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Aug. 25, 2010 9:21 a.m. Grtechguy SuperDork
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Aug. 25, 2010 9:27 a.m. Toyman01 Dork
Never understand the power of human stupidity.
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Aug. 25, 2010 9:28 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork
Without placing the statement "empty box" on there; can you imagine how many calls to customer care have been averted or how many units would have been returned for missing parts?
The attempt to make things idiot proof will always be outpaced by the efforts to make a better idiot.
Sure, the main box could be just that much smaller but their may be other facotrs at work here. It could be that box size standardization creates efficiencies to purchasing, manufacturing or shipping.
What'd ya buy? -
Aug. 25, 2010 9:30 a.m. stuart in mn SuperDork
They needed something to fill in that corner of the package so the rest of the stuff wouldn't rattle around. I suppose they could have used a piece of foam, but a cardboard box is probably 0.05 cents cheaper. And, if they didn't label it 'empty box', sooner or later someone would accuse them of leaving something out.
Of course, that brings up the question whey didn't they just use a smaller box in the first place? Maybe this one is a standard size, and a smaller one would have been custom and therefore more expensive.
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Aug. 25, 2010 9:30 a.m. Grtechguy SuperDork
It's for ID card / insurance card scanners. it's only in the duplex models box. the single side scanners are in a smaller box.
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Aug. 25, 2010 9:34 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork
It may be possible that single and dual units are manufactured by different subcontractors in different facilities. This manufacturer may also make something else that also fits into just this size box.
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Aug. 25, 2010 10:06 a.m. MadScientistMatt Dork
Kind of the packaging equivalent of "This page intentionally left blank." I wonder if an older model required some other parts (or was slightly larger), and they just decided to keep the same packaging when they came up with a new redesign?
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Aug. 25, 2010 10:11 a.m. EricM Dork
"Marketing"
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Aug. 25, 2010 10:17 a.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork
jrw1621 wrote: ...There may be other factors at work here. It could be that box size standardization creates efficiencies to purchasing, manufacturing or shipping.
This^^
I work for a fulfillment and logistics operation, and the statement above pretty much sums it up. We have about 564367354 different sized products to ship, and only about 9 different sized shipping boxes - not only is it easier to fill the empty space inside a standardized shipping box with a filler box/plastic air pillow rather than warehouse 564367354 different sizes of empty box from a pure real estate standpoint, it also makes automation of our scanners and conveyors around a set standard possible, making the whole operation of moving a packed, ready-to-ship customer order through the computerized invoicing and logistics system as well as get it physically to the shipping dock that much more efficient. Trust me...there was an ARMY of engineers, bean counters and assembly line folks who've spent dozens and dozens of hours researching efficiency time studies and trial and error sessions behind the inclusion of that odd little empty box.
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Aug. 25, 2010 10:19 a.m. Grtechguy SuperDork
whats, bad is the outside of the box is very model specific. Full color pictures etc.
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Aug. 25, 2010 10:21 a.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork
Grtechguy wrote:
whats, bad is the outside of the box is very model specific. Full color pictures etc.
stickers are cheap
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Aug. 25, 2010 10:22 a.m. Appleseed SuperDork
Its a lie! That box is full of assembly air.
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Aug. 25, 2010 10:25 a.m. Grtechguy SuperDork
4cylndrfury wrote:
Grtechguy wrote:
whats, bad is the outside of the box is very model specific. Full color pictures etc.
stickers are cheap
Printed
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Aug. 25, 2010 12:50 p.m. akamcfly Reader
Appleseed wrote:
Its a lie! That box is full of assembly air.
and fecal coliforms...
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Aug. 25, 2010 12:59 p.m. RX Reven' Reader
Save it for a Valentines Day prank.
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Aug. 26, 2010 7:17 a.m. Knurled HalfDork
jrw1621 wrote:
Without placing the statement "empty box" on there; can you imagine how many calls to customer care have been averted or how many units would have been returned for missing parts?
I've bought items at Micro Center labeled "parts missing" that were missing no parts that I could determine.
So, at least once :)
There's a Bic helpline. I guess their most frequent calls are people who don't remove the cap from the pen or razor. (These people vote)
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Aug. 26, 2010 11:23 a.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork
Knurled wrote:
There's a Bic helpline. I guess their most frequent calls are people who don't remove the cap from the pen or razor. (These people vote)
if this quote somehow fails to make "said what", I just wanted to make sure everyone saw it at least one more time because of the incredible qtys of win it will shower upon the reader
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Aug. 26, 2010 12:29 p.m. turboswede SuperDork
4cf, to help it become "said what" material, use the vote button at the bottom of the post.
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Aug. 26, 2010 12:49 p.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork
turboswede wrote:
4cf, to help it become "said what" material, use the vote button at the bottom of the post.
button press engage
