excess packaging... i'm really annoyed!

[joko]

i have just bought something for my computer.
it was contained in box of 10" x 8" x 2".
it was thick glossy card and inside was lots of corrugated card twisted around in order to keep the contents in place.

the contents consisted of 1 cd in a paper sleeve and a single square of paper with installation instructions on it.

this has irked me.

we are constantly being bombarded with environmental issues, recycling, global warming etc etc, most people are aware of this and good percentage of the population make and effort to follow this ethic - so why have this company, 'cosmi' , seen fit to create this behemoth of a cd box?? i know many other companies do it too.

(it is an american company... is it the big is better mantra that american companies seem to like...?)

[stewey]

Joko, the main reason that small items are sold in such large packages is that it deters shoplifting: it doesn't stop it but it cuts it down. Also there is the marketing aspect of it: the colouring, writing, etc on the package are more apt to grab your attention.

[joko]

i thought of that stewey, but every other company and shop that wants to deter shoplifters fits alarms sensors, dye explosives, puts the items behind the counter like cds and dvds, etc etc so i don't see that a box almost the size of a cereal box would be especially safe and their only security choice.

i understand the advertising/promotion side but given that the front and sides have nothing other than the name and symbol on, i don't think they need that much space to fit a description of the product on.

that is my point - its clear they wan't to draw attention to their product, but since when do you buy computer software because it caught your eye on the shelf?

[joko]

also, surely its up to the shops to deal with the shop lifters, bit the companies or the manufacturers - once the item leaves them its not up to them to ensure its safety.

[chitchat]

Write and complain to them. If enough people did it they may take notice.

[yinyang]

They do this with children's toys too. Hundreds of these little twisty things and they even kind of sew doll's hair onto the backing card. it takes ages to get it all off and seems even longer when you have an impatient child jumping up and down beside you.
Someone told me they do it because most people end up tearing the packaging to pieces to get the item out, then if it's faulty the shop will refuse to take it back because it's not in it's original packaging.

[joko]

interesting theory yingyang, though in my case there is nothing you could possible damage, but i can see that in the case you mention many manufacturers wouldn't want the goods returned to them

again though i would have thought that returns of non- faulty goods was the problem of the shop not the manufacturer, as items only get returned to the manufacturer if they are faulty, not just unwanted... and the shop don't have to accept return on a perfect item either if they don't want to.

Mmm...there must be some reason that makes 100% sense...?