Amazon Packaging

[WilliamM2]

It's always annoyed me that amazon will ship items in a cheap plastic bag. Well now they dont even bother with a bag!

Just the factory crinkly cellephone wrap. I was shocked they used UPS, instead of USPS.

 

[manly]

When you're checking out, they should have given you an option for external packaging.
Except for tremendous plastic waste that goes to landfills, there's nothing wrong with the air bubble bags that Amazon ships in. They are transitioning over to paper-based bags, which in theory are recyclable.

I've willingly received a number of items from Amazon without external packaging, and it's always been fine because they were already boxed products that were not fragile to begin with. My main gripe with Amazon packaging would be in bulk orders (like a monthly subscription drop) where they toss a bunch of items into one large, flimsy box with very poor internal protection. But I'm buying mainly household goods from Amazon, so getting jostled around a bit isn't an issue.

 

[lxskllr]

I'm cool with minimizing packaging as much as possible. Amazon is schizophrenic with their packaging. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's ridiculous. I get stuff no sane person would look at and think "That's pretty good". I'd be pleased to get your case shipped that way. Even better would be ditching the plastic at the factory, and using a paperboard box.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Then there's Dell. They will send a semi truck with a pallet, backup into the company loading bay, have someone unload the pallet with a fork lift, for a power cable.

 

[MrSquished]

It's always annoyed me that amazon will ship items in a cheap plastic bag. Well now they dont even bother with a bag!View attachment 95911View attachment 95912View attachment 95913

Just the factory crinkly cellephone wrap. I was shocked they used UPS, instead of USPS.

So what kind of bougie packaging do you expect for soft cases if the cheap plastic ones piss you off? What would make you happy?

 

[BoomerD]

It's always annoyed me that amazon will ship items in a cheap plastic bag. Well now they dont even bother with a bag!View attachment 95911View attachment 95912View attachment 95913

Just the factory crinkly cellephone wrap. I was shocked they used UPS, instead of USPS.

If I ordered that from Amazon, it would come in a 36x18x12" box stuffed full of "air pillows."

 

[Pohemi]

I've gotten GPUs and other expensive electronics shipped in plastic bags. I've gotten clothing items in boxes (when a bag would have sufficed). Anything that fits in a bag, goes in the bag. Unless it'd be practical to use the bag, then it goes in a box.

Other than their business practices and the way they treat their employees, their (illogical) shipping practices are part of the reason I stopped ordering from them for the most part.

I don't think it was nearly as bad 5-10 years ago. IMO it's a cost-cutting change they made, to reduce the number of cardboard shipping containers used. But the pre-determined shipping container settings need review and it doesn't happen.

 

[WilliamM2]

So what kind of bougie packaging do you expect for soft cases if the cheap plastic ones piss you off? What would make you happy?

It's not a soft case, but not too fragile either. A plastic or paper bag would have been fine. This packaging had air holes in the bag, and the item was left in the rain...

 

[WilliamM2]

I don't think it was nearly as bad 5-10 years ago. IMO it's a cost-cutting change they made, to reduce the number of cardboard shipping containers used. But the pre-determined shipping container settings need review and it doesn't happen.

I don't know about cost cutting. I chose "ship items in as few packages as possible. All four items shipped seperately. 1 hasn't shipped yet of course.

 

[Pohemi]

I don't know about cost cutting. I chose "ship items in as few packages as possible. All four items shipped seperately. 1 hasn't shipped yet of course.

Yeah I've had the same thing happen. What gets decided in the boardrooms isn't always what happens on the floor though, so it might not be a fair comparison. The people doing the picking and organizing orders for shipping are responsible for keeping items together, unless they ship from different locations.

I've ordered several items and gotten them from all different locations, but I've also had multiple items ship from the same distribution center, and all ship seperately like you're saying. It's a lot of waste but I think it might be dependent on the workers, or it might all be decided by a computer. The latter is more likely, I suppose.

 

[lxskllr]

I think an interesting option would be 'ship in one box, and it takes as long as it takes', and give a discount for using that option. I have no idea what the logistics are for a company like amazon, but that /could/ be a savings for the consumer as well as them. Most of the stuff I order I'm in no particular hurry to get. I'd pick that option most of the time.

 

[WilliamM2]

I think an interesting option would be 'ship in one box, and it takes as long as it takes', and give a discount for using that option. I have no idea what the logistics are for a company like amazon, but that /could/ be a savings for the consumer as well as them. Most of the stuff I order I'm in no particular hurry to get. I'd pick that option most of the time.

They have that option, and I chose it. All four items shipped seperately. I don't order anything from Amazon if I'm in a hurry. Usually takes 4-5 days just for them to ship. I don't have Prime. One item still hasn't shipped after 6 days.

 

[dullard]

I think an interesting option would be 'ship in one box, and it takes as long as it takes', and give a discount for using that option. I have no idea what the logistics are for a company like amazon, but that /could/ be a savings for the consumer as well as them. Most of the stuff I order I'm in no particular hurry to get. I'd pick that option most of the time.

They come close to that option, but not quite. I always select the free shipping and the "ship in one box" option (sometimes with a discount for selecting it). Two weeks later I get 4 different boxes each overnighted from all different locations across the country. Seems like they just don't care about the costs of shipping.

 

[lxskllr]

I don't have prime, and most of my stuff gets here within a workweek. I'm close to an amazon hub though. I never noticed the 'ship in one box' option, though I do always get free shipping. I guess I'll have to look closer next time.

 

[IronWing]

I stopped buying fragile electronics from Amazon due to crappy packaging. I mostly buy electronics from B&H now.

 

[lxskllr]

I get a lot of canned fish from amazon, and some of it gets to me pretty battered. Haven't had a breached can yet, but it's been close. That would suck getting a leaky package of fish D^:

 

[Pohemi]

I get a lot of canned fish from amazon, and some of it gets to me pretty battered. Haven't had a breached can yet, but it's been close. That would suck getting a leaky package of fish D^:

Even just dented and damaged cans you can get a replacement/refund for until they actually ship them properly. Damaged food items cannot be shipped back, and they'll credit you for them if you contact customer support.

 

[balloonshark]

$45 worth of subscribe and save groceries thrown into a box without any protection. This is typical when I order food from Amazon. On the bottom center is a 3 pound smashed bag of walnuts, and to the bottom left are two boxes of crushed oreos I bought for relatives. At least the coffee still has its vacuum, which is an extremely rare event.