Anybody else tired of the poor Amazon packaging?

[punisher]

haven't had any problems with amazon..but B&N and BB and those wafer thin unprotected plastic envelopes!!...Don't get me started!!!!!!

[Lincoln6Echo]

The problem here isn't so much Amazon, but the "Handling" in the "Shipping & Handling" part. And that lies with the Carrier. If I *****ed every time I got a slightly damaged slip cover, (btw, wanna see what I do with 99% of my slipcovers? I stuff them into the outer box that BSG Complete Series came in.) Only really cool holographic or lenticular slipcovers do I leave out.

But anyway, I get probably 80% of my BD orders in boxes. Even if the boxes are slightly damaged, the BDs that are shrinkwrapped on that cardboard platform are fine. And even if they come in those bubblewrap mailers, very rarely are they damaged. But really, if you wanna get technical, I order a lot of my stuff thru Marketplace Sellers.

Actually, my biggest gripe is busted disc hubs in CD cases. I mean, what has to happen in shipping that those hubs always seem to break? I just got to a point where I order a pack of 10 replacement jewel cases. Ironically, I'm out of those now. But to go thru the process of returning every little slightly damaged item tells me one thing about cetain people...their inability to deal with life's little twists and turns. IMO, these are the same kind of people who would go to the ER with a slight Temperature, when taking 2 Tylenol would do the trick.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by punisher

haven't had any problems with amazon..but B&N and BB and those wafer thin unprotected plastic envelopes!!...Don't get me started!!!!!!

Yeah I hate those envelopes. But I've luckily never received damaged goods from Barnes and Noble. Not even when they send a digibook in one of those little trashbags.

Amazon is actually the only company that's sent me a damaged blu-ray, and they've done it multiple times (albeit I have ordered hundreds of times trouble free, I actually had a really bad "losing streak" last year where it was like one messed up package after another). But of course they were either box-sets or digibooks. I've also received a couple of other damaged items from them, one I'm sure was a previous return that they just dumped back in a box and sent to me. Amazon to me really went downhill the last two years. Most of the time I don't even think it gets damaged in transit due to the packaging, it seems more likely they get damaged at the warehouse.

I have no fear of ordering "regular" blu-rays from them, but I definitely have to think twice about more fragile items.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by Lincoln6Echo

The problem here isn't so much Amazon, but the "Handling" in the "Shipping & Handling" part. And that lies with the Carrier. If I *****ed every time I got a slightly damaged slip cover, (btw, wanna see what I do with 99% of my slipcovers? I stuff them into the outer box that BSG Complete Series came in.) Only really cool holographic or lenticular slipcovers do I leave out.

But anyway, I get probably 80% of my BD orders in boxes. Even if the boxes are slightly damaged, the BDs that are shrinkwrapped on that cardboard platform are fine. And even if they come in those bubblewrap mailers, very rarely are they damaged. But really, if you wanna get technical, I order a lot of my stuff thru Marketplace Sellers.

Actually, my biggest gripe is busted disc hubs in CD cases. I mean, what has to happen in shipping that those hubs always seem to break? I just got to a point where I order a pack of 10 replacement jewel cases. Ironically, I'm out of those now. But to go thru the process of returning every little slightly damaged item tells me one thing about cetain people...their inability to deal with life's little twists and turns. IMO, these are the same kind of people who would go to the ER with a slight Temperature, when taking 2 Tylenol would do the trick.

I'm not so sure about that. I've received damaged goods from Amazon even though the packaging was fine. Of course sometimes the packaging could also be to blame. Either way, the ultimate blame goes to Amazon. I'm not so fast to blame the carrier.

Otherwise how to explain the fact that B&N and Best Buy even use something as crappy as an unpadded plastic baggy to ship, and yet time after time the carriers are still able to deliver the item to my door in mint condition despite seemingly inadequate packaging. Something is obviously amiss inside the Amazon warehouses IMO.

[MoulinBlu]

Most of our shipments now come in padded mailers too, which amazon has custom made with their name printed on them about a dozen times. They've been sending mostly padded mailers to us for about two years now. A new phone set I recently ordered came in cardboard, and a few cases of canned dog food, but even they are relatively poorly packaged: stuffed to one side of the box with air fillers to keep them from moving around, even though any shipper will tell you, that not having padding all the way around invalidates the insurance. They even use the same light air bubbles for heavy items like 24 cans of dog food, of course most of the air bubbles are flat by the time they get to me. But as long as none of the cans are actually leaking, I don't complain. All my media items come in bubblemailers now - movies and books. A few have arrived in those pressed cardboard mailers too.

I used to never have problems with my amazon orders, despite getting 1-5 shipments from them almost every week since 2006. Seriously, I don't believe a week has gone by in six years that amazon hasn't delivered something here. Up until a year or so ago, they probably delivered here at least 3 times per week on average. But, I've had to send back four items in the past month alone: a cancelled pre-order they mistakenly shipped, 1 BD with a broken case, 1 BD/DVD combo pack (new) with a loose dvd that was scratched likely as a result, 1 BD that both had a broken case and a severely scratched disc (the case could have happened in shipping, but the scratched disc was likely a replication defect; I've never even seen an ex-rental scratched that badly before). That said, four returns in a single month is very unusual for me, even 1 return is probably unusual. And the four returns probably didn't even amount to 25% of my total orders for the month - a year ago it wouldn't have even been 5% but I've been spending a lot more of my movie money at Best Buy lately, and gohastings. The last order that arrived damaged was shipped next-day UPS. The other three were shipped USPS and based on my shipping notices took 3 days to arrive, despite prime shipping.

It's ironic, there was a big article about how amazon's answer to the internet tax eventuality was to have so many new shipping facilities that they could be the first internet company to offer instant gratification (same day delivery). Yet, I've only seen longer handling times, slower delivery, and increased order restrictions so far (like items that can only be shipped with something else), in addition to poorer packaging.

It's disappointing that amazon is chosing to focus on instant gratification instead of lower prices. I mean look at all the small vendors selling through amazon marketplace at much lower prices than amazon itself. I know some of these stores and it's a little disconcerting to think about what amazon's profit margin must be considering they're supposed to be buying at considerable discounts due to order volume, and these small stores are still making a profit, selling at even lower prices than amazon, despite having brick and mortar overhead and rather high amazon selling fees to factor in on on top.

BTW, I'm not tired of seeing these threads. I only wish amazon would start paying attention to some of them. Maybe if enough people speak up, amazon will take notice. I know it's a slim chance to none, but it's off-site boards like this that people have to rely on, as amazon has a habit of deleting such criticism from their own boards.

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by MoulinBlu

BTW, I'm not tired of seeing these threads. I only wish amazon would start paying attention to some of them. Maybe if enough people speak up, amazon will take notice. I know it's a slim chance to none, but it's off-site boards like this that people have to rely on, as amazon has a habit of deleting such criticism from their own boards.

Whining about Amazon here at Blu-ray.com is not going to result in them improving their service. Make sure that you provide Packaging Feedback at AMAZON.COM when you receive your orders. That's where you can light a fire under their butts

[metal134]

I think that the problem the people who are saying they are sick of seeing these threads have is this, and it's something I mentioned in a similar thread. People just are not being specific about what they mean by damage. It's often unclear in these cases if we're taking about significant damage or nitpicky damage.

[MikeCL]

Originally Posted by Banned User

After seeing a ton of those video's of disgruntled overworked UPS delivery employees flinging packages around and kicking them out of frustration or anger I'd tend to believe it could possibly be the guy who drives your delivery route.

I get a ton of packages from Amazon and very few have these issues. That being said I think Amazon should ship all boxsets, digibooks, slipcovers in boxes.

Amazon packages (smaller boxes) come in our UPS air bags in which they come direct from the airport which is shipped on an air trailer which has it's own pods for each container.

[obssessive]

never had a problem.
hope i don't curse myself, because i have a delivery on monday!

[Steve]

Recently I had a shipment with some books in it where the books shifted in the packaging and one had some bent pages. The covers were fine though. I straightened the pages and stacked some stuff on top of it for a few days and it's fine now. This is the only instance I can recall of receiving a "damaged" item from Amazon.

[lefty23]

I'm also one of the people who have never really had a problem with shipping from Amazon. I've had at least over 500 packages arrive from them and during that time i've only had 2 issues. One issue was that a plastic blu ray case was cracked, so i returned it and received the replacement in perfect condition two days later.

The next issue happened just this week, and that was with the 'Forever Marilyn' blu ray set. It came with the outside box dented. I think that is more of a problem with the poor quality of that set than it is Amazon though.

I do agree with others who have stated that the problem isn't necessarily Amazon, it's the carrier because i have had packages from other places dropped off at my door where i have seen the ups/fedex guy just throw the package onto my porch (actually throw it from like 5 feet away).

That's why i have all of my Amazon shipments delivered to my work. The ups/post office workers seem to take better care of packages when they are delivering them to businesses (at least from my experience.)

[lefty23]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Never fear eventually the internet tax loophole will be closed and their sales will plummet. I only hope by that time there are still be retailers around who carry a wide assortment of Blurays.

Not sure that this will cause their sales to plummet. Several states already have this in place where customers have to pay the sales tax and they are still making sales in those states.

The no sales tax is nice, but its far from the main reason i shop at amazon.

[MikeCL]

Yeah the sales tax thing and saying the sales will "plumment" is hardly going to happen

Amazon for me has a lot of hard to find things I haven't seem local in years and it's not always movies.

[MoulinBlu]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

Whining about Amazon here at Blu-ray.com is not going to result in them improving their service. Make sure that you provide Packaging Feedback at AMAZON.COM when you receive your orders. That's where you can light a fire under their butts

I've submitted packaging feedback numerous times, even provided them more lengthy feedback at their contact us feedback link. It hasn't made the slightest dent. Since I've had to start reporting problems, it's gotten worse rather than better.

[MoulinBlu]

Originally Posted by metal134

I think that the problem the people who are saying they are sick of seeing these threads have is this, and it's something I mentioned in a similar thread. People just are not being specific about what they mean by damage. It's often unclear in these cases if we're taking about significant damage or nitpicky damage.

Anything I send back has to be pretty significant, like a broken case or scratched disc. Though sometimes I don't even send broken cases back, depending on how badly and where they are broken. While slip covers hardly ever arriving in mint condition anymore is somewhat irksome - as I have various forms of displaying movies in our HT, like mini-posters, to help guests see what's new or what movies I might have that compliment the season (at Christmas and Halloween I like to highlight seasonal films for the HT's decor too) for them to more quickly pick out something to watch during their visit - slipcover damage alone, isn't enough for me to return something; but I will complain about it here if someone else brings it up - I rarely start a thread myself. Most of the ones I return are for broken cases or the dvd coming loose in combo packs and getting all scuffed up. BDs coming loose are never a problem, as their surface won't get scratched by anything inside the case. If the BD is scratched it's most likely from manufacturing.

BTW, obviously I don't know what happens during loading or shipping, but I know all of our USPS (2 drivers) and UPS (4) drivers and have never seen them abuse any of my packages by throwing them around. Well, there was one guy I had to put up with for a few months, when he transferred to my route just before retiring, because he didn't want to travel as far for work. But I resolved his dropping packages out the door of his truck, for fear of one of our dogs, just to potentially run over on the ground, relatively quickly by setting it up for him to deliver to a neighbor. He's retired now, so that's not even an issue anymore.

[MoulinBlu]

BTW, anybody else find it curious how other retailers who get critical threads here, don't have as many people whining about not wanting to read them too? Even more curious is that amazon seems to be getting a disproportionate amount of criticism lately. There are more problem related amazon threads here, than even Best Buy, which so many people seem to love to hate. That itself seems reason for concern, even for those loyalists who apparently are still blessed with perfect service and either don't buy enough or have such deep pockets that they aren't concerned with amazon's focus shift away from always offering the most competitive prices.

[lefty23]

Originally Posted by MoulinBlu

BTW, anybody else find it curious how other retailers who get critical threads here, don't have as many people whining about not wanting to read them too? Even more curious is that amazon seems to be getting a disproportionate amount of criticism lately. There are more problem related amazon threads here, than even Best Buy, which so many people seem to love to hate. That itself seems reason for concern, even for those loyalists who apparently are still blessed with perfect service and either don't buy enough or have such deep pockets that they aren't concerned with amazon's focus shift away from always offering the most competitive prices.

I think you don't have as many people whining about the negatvie threads simply because like you said the negative Amazon threads seem to outnumber any other retailer. Just looking at the first 10-15 threads, at least five of them are complaining about Amazon (packaging, getting banned, sales tax, browsing problems, annoying search engine, i'll stop buying from amazon if they don't want my business, etc.)

Personally, i've never though of Amazon as offering the most competitive price. I know that for lots of items they do, for others they price match other stores (which makes them cheaper for those who don't have to pay sales tax), but I shop at a variety of places and look for the most competitive price and usually buy from that location. If its amazon so be it, if not, then i don't really complain that amazon isn't offering the lowest price for that specific item.

Overall, ive been very satisfied with the service i've gotten from amazon and in the few instances in which i've had issues, they've been easily resolved in a timely manner.

I don't get annoyed or upset with the amazon bashing threads, but i do find it puzzling how people are getting that much different service than me (perhaps its location specific, because everyone i know locally who uses amazon has the same satisfcation with them that i do.)

And based on reviews of Amazon that i've seen from a wide variety of sources (such as this one http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20050445-93.html), it seems that these problems that are so often mentioned on this site are quite rare and must just be really bad luck for a few certain individuals.

[thenorm47]

First off this is my first thread that I've started on this forum and wasn't sure where to start but i put it here because it was concerning blurays from North America =P.

Secondly, when i pay 30-40 $ for NEW blurays from amazon I expect to get the item in new condition. Which means no damage to any of the discs, the case and etc. I don't think I'm being unreasonable if I hold the supplier, which is this case amazon, to the standard they advertise as having in terms of service, quality of product ,etc. That said I've been a prime member for the past 3 years and spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars every year. Every purchase I've made I filed a packaging feedback basically saying the same thing :bubble wrap envelops don't provide adequate protection and that the card-board box protects the orders significantly better.

Thirdly, I simply wanted to know if there were others who are going through the same thing with Amazon that I am. Its more out of frustration that anything. 3+ years of the same packaging feedback and I haven't seen any changes. Its almost like the feedback function is a giant middle finger just simple there to make the company look it actually takes into account customer feedback as seriously as they claim to do but most of the time it does not making a difference. If i wanted a product where the slipcover was bent/damaged, the case broken, the disc scratch I would buy the item used from the marketplace under the condition of poor.

Most of the exchanges I have done with amazon was a result of apparent physical damage to the at least the case itself (not the slipcover) or the physical discs themselves ( where it be the discs don't playback correctly or scratched).

On a side note if any of the people who replied to thread saying that they are tired of reading these kinds of threads I have a questions? do you work for amazon and if you can you tell them to stop shipping their products in inadequate packaging.

[ChristmasFnatic]

From the Philippines, so my orders travel further/longer... so far 0 problems with Blu-rays, a few books tend to have dents, but nothing major. I guess Im lucky and not too keen to small damages.

[MEATBALL 2112]

Another item arrives damaged today. I'm tired of their cheap envelopes they have started using. At least amazon gets a "A" for returns. I think I just may start supporting B&M stores more now so they might last a little longer.