Do You Care About The Box?

[time space]

This thread comes from a discussion in the Computers & Electronics forum.

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?