Do You Care About The Box?

[time space]

This thread comes from a discussion in the Computers & Electronics forum (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=698546).

Here is the discussion which spurred me to create this new thread:

Just purchased a brand new macbook 13.3 2.4ghz etc for 1749 from Best buy. When i opened the box, everything was all over the place, manuals and cd's and nothing was sealed. The laptop itself was damaged! screen is scratched too!!

I go back to Best Buy the next day to tell them...wtf? The managaer basically told me to f$%* off as they are not responsible as the box was sealed when they gave it to me.
Apple rep said it was actually double sealed cause he opened all the boxes to add ilife just last week.

What do i do? I called best buy customer service but that doesn't seem too promising.

My laptop won't even turn on, i basically paid $2000 for a piece of metal (aluminium i was "corrected" - told the idiot aluminium is a metal) Go best buy!
Any help or advice would really be appreciated

How did you not notice that the official Apple seal was broken before you purchased it? They have a one time opening seal that cannot be resealed without it be plainly visible.

When I buy a full price computer, I make sure I get a perfect box with all seals intact. As a matter of fact, if I buy a $23 toaster at Walmart, I get a perfect box with all seals intact. For $1749 I want a box that glows!

You have made your own situation rather difficult by not taking that simple precaution.

You must really like boxes...when I pay $1749 I want a good quality computer and warranty...I couldn't care less if the box could get up and start dancing.

To each his own I suppose.

(But, I still find it hard to picture you gleefully plunking down $1749 for a bashed up, dirty box with broken seals.)

So my question is: when you buy a big ticket item like a notebook computer, do you pay attention to the box it comes in before you purchase it?

[Hairball]

If it is obviously damaged and ripped, that usually isn't a good sign, and I would be reluctant to buy it.

But if it's just minor dents and just not pristine, I don't see why it's a big deal.

[time space]

If it is obviously damaged and ripped, that usually isn't a good sign, and I would be reluctant to buy it.

But if it's just minor dents and just not pristine, I don't see why it's a big deal.

For any RFDer worth their salt, that should be the starting point for a discussion about discounts.

Maybe it could be a "big deal"!

;)

[tomtomtom]

It reminds me of the Russell Peters joke about Indian buying white shirts.

"It's ripped, how much is it?"

no offense intended.

Unless it is a kickass deal and last one on shelf, or else I don't usually get the ripped box. Seeing a ripped box makes me think of the torture the thing goes thru before getting to my hand.

[dog_mumu]

It depends on the circumstances of the purchase, much less on the total price.

If I buy prepackaged food in a grocery store - you bet I want all the packaging in pristine condition. Even though it's not a "high ticket item".

If I buy a new laptop or some other electronic equipment, I want either a sealed box, or a box that was opened to show me the item, in which case I know in what condition the contents are.

If I buy used equipment, I may not mind even the absence of the box, but it will affect the price I am willing to pay for it.

[Jon Lai]

Anything matters, no matter the price, that it must be boxed up perfectly =)

If you see someone that always picks the 2nd or 3rd box on the shelf instead of the first, that might be me ;)

[AzN_RiverdaleCI]

Box is totally important! it shows how it was handled!

[ndrew029]

I always used to hate the customers that would make me climb a ladder just to get another huge printer box because the corner was dented or it had a gash on the box. We're not talking major damage or anything. These are usually the same people that return the item looking like it was packaged by a monkey with no thumbs.

Not saying they are wrong though...after all, it's their money and their choice. But it can be annoying depending on how unreasonable they get.

[Cheap Cat]

Yes, I care about the box because it tells me how the item was handled. If it is an electronic item and the box is all damaged, I don't want it. When I went to get my dSLR, they came out with one in a damaged box. There was a big gash in the side. I refused it and they looked at me like I was an idiot. They claimed they had no more so I left without it. I ended up buying it elsewhere in a pristine box. Also if I am giving the item as a gift, I want a pristine box.

[adblink182]

I always used to hate the customers that would make me climb a ladder just to get another huge printer box because the corner was dented or it had a gash on the box. We're not talking major damage or anything. These are usually the same people that return the item looking like it was packaged by a monkey with no thumbs.

Not saying they are wrong though...after all, it's their money and their choice. But it can be annoying depending on how unreasonable they get.

SAME!!!! god I hated that

[BD006]

Most of the time, yes I care.

I think the exception might be big cardboard boxes for like AV equipment, because those are just bound to get roughed up.

[Glace]

I absolutely care. I'll even look for a box that has less DUST on it if I can. This applies to everything, bags of carrots, a book, computer, TV, whatever.

The question should be why WOULDN'T you do this? For less pricey items it's all laid out there for you, just spend an extra 10 seconds to pick a nicer looking box. For big ticket items, spend that extra few minutes to pick the best looking box, open it (if it's not sealed), check for obvious signs of damage, then leave. Why spend time to come back for an exchange, with the chance that they won't do it for you, when you can do it right then and there?

You're paying for an item with your hard earned money, why wouldn't you pick the best of the batch?

[shannn]

I hate damaged boxes...I expect good boxes when I buy big purchase items

Only exception would be if it was a hard to find item, or if I were getting a huge discount

[ride365]

i work for a major pop company and we have a hard time selling 12pks that have been taped up. Often its as simple as there wasnt enough glue on the cardboard so one side opened. We always inspect all the cans and send it back to the warehouse if damaged. People seem reluctant to buy though. I understand if it was a larger ticket item but if there was a problem you could always return it to the store. I guess people don't want to be bothered/take that chance which I understand. Nothing is worse though than when I see a customer destroy product and then take a new one from the shelf and leave a big mess.

[time space]

I absolutely care. I'll even look for a box that has less DUST on it if I can. This applies to everything, bags of carrots, a book, computer, TV, whatever.

The question should be why WOULDN'T you do this? For less pricey items it's all laid out there for you, just spend an extra 10 seconds to pick a nicer looking box. For big ticket items, spend that extra few minutes to pick the best looking box, open it (if it's not sealed), check for obvious signs of damage, then leave. Why spend time to come back for an exchange, with the chance that they won't do it for you, when you can do it right then and there?

You're paying for an item with your hard earned money, why wouldn't you pick the best of the batch?
That's the question I'm curious about too.

Can one of the 10% of those who voted "No" in the poll, let us know their rationale for accepting open or damaged boxes for full priced goods?

[zoolander]

Big ticket? Open box only if it's the last one, then ask for an additional discount.

[gordholio]

I think all men (if they are real men) care about the box! :cheesygri

[bst]

Wait...

How do you explain shoppers that opens up a brand new box to check the item, leave it unpacked (or just shove it back in), and takes a brand new box to buy?

[tomthegreat]

I've bought two display things before, a mini fridge and a desktop. Both work fine, and I could care less if they had the box or not, it's just more garbage for me. I did get a discount on both, I didn't ask for one of the fridge, but I was a little upset at the FS guys for not selling me the display computer I wanted, because they may or may not get more in, so the guy gave me a discount on an open box one at the same price of the display one I wanted.

But I've had people not want to buy an item because the box looked a little banged up, because it was shipped in that box, and sat in our backroom for a bit, it's not like there were big rips or dents in it. But I've also had associates sell a display t.v. the one day it was NOT on sale, with no box and the customer did not ask for any discount.

There are also a lot of times, when we will open a box to show someone something, then box it back up, and put it back in the back. But we keep the box for anything that is on display, and will sell anything on display, if the item is in perfect condition, you won't get a discount. You will throw the box away anyways and it will be "open" once you get it home. It's like it people ask for a discount on a new pair of pants because someone may have tried them on.

Most people I deal with are ok with buying display items, as long as I don't come out of the back room saying "well.. umm.. we just have that demo unit there.... did you still want to get it?"
if I come out and say "Well, that's our last one, let me box it up for you! Its only been there for not too long, and it still has the full warranty" people will usually just go with it. Why should they waste their time trying to pick something else, or going to a different location if that was the item they wanted and it's sitting right there.

I even bought a display printer from my store today, I'm sure the only thing wrong with it, is there was a bit of dust on it. power cord was still wrapped up, ink still in the bags, etc.

I don't think I would buy a t.v./laptop that has been on display, though, just because it's on all the time.

[time space]

It seems like the only people in this thread who think you shouldn't get an undamaged, sealed box are the store employees!

[brunes]

As long as I am buying from a reputable chain I could care less what the box looks like.

The poster quoted in the OP is a moron, why did he not just exchange the laptop at BB? I find it IMPOSSIBLE to believe the manager told him to "F off" - if it's within 30 days they would exchange it.

Wait...

How do you explain shoppers that opens up a brand new box to check the item, leave it unpacked (or just shove it back in), and takes a brand new box to buy?

They're inconsiderate a-holes. That's how I explain it.

[avp77]

A few days ago I dropped by Canadian Tire to buy a teapot, and *every* single box of that type of teapot had been seriously mashed and worn, like they'd been dropkicked around. But there were just 3 parts inside, i made sure they were ok, and picked it up.

In hindsight it's not that great a teapot, but it had nothing to do with the box being mashed up. I'm usually more wary of a box that's been re-taped shut rather than one that is open, which you can check out.

[RiCHC3]

Any indication of mis-use, shotty treatment (dropped / extreme scrapes on the box) that compromises the safety and longevity of the product inside would bother me.

Otherwise, not really. :D

[time space]

Well the poll results are in, and I'm still surprised that there is even a single person that will pay full price for a big ticket item in a box that's clearly suffered abuse. I would have thought that would have been like a bell to any RFDer, signalling that discount negotiations are about to begin.

I suppose the good news is that there are actually 15% of people who happily take the damaged and unsealed boxes, leaving the pristine boxes for the 85% of the rest of us!

[kleptodathief]

dpends if i RESELLING the product :cheesygri

[fakishan]

I eagerly await the day graphic designers have no jobs and all boxes are seethrough.

[dubjk]

i care about the box in the sense that, it protected the contents inside, and that I can potentially re-use the box for something else (ex- buy a pair of shoes, use the shoe box to store my CDs)