Poor packaging resulting in damaged CE items

[Gazereths]

IIRC I had to send 4 or 5 back before I got a mint one. It was back when I first joined the forum.

I've had some crap from the Bioware store as well, not the US one, they're pretty damn good at packing. It was back when they had a EU store, they'd send limited edition lithographs in ridiculously thin tubes, then not have any replacements when you asked for another :/

[Interinactive]

In my experience, EB games have been the worst when it comes to shipping items incorrectly that results in damage. eg:




That packing case is way too thin for the content inside. Here's the result of boxes that are too small from EB:








I must have complained a dozen times now, yet last week I still received an item with a crushed box.

This one was brilliant. It should have been damaged but was not. It is theGround Zeroes CE for the PS4:




That there is nothing but the gamebox and some cardboard, yet it arrived in MINT condition.

Here's another from Larian:




But they sent another one out free of charge.

Each of the following are damaged, so they kept sending out more:




They eventually sent out a signed one, for free, but it still came damaged. I had the worst luck and felt so bad for them because they just kept trying. The packaging never changed though, so they just kept getting dented in some place or another. They probably thought I'd sell them, but I couldn't bring myself to if I tried!

[Gemini-Phoenix]

This is something which I feel very strongly about, and I have had this same problem hundreds of times. Despite my efforts to complain via letter and social media each and every time, I doubt very much that my concerns are ever passed on to anyone high enough up the hierarchy to care. I could copy & paste dozens of complaints I have written in the past here (I won't, but I could)

I would say that if I had to pick a number that best represents the ratio between the packages I receive perfect, and the ones I receive which resemble that in the initial post, then I would say that I probably have to return a good 75%-80% of CE's I receive from GAME! When you consider how many LE's and CE's I actually buy from them (most are exclusives, so have no other choice), then that is a staggering amount!

A few recent instances which I can recall are:

* Bloodborne Nightmare Edition - Box was torn and bashed in at one end, but thankfully the CE inside was unscathed (a rarity, and I'm not always that lucky)

* Evolve Special Edition - First sent in white bubblewrap, arrived mashed (I have pictures). Returned. Replacement sent in corrugated cardboard, again arrived mashed (worse than the first! I have pictures). Returned inside a double-wall box as an example of what I expect CE's to be shipped in. Second replacement arrived mint, due to being packed properly (although I feel it was deliberately OTT because I complained)

* Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMIX LE - Shipped in white bubblewrap, arrived mashed. Returned. Replacement shipped the same way. Returned without even opening the package!


I have been lucky so far this year, and most of the larger squarer CE's (like Nintendo CE's) arrive in boxes. That said, anything which is essentially "small and flat" (like Evolve, FFX/X2 HD, Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMIX etc) are usually shipped in nothing more than white bubblewrap or thin corrugated cardboard. GAME should be banned from using this form of packaging!

[utta]

[Iwatasan]

This is a great topic. I've received disturbingly fucked up items as well. I don't blame shipping companies for the most part. I blame the retailers/distributors that package these things. They desperately need re-education. Still haven't figured out a way to make anyone care though.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

I'll also add that I received my MGS HD Collection CE's on release day from Zavvi in equally mashed up condition - and they came in flimsy boxes as well! If they ever dared ship such a thing in just a grey plastic bin bag, I would spew!

[Tacoshark]

I recently got a pretty damaged Uncharted Ship Graveyard giclee from C&B. First, I absolutely do not blame C&B, I have gotten stuff from them before and it was pristine. I am in the process of receiving a replacement and they are being very understanding and professional about it.

I blame FedEx as I have had numerous problems from them in the past. UPS,USPS, DHL no problems. FedEx, things are heavily delayed or damaged around 30-40% of the time.

[Gazereths]

Damn! Those tubes are pretty strong as well, sent and received loads of them and never had a problem.....Looks like someone stamped on it, hard!

Next time I get something and the package is damaged I'm just not gonna even accept it from the driver.

[KnightOfTruth]

Originally Posted by Gazereths

Damn! Those tubes are pretty strong as well, sent and received loads of them and never had a problem.....Looks like someone stamped on it, hard!

Next time I get something and the package is damaged I'm just not gonna even accept it from the driver.

The only problem that you run into there is then hoping you can speak to someone in CS to have them give you another order even though you technically "canceled" the previous one. But I guess if you were ok just rejecting the order and getting a refund, that'd be okay.

[Gazereths]

I'd rather not have one than a badly damaged one tbh. Plus then I don't have to mess around with return shipping.