It’s happened to everyone. After days of anticipation, that package you’ve been eagerly awaiting finally shows up on your front doorstep. The elation of finally receiving the item, quickly turns to disappointment as you stare at the scuffed, torn, and stained box at your feet. What in the world happened to it? Did it accidentally get routed through a warzone? The trepidation is palpable as you carefully cut open the box, almost scared to look inside only to discover that it will look just as bad as the outside.
This scenario may not play out the same exact way when a grocer receives a shipment of bleach or a home improvement retailer unloads a fresh box of nails, but make no mistake: The condition of any product’s packaging on arrival makes a strong impression. Damaged boxes lessen the perceived value of the contents inside, but more importantly, often indicate that those contents may have also suffered damage in transit. For manufacturers and ecommerce retailers, the real costs from that damage can manifest in the form of markdowns, return shipment costs, missed deadlines, product dispositions, and poor customer satisfaction.