On Amazon Frontpage today

[Stringent]

Good idea?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

As long as the new packaging offers similar levels of protection to the old type then it looks a good idea!! OTH,for delicate items I hope Amazon don't try to skimp on the packaging especially with the abuse some of mail companies put on their items. Saw a DHL man today just throwing boxes into the back of his van!!

[kalniel]

Aka we cut a good deal with our nextdoor neighbours, rajapack.

[steve threlfall]

Good stuff. We need to see the end of the dreaded heat sealed blister packaging. Its understandable in shops, what with all the pikeys who insist on fingering (fnar for Clunk) various products, but unnecessary for Internet retailers.

Reusable, hassle free packaging ftw

They have already been doing this for years with items such as headphones btw

[Wooglie]

Yeaht the blister packs are annoying if you have to send anything back and have a large chance of cutting you when you open them.

[Lucio]

It's a good idea, I'm all for cutting down packaging to the minimum especially on mail order items that were never intended for display in a shop.

[j_r_f]

Ever bought a blister packed item in an airport....try opening that with your teeth

A few years ago we were witness to someone trying to get a waiter at one of the restaurants the other side of security trying to open one of these packets with a carving knife

[Whiternoise]

Amazon aren't exactly angels when it comes to minimal packaging though.. Many a time i've ordered a single book and it's arrived in a massive box.

[TAKTAK]

Originally Posted by Whiternoise

Amazon aren't exactly angels when it comes to minimal packaging though.. Many a time i've ordered a single book and it's arrived in a massive box.

Box could have been reused, rather than binning it or putting it for recycling...

Their goods have to come in, in boxes so why not reuse those boxes?

[Gerrard]

I've noticed Scan is quite good at re-using the boxes they get their stock in.

[[DW]Cougho]

Originally Posted by Whiternoise

Amazon aren't exactly angels when it comes to minimal packaging though.. Many a time i've ordered a single book and it's arrived in a massive box.

Phnarr phnarr!

My experience:

An example of shoddy Amazon packaging

[malfunction]

Originally Posted by steve threlfall

fingering

Originally Posted by Whiternoise

a massive box

Originally Posted by [DW]Cougho

Phnarr phnarr!

(clunk made me do it)


Back on topic I think there should be more eco friendly OEM style packaging for mail order stuff (not just less materials but less chemicals and energy used to produce it). Just ordered wii sports resort, an extra wii motion plus dongle thingy, an extra nunchuk and a classic controller for my wii (obviously) and immediately threw away a bunch of packaging - crap load of carboard, completely redundant instructions in 10 languages and all the rest of the bumf.

Oh and clam shell cases. I have bought a new pair of scissors in a clam shell case after losing the old pair and ended up cutting myself trying to open the bloody clam shell with a kitchen knife.

[TooNice]

Great idea IMO. Earlier today I threw away one of those plastic clam shell case a MicroSDHC came with. I don't see the point in having something so difficult to open (I basically cut it up), when the card itself is inside a card holder (which provides adequate protection by itself).

[Whiternoise]

I don't know why manufacturers don't do it anyway, it would save them a fortune in packaging costs if they didn't use all the plastic!

at the hard drive

[Funkstar]

Originally Posted by Whiternoise

I don't know why manufacturers don't do it anyway, it would save them a fortune in packaging costs if they didn't use all the plastic!

I wouldn't be so sure, plastic like that on the scale most of these items are produced is incredibly cheap.

I don't mind a bunch of cardboard packaging, that can be recycled and can come from sustainable resources. Plastic can't always be recycled (really annoys me when they don't put the plastic category code on the packaging) and isn't sustainable.

Amazon have been doing this for ages in the US. About a year in fact.

http://www.engadget.com/tag/Frustration-Free+Packaging/

[Salazaar]

Without the right tools, wire ties can be painful and time-consuming to untwist

They can?!? Where can I get one of the fantastic wire untwisting tools? How did I ever possibly negotiate wire ties up until now?