Consider what is happening with your package. Whether it’s a small package that can literally be carried by hand or a large freight shipment in a shipping container or crate, your package will pass through many hands before it reaches the final destination. During that time, it will either cross bumpy seas, face turbulence in the sky or travel over rough roads.

Your package will travel hundreds or thousands of miles in various situations where it may be slammed, dropped, thrown or tossed around. Even the best packing method doesn’t guarantee it will arrive in one piece. If the unthinkable happens and your items are damaged in shipment, an insurance policy will cover the cost of repair or replacement.

Even if the items you’re shipping are personal and won’t matter to anyone else, they will matter to you. You will want them replaced or at least to be reimbursed if they are unreplaceable.