High end PSU packaging -- wow

[nerp]

So I haven't bought a PSU in some time and I suppose I've seen reviews mention all this, but holy hell. I just got my EVGA Supernova G2 today and I opened it up and it was pretty remarkable. A special cloth bag just for the PSU and a pouch for cables. The whole "premium" experience is interesting compared to what the market was like 10 years ago when I bought a PSU. I guess the Apple effect has really spread. Then I got some Noctua fans and those boxes are ridiculous. I showed my wife and she couldn't believe the thick cardboard velco-held panels and long paragraphs talking about vortex phenomenon and microstructures, etc. Then I took the fan out "why is it so ugly?" hahaa.

 

[Mr Evil]

Everything has so much packaging these days, and most of it isn't even recyclable. Unless the packaging is good enough to be reusable for something, it's just wasted.

 

[lehtv]

I got my Seasonic X-650 six plus years ago, opened the package and noticed it was in a smooth velvety bag... was similarly "taken aback" by the premium feel of it. It's as if they're trying to sell you the brand after already selling you the product.

 

[nerp]

I know. As if you're supposed to carry it around with you in it's special little bag. Crazy. On one hand I like it and the whole thing works on you, but it's very true that it's wasteful.

 

[bigboxes]

I got my Seasonic X-650 six plus years ago, opened the package and noticed it was in a smooth velvety bag... was similarly "taken aback" by the premium feel of it. It's as if they're trying to sell you the brand after already selling you the product.

Seasonic has been using premium packaging for a long time for their high end lines. It's marketing. Consumers want to feel they are getting their money's worth. Can't blame Seasonic for doing so.

 

[lehtv]

Seasonic has been using premium packaging for a long time for their high end lines. It's marketing. Consumers want to feel they are getting their money's worth. Can't blame Seasonic for doing so.

Well no, you can't blame them. It's probably a good thing for Seasonic. But you can still express criticism - personally I'd rather pay $5-10 less for the same PSU in bulk packaging.

 

[mikeymikec]

Well no, you can't blame them. It's probably a good thing for Seasonic. But you can still express criticism - personally I'd rather pay $5-10 less for the same PSU in bulk packaging.

For the kind of bags I've received in the past for Seasonic / Seasonic+Corsair PSUs, I would be very surprised if they add anywhere near $5/$10 to the cost of the product. $2 on the outside I would say, especially when one factors in bulk buying power.

I've bought a range of Seasonic products in the past, from low to mid range (modular ATX or TFX, 650 range etc); there isn't a huge difference in the types of packaging they use across their range in my experience.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I noticed the same too when I got a decently high end PSU. I found it was kind of wasteful, but the bag did come in handy for my portable hard drive, I keep the usb cable and power adaptor and the drive itself in it. Easier to carry around.

 

[bigboxes]

For the kind of bags I've received in the past for Seasonic / Seasonic+Corsair PSUs, I would be very surprised if they add anywhere near $5/$10 to the cost of the product. $2 on the outside I would say, especially when one factors in bulk buying power.

I've bought a range of Seasonic products in the past, from low to mid range (modular ATX or TFX, 650 range etc); there isn't a huge difference in the types of packaging they use across their range in my experience.

I've bought two high end and it was quite extensive. The mid range ones did not have all the packaging. By mid range I'm talking about line, not wattage.

 

[lehtv]

I noticed a similar difference between the Seasonic X-650 and Seasonic G650.

 

[spat55]

I know. As if you're supposed to carry it around with you in it's special little bag. Crazy. On one hand I like it and the whole thing works on you, but it's very true that it's wasteful.

Not wasteful at all you can use them for plenty of other things, I keep some spares in mine.

 

[nerp]

Not wasteful at all you can use them for plenty of other things, I keep some spares in mine.

True. It's good to hang on to it in the event of an RMA in the future, as well. I have a shelf in our storage area with my computer part boxes stacked up. Reminds me to go through there and get rid of some really old stuff that I'll never need.

 

[thesmokingman]

I know. As if you're supposed to carry it around with you in it's special little bag. Crazy. On one hand I like it and the whole thing works on you, but it's very true that it's wasteful.

Isn't the bag supposed to carry your modular cables? Put box in storage, cables in pouch in closet.

 

[nerp]

There's the cable bag (which really feels like a toiletries travel bag) but the PSU itself is wrapped in fitted cloth cover sealed with Velcro. It is perfectly sized to cover the PSU, like a laptop sleeve or something.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

It's nice to see neatly organized and plush packaging but can any of it be recycled? All of my PSUs except for my very first one in 2001 have been nicely packed.

 

[bigboxes]

I bought an Antec EarthPower psu for my wife's build a couple of years ago. All my other build use Seasonic. I've had two high end and two mid range. The high end all have the fancy packaging. I don't really care about the eco packaging. Any niceties makes me feel better about my (expensive) purchase. Seasonic high end power supplies are not cheap. Besides the nice boxes, they give you a plush bag that wraps around the psu and a pouch for all your cables. I keep all of the stuff to store the extra cables and in case I need to rma. That may be awhile since they last so long. The high end was 7 years. I believe the new Prime models have a ten year warranty. I'm on my second mid range for my file server. First one lasted just past five years. Unfortunately, the warranty was for five years. Didn't complain. Just replaced it with the latest version. Love their power supplies.

 

[DrMrLordX]

My 750W P2, 1300W G2, and Seasonic X-1250 all came with extra fancy packaging, which was somewhat gratifying at the time. It certainly makes it easier to swallow paying out that kind of money for something that's going to bolt into a PC case and just sort of sit there for years.