Canon Over-Packaging

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Archive 2008 · Canon Over-Packaging

Mardon Erbland
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p.1 #1 · Canon Over-Packaging

I recently lost the small plastic cap that covers the extension system terminal socket on the side of my 1D3. I ordered a new cap plus an extra one for a spare from Canon Canada. They indicated that the shipping would be $20.00. I thought that $20 was a bit much for something so small but I dismissed it as being some sort of minimum charge. When the box arrived, I could see why the shipping was so expensive. The photo below shows the box that the 2 caps were shipped in as well as the caps themselves. The caps are the two black circles in front of the box. Why would Canon use such a large box when the caps would have fit just fine in an ordinary size padded envelope? If nothing else, smaller packaging material would have saved part of a tree. I get really puzzled by such lack of common sense. Very odd.

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Aug 06, 2008 at 09:28 PM

Alistair Watson
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p.1 #2 · Canon Over-Packaging

that is funny, such a big box for those 2 small caps! At least they arrived in one piece!

I order a couple of screws for the lens hood of my 400/2.8 IS and luckily they got delivered in a small padded envelope, for free!

Edited on Aug 06, 2008 at 09:39 PM

Aug 06, 2008 at 09:39 PM

terminator
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p.1 #3 · Canon Over-Packaging

Are you sure that Canon did not misunderstood your request? they probably thought you were asking for a box, and accidentally drop two caps in the box...

Mardon Erbland wrote:
I recently lost the small plastic cap that covers the extension system terminal socket on the side of my 1D3. I ordered a new cap plus an extra one for a spare from Canon Canada. They indicated that the shipping would be $20.00. I thought that $20 was a bit much for something so small but I dismissed it as being some sort of minimum charge. When the box arrived, I could see why the shipping was so expensive. The photo below shows the box that the 2 caps were shipped in as well as the caps themselves. The caps are the two black circles in front of the box. Why would Canon use such a large box when the caps would have fit just fine in an ordinary size padded envelope? If nothing else, smaller packaging material would have saved part of a tree. I get really puzzled by such lack of common sense. Very odd.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Aug 06, 2008 at 09:45 PM

ClintCritchlow
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p.1 #4 · Canon Over-Packaging

I got the same size box with the air pac packing when I ordered an Eyepiece extender from Amazon,

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-EP-EX15-Eyepiece-Extender-Cameras/dp/B0000AQI9E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1218060577&sr=8-1

So it is not just Canon that over packs but it just seems odd that shipping depts. would not have smaller boxes or padded envelopes for this stuff. At least I was not charged $20 for it.

Edited on Aug 06, 2008 at 10:13 PM

Aug 06, 2008 at 10:12 PM

njjuliano
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p.1 #5 · Canon Over-Packaging

Now you know someone was cracking up (or on crack, whichever) as they were packaging this.

"You're using that, to package those?"

"Uh-huh, its going out that way. Huhh-huhh-huhh...."

Aug 06, 2008 at 10:17 PM

RGS65
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p.1 #6 · Canon Over-Packaging

Yes, but it's a 1D series Canon box, don't you see. You pay extra for 1-Series Canon boxes. If you wanted the XXD series box, that would have only been $12.95 ;-)

Aug 06, 2008 at 10:20 PM

Matt OHarver
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p.1 #7 · Canon Over-Packaging

I ordered a replacement foot for my original 580EX after I was run over on the sideline of a HS football game. It came in the same size box. Maybe they only have one size box? Seems silly to me.

Matt

Aug 06, 2008 at 10:21 PM

BCPete
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p.1 #8 · Canon Over-Packaging

Well here's my guess ...

It's probably something to do with Canada Post regulations regarding their shipping contract with Canon. I bet you anything Canon has a special insurance rider with Canada Post for damaged merchandise, and as a result they have to follow some Canon Post regulations about minimum packaging & protection - for everything Canon ships.

Best guess anyway!

Aug 06, 2008 at 10:25 PM

Mike1
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p.1 #9 · Canon Over-Packaging

I've ordered parts from Canon & got a similarly sized box. Yes, we could say that this is a "one size fits all box" for MOST things from Canon.

Edited on Aug 06, 2008 at 11:48 PM

Aug 06, 2008 at 11:47 PM

Kingfishphoto
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p.1 #10 · Canon Over-Packaging

I recently mailed in a inoperative XT body, to Canon service, New Jersey. The repair amount, i declined-their return mailing was over twice, what i had paid to send it to them. Lord knows, what size box, that would have been?

Aug 06, 2008 at 11:55 PM

runner301
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p.1 #11 · Canon Over-Packaging

Better too big than too small as they say.

Aug 07, 2008 at 01:16 AM

timnosenzo
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p.1 #12 · Canon Over-Packaging

That's pathetic. To hell with the trees, I guess.

Aug 07, 2008 at 02:06 AM

Littlebike
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p.1 #13 · Canon Over-Packaging

I think I might have you beat.

Here ar ethe photos from when I ordered a new button for my 20d. I submitted my story to Consumerist.com

This image is copyrighted by the owner

You can see my consumerist post here: http://consumerist.com/385245/canon-uses-comically-oversized-box-to-send-you-something-they-could-have-taped-to-a-postcard

Aug 07, 2008 at 02:15 AM

omarlyn
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p.1 #14 · Canon Over-Packaging

It's NOT just Canon (and Amazon)...I work in purchasing, and it is not uncommon for me to receive (for example) a 25lb motor in a single-layer card-board box wrapped in newspaper nor is it uncommom for me to recieve a (paper) catalog packaged in styrofoam peanuts. I once recieved a 12' length of FLEXIBLE rubber bumper in a 12' wooden crate...this bumper could have been ROLLED into a bundle!

I think the shipping department in most companies might be the MOST Entry-Level of positions and common sense is not a job pre-requisite.

Omar

Aug 07, 2008 at 02:23 AM

EA6B
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p.1 #15 · Canon Over-Packaging

Did the box have a red or green stripe on it?

E

Aug 07, 2008 at 02:39 AM

Matt Kerby
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p.1 #16 · Canon Over-Packaging

Crazy, in the US, for the same part (I bought 3) they charged $5 shipping and sent it in a bubble envelope....
My guess is it's like the LCD screens on the 40D, 1Dmk3 and 1Dsmk3, they ordered so many that they just have keep using them til they run out.

Aug 07, 2008 at 04:07 AM

PShizzy
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p.1 #17 · Canon Over-Packaging

i bought two of those buttons. 3 bucks. shipping was 5.

and it came in a bubble wrap envelope

Max

Aug 07, 2008 at 04:25 AM

EOS20
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p.1 #18 · Canon Over-Packaging

I wonder how big the box would have been if you had only ordered one of them!!

Edited on Aug 07, 2008 at 04:59 AM

Aug 07, 2008 at 04:56 AM

ontime
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p.1 #19 · Canon Over-Packaging

They probably just have a minimum shipping rate and box size, which is close to the average of everything they ship. To cut down on unnecessary amounts of boxes and supplies. Plus their contract, as someone else mentioned.

It keeps things simple. What you ordered was an outlier in terms of what they typically ship.

Aug 07, 2008 at 05:27 AM

MSC
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p.1 #20 · Canon Over-Packaging

Weird you lost yours too. I've had quite a few 1D bodies now and never lost of these caps but did almost instantly with the Mk3, albeit the s model. I paid $8 too and it came in a box similar to yours...I think they are just using whatever empty box is around, maybe the total cost is less paying a little more for shipping and re-using a box than new packaging and little less for shipping...maybe. And it could be that the cost of shipping a box is less with whatever deal they have from UPS...again, maybe.

It is kind of sad we are all commenting on this.

Edited on Aug 07, 2008 at 05:31 AM

Aug 07, 2008 at 05:29 AM

Gochugogi
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p.1 #21 · Canon Over-Packaging

I guess most of you guys haven't seen the typical employee in a big shipping department. Let's just say, even if they had the common sense to know better, they don't give a damn since it ain't their dime being spent.

Aug 07, 2008 at 05:36 AM

FretNoMore
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p.1 #22 · Canon Over-Packaging

That's funny, if it hadn't been such a waste

I bought the same thing, two caps, from a spare parts supplier here in Sweden and they shipped them in a small zip-lock bag in a padded envelope.

Edited on Aug 07, 2008 at 09:32 AM

Aug 07, 2008 at 09:31 AM


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