Packaging

I am a college student and around the beginning of the semester it is always interesting, while checking my mail to see the books arriving in the mail for the student's classes. I witness a lot of good packaging and too many shoddy packing jobs. I was fairly successful with my purchases, going with the combination of a good seller rating, good condition, and good price. There were many very good ones, but a few I wondered if that person usually packed their books like this, or had just run out of materials. One in particular was a small paperback put in a large envelope (like one that you would see for in office use) and it was folded over and taped shut. Amazingly it arrived to me in one piece. I was actually fortunate because a friend of mines was wrapped in scraps of a grocery bag. Apparently there was no bubble wrap and a few of the corners were ripped and the book was in pretty bad shape by the time it arrived to him.

I do understand the need to save money. A thing I have realized is this isn't a gold mine of a business. You need to scrimp and save everywhere you can. Even considering that though, the custumer needs to be able to recieve the book in the condition it was described. It makes no difference if it was perfect when it left your door it needs to arrive to the customer in that condition also. You can blame the post office all you want (and we all do it!) The fact is though, we know they are going to be rough. We need to package ready and prepared to deal with that.

Have thoughts? Ideas, suggestions? I'd love for you to share!