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Amazon is rationalizing its packaging.

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DavidApp

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My wife ordered some strips of numbers for her kindergarten class. Most of them came in one package appropriately sized then a second delivery arrived next day with the remaining strip in one box.
You can see the size of the box from the hand holding the strip.

David
Strip in box s.jpg
 
I think we've all encountered this from Amazon at some point. I'd hate to imagine what they pay in shipping costs.
 
waltesefalcon said:
I think we've all encountered this from Amazon at some point. I'd hate to imagine what they pay in shipping costs.
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Probably the size of the package makes no difference in shipping costs since they mostly ship using their own trucks and not the mail service. But I agree it's a little ridiculous using a big box to ship an item that would fit in a padded envelope. :rolleyes2:
 
PAUL161 said:
Probably the size of the package makes no difference in shipping costs since they mostly ship using their own trucks and not the mail service. But I agree it's a little ridiculous using a big box to ship an item that would fit in a padded envelope. :rolleyes2:
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Paul, in my neck of the woods all of their deliveries come through the USPS. I've seen an Amazon delivery van in the City but never down my way.
 
But ... if you're trying to squeeze as much work as possible from the robots and humans, fewer box choices makes faster packing.

Just sayin' ...
 
I believe it is more up to the caprice of the vendors or distro centers as to how product is packaged. I order "mosquito coils" from Amazon regularly, have usually received them in a box appropriate for the size of product, arriving undamaged. Once got them in a large plastic envelope, product broken to pieces. Now I pay attention to which vendor is supplying.
 
Amazon changed the game and the rules in packaging about 5-6 years ago. It made life for people like me, a packaging designer, and the companies that make packaging and the companies that use packaging rather difficult. There is a lot that goes on "behind the scenes" that you would put in the WTF category. To paraphrase Pee Wee Herman, there are things about packaging you wouldn't understand, things you couldn't understand, things you shouldn't understand. In the case of Doc's mosquito coils, Amazon tried to reduce/eliminate corrugated boxes and end user waste and tried shipping many items in padded mailers. Worked ok in some instances, not so much in others. Even now, it's a changing game that's hard to keep in front of at times.
 
Lately the padded mailers have been used appropriately. "Hard goods" not likely to be impact damaged. The damaged coils were shipped in an UNPADDED grey 11"x 14" plastic envelope by distributor, manufacturer packaged them in thin uncorrugated card stock boxes. Great adhesive on the envelope closure. Stupid choice for the contents.
 
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