forwarded this to some friends at apple. maybe ill get a response

Doesn't Apple use Ingram Micro to drop ship their products? If they do, I'd be complaining about them.

some possible explanations:

* The box is the minimum standard size for whatever account they have with the shipper. Especially if they have a large automated package system.

* A really tiny box might get lost easier - as in: fall through the cracks of the system.

* they got a really good deal on X quantity of this box.

* too long a lead time on getting smaller boxes?

* they normally send them out in smaller boxes but RAN OUT...

because of any of the above, this box just may BE the most "efficient" packaging for this part.

That "comparably large" box looks to be only about 9 x 6 x 2 inches of easily recyclable cardboard. There needs to be room for a standard shipping label on the outside. No story here.

Actually, my replacement charger came in a padded envelope that was designed to be reused as the return envelope for the old, defective charger.

So, i dunno what happened here... but they were pretty reasonable about the one I got.

But really, as far as we know the box is intended to be returned. Also, it's possible Apple actually reuses these boxes - so long as they're not damaged, why not, right? Really, that would be more responsible than using disposable envelopes.

Mind showing us an example of a smaller box that can be shipped?

@nocar: well, im sure apple could have shipped the adapter in a padded envelope, minimizing the actual footprint and materials... but still, its not that wasteful

Another company is shipping these on behalf of Apple (which doesn't make Apple any less responsible, frankly). That said, the misses and I both received ours in very small boxes -- similar to that of a 25-stack of CDRs -- relative to the size of the adapters.

that item is no larger than 2 x 2 x 2. that box looks about 8 x 12 x 6.

that seems a little silly to me.

i recently had a cell phone replaced under warranty, and the box it came it was probably 4 x 4 x 2, and that had reasonable padding. i'm sure it's more environmentally friendly to use smaller boxes since you could get 2 or 3 (maybe even 4) smaller boxes out of that one large one. so, whether or not apple got a deal on that size of box (lame excuse), it is still a waste.

but im sure someone will try to defend Holy Apple and Her Glorious Shiny Equipment in all its perfection and majesty. there will likely be a cloud of smug to go with it.

When I called about the replacement, the operator said she needed my credit card number before they would replace the adapter...just in case, I "forgot" to return the bad one. I told her to forget it. I don't care who it is, they don't need my credit card number to replace something that was poorly designed.

A few days later, a padded envelope came with the replacement adapter. I returned the old one the same day. No big box and no credit card required. I just wonder how many people got conned into giving out their CC number?

@lowcajones: Apple makes shiny things that keep my attention.

@taking_this_easy: A padded mailer wouldn't protect the item and it would be crushed in the shipping environment.

Realistically, the packaging only needs to provide ~2 inches of protection on either side and standard shipping labels are 4x6.

This kind of packaging drives up shipping costs and takes up room in the system. No matter how big that box is, it's not providing enough packaging.

All in all, a terrible and wasteful decision.

@microcars: +1

jesus christ.. what a bunch of hippie liberals. the box is the size of a greeting card, and barely big enough to fit a standard shipping label. not to mention a cardboard box is easier to recycle than a padded mailer because the plastic and paper products don't need to be separated before reuse.

@Joanne Michele Stocker:

Not to forget the power prongs will poke through the package if it is squished. Sure, there's only a 50% chance the power adapter will end up the "wrong way" around, but that means half of the packaging ends up ruined...

@microcars:

Wouldn't have thought of that. Kudos

@microcars: I thought exactly that myself.

@metsarethe...:

+2

@rtmccormick: Although I'm a liberal, I agree. I think this website has gone down the crapper since it was bought. A lot of stories shouldn't be stories at all. Could Apple have gotten a smaller box? Maybe. Did they ship it in a HUGE BARREL THAT TAKES UP HALF THE TRUCK? No.

A lot of the stories published on Consumerist are ridiculous now like the US Airways flight thing.

@microcars: so when dell or staples does it. its a eco catastrophe, but if apple does it you have a list of 5 possible explanations. Seems a bit one side no? That box is actually the new version of the mac book, they accidentally sent it to you, now you have to send them 2400 dollars for the privilege. Suckers.

Everything at apple is designed, especially their packaging. I imagine that they didn't feel it was worth the expense to have someone design an ultra-svelte shipping box for a recalled power adapter. Also, I don't know what the smallest size box you can ship is, but it's easily larger than that adapter. Still looks pretty stupid.

Didn't we cover this back in October when it actually happened?

This story is months old. At the time, there was general outrage and Apple responded by switching to smaller mailers. They haven't used this type of box in months.

Furthermore, this isn't packaging, it's a return mailer. It was expected to survive two trips through the DHL delivery system, and possibly be re-used after that. Even if not re-used, you can be pretty certain they would recycle the mailers.

@William Gu: Consumerist has always complained about packaging as long as I've been reading it. But this is one of the weakest examples of bad packaging I've seen on this site.

Guys... they obviously did it so they could fit the note of apology in there.

That's the same box they use for all small items they replace or service. Every iPod box I ever got was that size, just with different sized padding on the inside to make the item fit snugly. It just barely fits the shipping label. The cardboard can easily be recycled and I wouldn't doubt that the padding is reused from box to box.

@microcars: yeah, exactly. this is their standard iPod repair box.

@simplegreen: when Dell or Staples does it, we complain that they're sending us 30 widgets in 30 boxes... when each box could easily contain all 30 widgets, with room to spare.

They send you this box, and then ask you to return the old one in the same box. Maybe they are reusing the boxes over and over again.

I doubt it, but Apple touts itself as a green company, so we can dream :)

This is pretty much the smallest parts box Apple uses. Power adapters, airport cards, and replacement iPods tend to show up in boxes this size. For more valuable items, shippers won't provide insurance coverage in the event of damage.

@simplegreen: The new MacBook Air II: It doesn't just fit in a manilla envelope, it IS a manilla envelope!

@simplegreen: EXACTLY!!! Apple Apologists, the lot of 'em.

@nocar: Uh, i dont know about you, but my check refills come to me in a box no bigger than a check. And the somehow manage to scale down the shipping label!

Since when is Apple environmentally friendly? I worked in a college campus's computer store, and we received more Apple propaganda paper than actual mail. They wasted so many reams of paper on the iPod only to update it after six months and send out new info. Once they sent us the old stuff a week before the update, then the new info sheets after the update. I could have regrown a forest from all the shit Apple sent us.

@microcars: Now, if they could just put in a filter to append this to anything where the words "shipping" and "boxes" show up, we could all save some time.

Of course, where's the fun in that?

@AstridCulleo: I wonder if refurbing the returned ones was actually economically advantageous enough to require the return. Seems like a big hassle.

Although, I suppose it's more of an anti-scamming measure to prevent people from not actually replacing an existing one, or selling off the defective one.

These are their standard size boxes used for laptop power adapters, replacement iPods, laptop hard drives. Sure, they could have designed a smaller box for the iPhone power adapter but, big deal! Think logically for a moment: Wouldn't they be using even more cardboard if they made up some special boxes JUST for these power adapters? Apple already had these boxes ready to be used. I have 3 of these boxes. My plan is to use them when I eBay something small. They're perfect for sending a cell phone, hard drive, iPod, etc. Anyway... I don't give a damn how big their boxes are. This environazi B.S. about shipping boxes is getting old. If you're so concerned about the box then, recycle the damned thing and shut the hell up!

As someone who works in the IT industry and receives shipments from Apple on a weekly basis I can can say that I'd be hard pressed to think of a company who packs less efficiently than Apple. Sure their computers are shipped and packaged in boxes barely larger than the unit itself, but accessories seem to be shipped in cavernous boxes with dozens of feet of brown crumpled paper to keep it from shifting around. It's also a rare day that I see more than 1 item shipped per box. Want a case, an extra power adapter, and mouse and keyboard with your MacBook? Expect to receive several cubic feet of packaging and a tree's worth of brown paper.

@simplegreen: THANK YOU!!! Remember, Apple can do no wrong!

If you ship with FedEx, there is a minimum side (Because the size of the sticker) before you have to go down to bubble envelope.

That reminds me...I need to send the plug I never use in for replacement. It's just sitting there on my desk behind my iPhone...gathering dust.

@tetris2: Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. I (used to) really like this blog. And I still do like it. I've gotten many reimbursements from dealing with corporate instead of CS lines, which is what I learned from this blog.

It's just that the posts have gone downhill in "quality". Before, posts were written when a corporation failed miserably at something. Now, it seems like every small thing is an issue. That box is small enough and could have been used for a number of reasons. Look at the past box stories and you can see just how nitpicky this posting is. As you said, this is one of the weakest examples and I agree. This shouldn't be a "Stupid Shipping" story.

@William Gu: And I want to add that my iPod Nano came in the exact same box. The box really is the width of a mailing label. I saw no issue with that box either.

@lowcajones: No way is that 8x12x6. You can plainly see a standard letter size sheet folded in half to 8 1/2 x 5 1/2, taking up the complete top area, and the box is about half as tall as it is deep.

I coulda sworn I saw this story on Giz or Digg months ago...

@PerpetualBoredom: Most shipping places I've used have a "standard" size shipping label that can reach anywhere up to half the size of a 8.5x11 sheet of paper when printed out for autoshipment if it's going via any of the major courier services.

Your bank may have a special account set up to handle cheques because they'll always be using a box that size for them whereas apple deals with a variety of sizes.

Who on this board can recite UPS/FedEX tariffs by chapter and verse? Who on this board has actually designed the shipping operations of a company? Who on this board is finacially responsible for decisions made by their company with regards to shipping products?

Yo, this box issue is a non-issue.

A box UNDER 3 cubic feet in internal volume is billed for shipping costs at actual shipping weight. This means UPS etc do give a fark how big or small the box may be as long as the box is under 3 cubic feet, and you, the consumer, is NOT paying extra for the standardized shipping box.

(UPS trucks typically weigh out not volume out.... means those "oversized" boxes are not an issue.)

The cost of boxes is not related to size of the box. I can actually purchase boxes of approx 3 cubic feet in volume for less $ than a box of only 1 cubic feet. In some instances the smaller box can be twice the price. I pay the bills. Why would I use a smaller box which costs me more, especially if such box does not benefit the customer?

Simple shipping systems costs less $ to operate. If I use 37 boxes versus 3 boxes my overhead (storage) costs will go through the roof, and my assembly line is going to be more complex.

Oh sure, the tree hugger side of me would like to save a few trees. Save a tree versus raise shipping costs? That question is the only valid question in this process, and based upon consumer demands, the trees are lossing.

@Corporate-Shill:

Correct the words:

UPS does NOT give a fark how big or small the box may be

Why do people care? Seriously if the replacement part is OK what's the big deal? If you have no use for the packaging just cut it up and get rid of it.

@rtmccormick: Heaven forfend Apple (or any company) not waste money on boxes that are too big. (and yes, I've ordered bulk boxes for my parent's business. Smaller boxes cost less money.) And, yes, mailing labels come smaller. I've seen those, too. Last I checked, saving money was supposedly a conservative trait.