Just received 2 packages of DVDs from Amazon and they were in the fold over style cardboard box with pull tab. Of course with the packaging being fine one of the DVDs is obviously an opened re-wrap that was sold as brand new.

Our big ol' Epson printer came shipped in its box, which was huge. Yet when I ordered a mandolin it came in an Amazon box that was juuuust big enough for the original mandolin box inside. Both instances seemed strange.

I've stopped ordering trade paperbacks from Amazon because of the condition I've repeatedly received them in. It's a hassle having to constantly exchange them for damaged covers and I suspect a few factory workers have been reading my books before shipping, given the number of fingerprints on them. That's why I was mad when DC stopped shipping their hardcovers in sealed plastic.

I'd really like to get "Alien: The Illustrated Story" (Original Art Edition) from Amazon. It's an oversized reprint of the 1979 graphic novel adapting the movie, reproduced in an oversized 14" x 17" hardcover and autographed by Walter Simonson.

It's a $75 hardcover, and Amazon is offering at a 46% discount.

But I'm really concerned about how Amazon is going to ship it to me. It's a crap shoot as to whether it will arrive in a nicely-packaged box that will insure it arrives at my doorstep in pristine condition, or if it's going to be rattling around loose in a box and get beaten all to shit.

I must just have good luck or good delivery people. I get a lot of trade paperbacks from Amazon and haven't run into this issue. They normally get sent in the bubble mailers too.

So your options are:

1) Order it at the discount price and either:
a) Receive it fine (+1) or
b) Receive it damaged, but return it and get a full refund (0). Miss out on the item. (-1)

or

2) Don't order it and miss out (-1).

Right? I'd order in that case.

I agree that where your order gets shipped from has a lot to do with it (maybe even who packs it?), but Prime may be a factor if it makes someone more inclined to order single items that can be tossed into a bubble mailer. That's how I usually get my TPBs, though only one has been beaten up so far.

I've gotten hundreds and hundreds of packages from Amazon over the years....never had a package with not enough...a few of my larger items have come in their original boxes, but that's to be expected.

I don't order tons from Amazon, but I have been a customer for years; probably since they first opened. I've only really had a couple problems from them over all that time and only once did it not resolve easily. I have received a few books that were damaged-usually by poor packing but it was easy enough to request a replacement and ship back the damaged one. All on Amazon's dime. Biggest issue was the waste of time.

The one that did not resolve nicely was more because the item was made poorly and did not ship well. It was a multi disc DVD set where the DVDs would arrive as floaters and scratched up. Amazon would only replace something twice and then refuse to ship it to you again. They offered no compromise or solution to the problem of getting the product scratch free (which you'd think they do just to avoid customer complaints-easier to fix the problem then get yelled at by angry people) but whatever. I ended up going to Best Buy and ordering two copies and being able to combine the discs to one scratch free item.

But I'd have to say, other than that, Amazon has had pretty good packaging for me.

@OP: Things happen. Sometimes it is an accident. I hope you gave Amazon the chance to make it right rather than just posting the rant here. I get you're frustrated and wanted to vent, but this seems like a pretty easy fix.

Why would it be easier for Amazon to fix the scratched discs? As you said, it sounds like it was manufactured poorly since all four copies you got had scratches. Are they going to send you 20 sets until you get a good one? Are they going to send warehouse people out to comb through the sets and make scratchless combos like you did? More likely, they sent them all back to the studio and said "F--- this. Fix it and send us all-new stock before we send any more out."