Best Buy Packaging Guidelines

Explore Best Buy Packaging Guidelines for pallet, carton, and label compliance. Master shipping, BOL, and PO standards with expert insights.

Are there any requirements for packing lists when shipping pallets?

For LTL shipments, a pallet-level packing slip must be sealed on the short (40") pallet side. When building Truckload trailers and if packing slips are not at the pallet-level, they must be immediately visible at the tail-end of the trailer. When shipping via LTL, vendors should position packing slips along one of the short (40") sides of each pallet, and these should face towards the tail-end of the trailer.

Can purchase orders be mixed within a single carton?

No, fulfillment to only 1 unique Best Buy Purchase Order is allowed within an individual shipping carton.

Can purchase orders be mixed within a single pallet?

On each pallet, only product for 1 Best Buy Purchase Order is allowed. Mixing Purchase Orders within a single pallet is not permitted.

Can SKUs be mixed on a single pallet?

Yes, SKUs can be mixed on a single pallet, but it should be the exception. When constructing Mixed-Model/UPC Pallets, like-Model/UPC products should be consolidated into adjacent layers. Additionally, colored placarding is required on the exterior of any stretch wrap film and should be placed on at least 2 adjacent sides of the pallet. The placard must call out "Mixed UPCs" or "Mixed Models" using a font size greater than 72 point and in bold.

Can SKUs be mixed within a single carton?

SKUs cannot be mixed within a single carton as only product of 1 unique UPC is allowed in one carton. Fulfillment to only 1 unique Best Buy Purchase Order is also required.

What are the allowed pallet types for shipping?

Only 48-inch by 40-inch GMA pallets made of "Grade A" hardwood are allowed. Alternatives are not compliant unless approved by Best Buy.

What are the max and min dimensions for shipping cartons?

The minimum dimensions for shipping cartons are 9 inches in length, 6 inches in width, and 2 inches in height. The maximum dimensions are 48 inches in length, 29 inches in width, and 27 inches in height.

What are the max and min weights for shipping cartons?

Minimum weight for conveyable cartons is 2 lbs, and the maximum weight is 75 lbs. For box strength, single wall boxes can hold a maximum of 120 lbs; double wall boxes can hold up to 180 lbs, and triple wall boxes can have a maximum weight of 300 lbs.

What are the min max weight requirements for shipping pallets?

The pallets must be able to withstand weights up to 2,800 lbs.

What are the requirements for Bills of Lading when it comes to pallet (freight) or carton (parcel) shipments?

The Bill of Lading (BOL) requirements state that for truckloads, a shipper-printed destination-specific (Master) BOL must be present for all delivering POs.

Mandatory information includes:
- Shipper Name, Address, City/ST, Zip Code
- Best Buy Location Name, Location #, Address, City/ST, Zip Code
- Freight designation: "Prepaid" or "3rd Party"
- Shipment BOL Number
- Carrier Info: Carrier Name or SCAC, Carrier Tracking PRO Number, Trailer Number, Seal Number
- "Best Buy Delivery Date MM/DD/YY" (PO Delivery Date)
- List of all BBY Purchase Order Numbers, Itemized Carton Count by PO, Total Gross Weight
- Freight Counted with notations: "By Shipper", "By Driver/pallets said to contain", or "By Driver/pieces"
- Shipper and Driver Signature & Date.

For LTL shipments, the BOL also requires shipper-printed destination-specific BOLs for all POs with similar details, but exclude pallet listing, focusing on full Master Pack cartons for units.

Placement: For truckloads, if packing slips are not at the pallet-level, they must be immediately visible at the trailer's tail-end. For LTL, packing slips and shipping labels should face a short (40") side of each pallet, facing the tail-end for visibility.

What are the requirements for carton or pallet labels and their placement?

For carton labels, they should be placed at a minimum of 2 inches from any edge of each carton. For product or pallet/unit loads greater than 60 inches high, they should be placed no higher than 4-6 inches from the top and no lower than 32-36 inches from the bottom.

What are the requirements for inner packs and cases?

Inner cartons and case packs must be made of rigid recyclable corrugate. They should maintain integrity through typical rigors in transit and various environmental conditions. If they contain more than one unit, they should include a scannable barcode, model # or product description, SKU number, and the Case Pack Quantity (CPQ) in units per inner carton for labeling. Banding on individual cartons alone is not recommended.

What are the requirements for placing labels on cartons being shipped?

- All product labels (individual units, inner cartons, and master cartons) must be appropriately labeled and information can be pre-printed or applied as a label.
- Most labels are 4"x6" in size and should not be located on the bottom of the carton.
- A scannable barcode and human-readable numbers are required in one of the following formats:
* UCC-12 in UPC-A or UPC-E barcode symbology for individual units, inners, and master cartons.
* EAN.UCC-8 in EAN-8 barcode symbology for individual units.
* EAN.UCC-13 in EAN-13 barcode symbology for individual units, inners, and master cartons.
* Additionally, for master cartons, ITF-14 (Interleaved 2 of 5) symbology is also acceptable.
* Magnification to 200% is required for certain barcode symbologies on master cartons.
- Master cartons must include:
* SKU number, Model #, and/or product description
* Case Pack Quantity (CPQ) per master carton
* Country of origin
* Best Buy PO#
* "Carton X of N" labeling requirements for express and air shipments.
- Special handling notations such as "Fragile" and "This end up" should be present if applicable.

What is the max pallet height allowed when shipping?

There is no predefined maximum pallet height. However, pallets must follow the required vertical trailer clearance guidelines.