Exciting packaging – How Amazon sabotaged Vienna’s Christkindl

‘Daddy, what is that? Who is this Nook (note: a buildable book stand) for?” Says the teenage daughter on the cell phone. She had just opened the door for the Amazon delivery person and received the package. Unpacked, only shrink-wrapped in transparent film. But the innocent question for whom this package was intended caused “Krone” reader Benedikt Z. to get into trouble on the other end of the line.

It was planned as a gift
Because the package was actually intended as a surprise gift for that same daughter. When he ordered it on Amazon in a timely manner, he had a false sense of security that he could give his teenage child the perfect surprise. But he did the calculations without taking into account the shipping giant’s latest environmental protection initiative.

Packaging reduced
Anyone who buys gifts on Amazon should take a closer look: the note “reduce packaging” is increasingly appearing on the order form. If you do not change this, the package will be delivered in transparent foil and the contents will be visible to the person receiving it – or to the neighbors if it is left on the doorstep.

If the original packaging is stable enough for shipping, this setting is default. This is probably rarely an issue when ordering for personal use. But online retail in particular offers the opportunity to surprise loved ones on the other side of the world with a gift – or even family members in your own household.

Be careful with certain products
The transport giant emphasized to ‘Krone’ that the majority of customers would like to reduce packaging. Amazon already ships twelve percent of all packages worldwide this way. According to the company, the most common use of the original packaging is not for Christmas presents, but for “bikini wax strips or condoms.”