Poor Amazon packaging

[Dave2002]

I recently ordered a pen tablet as a gift. It arrived in the usual kind of additional cardboard packaging, and inside there was an artistically designed box, which, IIRC was itself covered in some form of transparent film. I believe the item inside it works.

A day or two later I noticed that the same item was again available on Amazon, but at a lower price. This was of interest to me, so I ordered one for myself. This arrived today. However it did not come in an outer box, and there was no transparent film over the box for the item. This had been sent through the delivery service with stickers - with my name and adress and barcodes - and tracking labels - stuck straight onto the box.

It may be that the item itself will be OK, but this level of disregard for the package seems to me to be totally unacceptable. It might have been that this second copy was also intended as a gift for someone else, and as such it would be completely unsuitable, and I would be seeking to return it immediately.

I have yet to write a review of the item itself, but I wonder if anyone else has had this kind of poor service. I have in the past been happy to have had items - such as lawn fertiliser or items which are not luxury items sent in their own packaging, but this latest delivery seems to me to have taken things much too far. AFAIK the item was advertised as new, as a time limited deal, and there was no indication that it would be sent without any external packaging. It does have a seal which is still unbroken.

[Frances_iom]

you have probably received a repaired (or rechecked) returned item - the local auction house used to sell off such returned-faulty items from Amazon - often the faults were introduced by the original purchaser but in some cases there was a known (to the trade) manufacturing defect that could readily be fixed and the repaired item sold at boot fairs.

[Petrushka]

Packaging from Amazon themselves has always been fine and of a high standard in my experience. However, that from certain sellers has often been poor. A recent purchase via a seller of the complete Sony Stravinsky box came with the parcel wrapped in nothing more than bubble wrap and held down with some sticky tape. The box was clearly visible through the bubble wrap and arrived slightly damaged but I judged it insufficient to warrant the hassle of returning it.

The wonder is that it didn't receive more damage than it did.

[Dave2002]

you have probably received a repaired (or rechecked) returned item - the local auction house used to sell off such returned-faulty items from Amazon - often the faults were introduced by the original purchaser but in some cases there was a known (to the trade) manufacturing defect that could readily be fixed and the repaired item sold at boot fairs.

Possibly - though it seems very odd that it would have been sent out like that. The underlying box looks basically quite good, and still pretty much intact, but has been totally spoiled by the labels which have been stuck to it. If it was a returned item it would have been more sensible to repack it - even in a plastic bag, and stick the labels on to that.

I shall take photos of the box, then try it. If it works as I'd hoped I may accept it anyway, but leave appropriate feedback. If it doesn't I'll be asking for a refund.

[LMcD]

I can honestly say that, to date, I've never received an inadequately packaged delivery of anything ordered directly from, or via, Amazon. Overpackaged - yes!

[Dave2002]

I can honestly say that, to date, I've never received an inadequately packaged delivery of anything ordered directly from, or via, Amazon. Overpackaged - yes!

Until today neither had I.

[Dave2002]

Turns out that the pen tablet inside the box seems very good - brilliant in fact. So I think it's going to be something like 1/5 stars for the seller - packaging totally awful - but delivered well on time and the price was good, and 4/5 stars for the product - I've not finished testing it - but it does seem excellent, though requires some configuration.

The box was sealed - and the contents seem to be more or less perfect.

Amazon's star system is useless when it comes to highlighting different issues - trying to reduce everything to a single number value often doesn't work - but then I guess some of us have known that for a long while.