives the next morning.

8. Eco-friendliness

We're working to reduce our packing footprint. Current practices:

• Cardboard cartons collected back from customers and reused (up to 3 cycles)
• Bubble wrap collected and recycled through partner facilities
• Furniture blankets reused indefinitely
• Customers can opt for "minimum-packaging" mode — saves ~15% material at the cost of slightly higher packing time

If you have your own eco-packing materials (e.g. bamboo paper, recycled cartons), we can use them at no charge.

9. Quality assurance

• Every packing crew is supervised by a senior team member
• Crew members complete a 30-day Gati training program before going on jobs
• Random photo-audit of 10% of packing jobs by quality team
• Customer feedback collected within 48 hours of move; packing-specific feedback feeds crew evaluations

10. Contact

• 📞 +91-8274057237
• ✉️ enquiry@gati.com.in

Related policies: Damage Policy · Vehicle Transport Policy · Warehouse Storage Policy