Amazon packing joke - never gets old 15 October 2022 at 11:05AM in Praise, vent & warnings 10 replies 1.1K views

bob_a_builder

Maybe I accidentally clicked the 'Gift' checkbox - pretty sure I didn't though !

Ordered same item a few weeks ago - and just the small box arrived

Debbie9009

🤣🤣
I’ve had a few items from Amazon that have arrived in ridiculously large boxes, but that beats them all

bob_a_builder

And of course all that crumpled paper they use, really stopped a relatively heavy metal stair gate moving around in that box

Mnoee

Here's my contribution. The box (and a banana) : 



The contents (with the same banana) : 



I'd ordered many colours. The rest turned up the next day, in a normal book-sized package. 

MalMonroe

Hi, I did not know you could order just one banana! That's a revelation. . .  and thank you, that made me laugh.

But I just think they grab whatever box is to hand when they're packing. That's the only explanation I can think of. . . and then they think customers will just recycle the packaging anyway, so what's the harm? They must have to do so many parcels per hour so don't have the time to go around seeking more sensible sized boxes, is one explanation.

Recently we've been having packages from amazon delivered in appropriately sized packaging but we've had some really weird size differences in the past. It's something that cheers us up when it happens, though. Long may it continue!  And don't forget to recycle the cardboard, folks.   

Mnoee

'Banana for scale' is traditional from a different site I frequent - this was over a year ago, and I didn't take pictures without the banana! 

I've been told two different things re: the crazy box sizes: 

They have set boxes they're told to pack certain things in. The human packing knows that it's ridiculous to put one roll of electrical tape in a box that size - but the computer says use that box. Changing that means stopping, getting a supervisor and changing what the computer says. They can't just use the right sized box. So sometimes they just mindlessly pack so they'll still hit targets.

Secondly, something to do with packing vans more efficiently with certain sized boxes. I don't know how that'd work, as my packages often travel through two or three locations before getting to me, presumably on different vehicles, but that's what's been said. 

I don't mind the occasional oversized box - nor do my cats. 

oldagetraveller1

Has anyone else noticed that the brown packing paper they use stinks (foul aroma)?

Some years ago, I genuinely received a micro S.D. card in an enormous box. So enormous that I thought it was empty except for reams of pongy paper.

That was the time they were requesting packaging feedback too.

chapea

As mnoee states I know someone who works doing this   the computer tells them which box to use. They cannot just think that’s stupid and pick another without everything being reset so have to go with what they’re being told 

bob_a_builder

Sometimes someone should just tell the Computer - "No !"

If computer tells them ( which I have read before, and seen on TV progs when this issue has been discussed in the past) )
Odd in my case that in 2 delivery's of the same item ( a few week apart) one should come in a massive box and the other just in the items normal packaging

maisie_cat

chapea said:

As mnoee states I know someone who works doing this   the computer tells them which box to use. They cannot just think that’s stupid and pick another without everything being reset so have to go with what they’re being told 

There is an algorithm that calculates vehicle packing optimisation. Sometimes a larger box is required to make the load tight and stable. It's cheaper than having smaller boxes bouncing around and damaging each other.

prowla

Some years ago we were kitting out a data centre with Hewlett Packard equipment and a stack of pizza boxed sized items were included.

On opening each box it contained an envelope.

On opening each envelope it contained a sheet of letter/A4 paper with a software certificate and one-line licence code.