I thought it might be fun to have a place to share pictures of the terrible ways we receive our sets (sarcastic thread title), whether it's pancaked sets, oversized boxes, etc.

 

I'll start with my SSDs that arrived a couple days ago:

 

 

Enormous box:

 

 

 

Three sets inside, with no packaging material. Third set is underneath the top two, and was crushed with all 4 seals popped:

 

 

 

This box came to me today. What could be inside? A couple Death Stars? 60 Minecraft sets?

 

 

 

Nope, just one HH and about a kilometer of air pouches:

 

At least they actually padded this one, and I'll have enough pouches to last a while lol. But of course the set just had to have a hole on the back side...more returning to do.

 

 

Curious to see others' photos

On 1/12/2019 at 12:14 AM, eliminator said:

Thanks Amazon; shipping box: pristine...Lego box inside: blunt-force trauma!

Get them on chat and you should get a few % off the price.

Thank you Amazon, frustration Free packaging. In this case I guess it means you get the frustration for free.

1 hour ago, nolanfan34 said:

Thank you Amazon, frustration Free packaging. In this case I guess it means you get the frustration for free.

From what I've seen in this thread, I think the "frustration free" part is for the Amazon workers.  Clearly they don't give a rip what happens to the package they're shipping.

1 hour ago, exracer327 said:

From what I've seen in this thread, I think the "frustration free" part is for the Amazon workers.  Clearly they don't give a rip what happens to the package they're shipping.

Of course... It's all about saving money and stopping lazy workers from moaning. Very few vendors (shops and couriers) actually give a damn about the box. It serves them right if they have to handle a lot of complaints and returns. If I get a damaged box, I either insist on a large discount or back it goes. LEGO SaH continue to be the worst for me, I've just had to send back all 20x Speed Champions sets that were crushed due to too many air pillows - why weren't they left in the factory boxes? Anyway, why are those boxes so damn thin? This return could lead to a ban, but frankly I really don't care as I could've now got those sets cheaper.

Edited January 17, 20196 yr by TabbyBoy

4 hours ago, exracer327 said:

From what I've seen in this thread, I think the "frustration free" part is for the Amazon workers.  Clearly they don't give a rip what happens to the package they're shipping.

It's probably more a case of being pressured to pack x number of boxes a day. If they don't hit their target they'll be out the door sooner rather than later so they're incentivised to cut corners.

1 hour ago, Tarka said:

It's probably more a case of being pressured to pack x number of boxes a day. If they don't hit their target they'll be out the door sooner rather than later so they're incentivised to cut corners.

Unrealistic targets is what causes low morale, stress, mistakes and accidents. That's the problem when the "Sales & Marketing Teams" call the shots in a badly run company. This is why so many reps and couriers drive like idiots as they're always in a rush to meet targets. In my business, I give customers realistic expectations and always remind staff and contractors to take their time to do a job properly (and once!) ensuring that it doesn't need to be reworked down the line. My motto on the wall simply reads, "Rushing takes longer" and if we rush anything, the chances are we'll have to go back to site to put it right, taking more time and expense. Retailers having to process returns due to poor handling should know this. Oh... I get my business through quality, not price.

Edited January 17, 20196 yr by TabbyBoy

Amazon fr..

 

Tesco Gallows Corner...

Yup, it's that kind of place.

10 hours ago, thebrickdad said:

Tesco Gallows Corner...

Yup, it's that kind of place.

So lots of tight tracksuits and 3-across pushchairs in the queues then. Not to mention the amount of old Vauxhall Corsas in the car park. 

Ordered a Mickey for my girl from a Ebay seller... when it came in a envelope I was pretty upset... then I saw what was inside... amazingly this box was actually in pretty good shape haha

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Brickpicker Forum mobile app

3 minutes ago, Shortbus311 said:

Ordered a Mickey for my girl from a Ebay seller... when it came in a envelope I was pretty upset... then I saw what was inside... amazingly this box was actually in pretty good shape haha

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Brickpicker Forum mobile app
 

So box condition is important for little girls also? ?

2 minutes ago, Shortbus311 said:

Ordered a Mickey for my girl from a Ebay seller... when it came in a envelope I was pretty upset... then I saw what was inside... amazingly this box was actually in pretty good shape haha

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Brickpicker Forum mobile app
 

Well that's creative. I wish Kohl's & Kmart did that.

7 minutes ago, TabbyBoy said:

So box condition is important for little girls also? ?

Never met a female who paid no attention to what you drive or where you live.

So box condition is important for little girls also? [emoji6]

Sorry, should have clarified, by "my girl" I meant my girlfriend

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Brickpicker Forum mobile app

Walmart Ship to Store. All three sets crushed.

 

 

At Walmart; Last couple times I picked up at store, the set boxes looked like a clerk pulled it off the shelf and then played hocky w/ it across the lanes...and then stuck the biggest label sticker possible over the front of the box.

...must be a running joke for clerks to f'up Lego boxes.

???

27 minutes ago, Bold-Arrow said:

???

Love it...

Mind you, if that happened here in East London the planters as well as the package would have disappeared. Mind you maybe not, as the place would definitely have ground to a complete standstill seeing as you have more than an inch of snow. 

31 minutes ago, Bold-Arrow said:

???

 

Are Lego now a perishable plant-based item that requires refrigeration?

 

Anyone have tips on boxing up the oblong shaped 7597 (i.e., Toy Story Train Chase)

Doesn't fit any of the standard boxes I have.

-thanks

You could be a weirdo that trims and cuts up boxes to make it fit, or you could measure it and buy boxes from Staples. 

11 minutes ago, $20 on joe vs dan said:

Anyone have tips on boxing up the oblong shaped 7597 (i.e., Toy Story Train Chase)

Doesn't fit any of the standard boxes I have.

-thanks

I don't have one but I've heard people use these for making custom boxes. Anyone here try one of these?

https://www.amazon.com/Cardboard-Box-Carton-Reducer-Sizer/dp/B00OI9RO94/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1549569882&sr=8-4&keywords=box+resizer+tool

 

 

39 minutes ago, oneknightr said:

I don't have one but I've heard people use these for making custom boxes. Anyone here try one of these?

https://www.amazon.com/Cardboard-Box-Carton-Reducer-Sizer/dp/B00OI9RO94/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1549569882&sr=8-4&keywords=box+resizer+tool

 

Thanks...this gave me an idea to modify a DYson box I have that was too long but excellent otherwise...if I invert the box it will "look" professional...until they open it.

 

51 minutes ago, iahawks550 said:

You could be a weirdo that trims and cuts up boxes to make it fit, or you could measure it and buy boxes from Staples. 

I am that weirdo...it's a used set and I don't sell enough volume for ordering supplies in bulk to make it cost-effective.

2 hours ago, oneknightr said:

I don't have one but I've heard people use these for making custom boxes. Anyone here try one of these?

https://www.amazon.com/Cardboard-Box-Carton-Reducer-Sizer/dp/B00OI9RO94/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1549569882&sr=8-4&keywords=box+resizer+tool

 

I've never heard of such a thing, but now I'm really interested.
I have a lot of the standard sizes to fit just right, but this might come in handy for those atypical orders.

I've used the tool before, it's kind of messy though. Great for warehouses shipping product to stores within their chain, where box appearance doesn't matter, but not so great for a tight sharp edged box going to an end-consumer.

I custom cut boxes all the time, I just do it manually with a straight edge and a tape measure. Mark 4 dots at the corners, measured from the bottom fold seam at whatever height you're cutting it down to. Get a straight edge (a box flap from a previously downsized box usually works fine)... take the back edge of a sharpie cap (the little clip part, i found this to be the best tool for the job, it dents the cardboard but wont easily cut into it) and use that to etch a fold line into the box using the straight edge. Cut the corners down to the marked height. Fold against your straight edge guide. If you measured correctly the folds should be professional and perfectly level, which the tool fails at most times. 

This sounds labour intensive, and it would be silly for anyone shipping in volume, but if you're a small to mid time seller doing a few sales a day, the savings in shipping costs can often be worth the 5 or 7 minutes this takes.