Shopper dumbfounded after uncovering maddening 'switcheroo' inside Amazon delivery: 'Do I really need to say anything?'

When a Reddit user opened their Amazon delivery, they found a tiny thermostat inside a comically oversized cardboard box.

What happened?

"Do I really need to say anything?" the user posted in the r/EgregiousPackaging subreddit, sharing a photo of a finger-length thermostat next to the enormous box it arrived in.

The small thermostat could have easily fit in an envelope, but instead, it came in a box many times its size.

"I got a padded envelope too. It had the bigger item. Was not prepared for the switcheroo," the original poster commented.

However, one commenter defended the workers behind these packaging decisions, writing, "It's tough to blame amazon workers for stuff like this when they're constantly packing items 10 hours a day in s*** conditions, all while getting paid next to nothing."

Why is excessive packaging concerning?

Excessive packaging creates immediate hassles for consumers. Breaking down and disposing of oversized boxes takes time and effort.

Storage becomes an issue, too. These boxes eat up space in recycling bins and force more frequent trips to disposal areas. Storing these boxes until recycling day creates additional headaches for apartment dwellers with limited space.

This packaging mismatch can hit your wallet, too. Companies pass packaging costs to consumers through higher product prices, meaning you pay extra for all that space.

Beyond that inconvenience, excessive packaging can contribute to rising municipal waste management costs that eventually translate to higher local taxes or fees.

Is Amazon doing anything about this?

Amazon has acknowledged packaging concerns and launched initiatives like "Frustration-Free Packaging" to reduce waste. Its goal is to deliver products in their original packaging without additional Amazon boxes when possible.

When you think about a product's packaging, which of these factors is more important to you? The way it looks 😍 The information it provides 🧐 The waste it produces 🗑️ I don't think about packaging at all 🤷 Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

The company also reports working on packaging solutions through its "Ships in Product Packaging" program, which aims to ship items in their original boxes without extra packaging.

However, internal efficiency metrics might encourage this waste. Supply chain experts suggest that these packaging mismatches happen because combining efficiency with customization is often difficult for massive shipping operations that process millions of packages daily.

What can I do about excessive packaging?

Some retailers now offer packaging preferences during checkout. Look for options like "minimal packaging" or "ship in original packaging" when available.

Consider consolidating orders instead of placing multiple small ones, which can help reduce the total number of packages headed your way.

Provide feedback directly to companies about their packaging practices. Many have sustainability teams that track customer comments to improve packaging decisions.

Look for retailers using right-sized packaging or those who have joined packaging reduction programs like the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.
When shopping locally, bring reusable bags. Choose products with minimal packaging to reduce your packaging footprint while supporting businesses with better practices.

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