What's the Difference Between Consolidated (Unpacked) and Original (Unopened) Air Shipping?

If you frequently shop online from overseas, you’ve probably wondered — is it really necessary to unpack parcels for air shipping?
Let’s break it down today: what unpacking really means, and whether you should choose it!

What is “Unpacking”?
Unpacking = Removing the original packaging.

In short, unpacking means opening individually packed parcels and re-combining their contents into one large, consolidated package for shipping to Malaysia.

This service usually applies to small parcel consolidation. Our warehouse staff will remove the outer packaging of multiple small parcels, sort the items, and repack them neatly into a single box before shipping.

Benefits of Unpacking

1 Save Space (and Money!)
Many packages come in bulky boxes or awkwardly shaped bags. If shipped as-is, they can take up unnecessary space and increase the shipping volume — which directly increases the cost.
Unpacking removes these extra layers, making the whole package more compact and cost-efficient.

2 Safer Repacking
Some original packaging isn't strong enough — for example, a small item inside a big flimsy box may get crushed or lost.
By unpacking and repacking, especially with bubble wrap or foam padding, we can ensure better protection for fragile items.

3 Check Your Items
Worried about receiving the wrong item or missing parts?
You can request us to inspect your items during the unpacking process. This gives you peace of mind before your shipment leaves.
(*Item checking is a paid add-on service.)

Important Notes:
VSPEED offers FREE unpacking service for air shipments!
Just select “Unpack” at the end of the packaging page — and we’ll arrange it for you

Here’s a real example of unpacked goods from one of our customers

And if you’ve purchased fragile items and want to make sure everything is intact, you can also select the Item Checking option. Our trained warehouse staff will take photos to verify your items for you!

 So… Should You Unpack or Not?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
If your packages have a lot of excess packaging, unpacking and repacking can save you space and shipping costs.
But if your items are already well-packed by the seller, and especially if they are fragile or expensive, it might be safer to leave them as-is.

For valuable or delicate goods, we recommend keeping the original packaging to minimize risk.

Final Thoughts
When shipping small air parcels, both unpacking and not unpacking have their pros and cons.
If you're focused on speed and safety, keeping the original packaging may be better.
But if you're looking to cut shipping costs, unpacking could be the smart move.

We hope this guide helps you understand the difference — and make the best decision for your air shipment!

 016-6605070 (Jasmine)

Need air shipping to Malaysia? Just come to me — Jasmine from VSPEED!
Stable delivery times:

• Normal goods: as fast as 3 days

• Sensitive goods: as fast as 5 days

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Register for a free account on our website and receive RM5 OFF your first air shipment, no purchase required!

Register now: https://system.vspeed.asia/
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