Hopefully the title isn’t to harsh for everyone but it fits. I order a lot from Amazon as most do. I order the majority of photo equipment from Adorama.

A couple weeks ago I ordered a $4 pack of 500 popsicle sticks for my daughter to build things. They came in a box with air filled plastic bags for protection.

I’ve been wanting a new Canon RF lens which is out of stock almost everywhere. This lens is over $2,500 with tax. Amazon had 1 in stock. I ordered it because it was shipped and sold thru Amazon not some 3rd party. It came by UPS 2 days later. Low and behold they didn’t bother putting it in a box. Just shipped it in the original Canon box. The box is covered with about 8 or 9 big shipping stickers so you can’t really make out what the box is. One corner is slightly smashed or crushed. Nothing major.

I’m very tempted to return it. I don’t know if it has any damage. I assume it’s okay but seriously. Pack popsicle sticks and don’t pack an expensive lens. Who made this decision?

If I decide to sell it in the future someone would see all the shipping labels on the box and may not want it. I hate to return it because I may be waiting a while to find another.

The reason for all the shipping labels is I wasn’t home to sign for it. UPS decided to send it to the UPS store for me to pick up. They created more shipping labels with that stores address as well as additional instructions for the staff there.

My concern at this point is weather or not the lens could have been damaged.

I don't think your thoughts on your issue are out of line at all. If you are Joe average consumer you have no way of knowing if the lens is damaged internally or not. The lens was obviously poorly packed and shipped without regard for it's obvious fragility. See my story below:

I ordered a new Nikon D 850 from B&H several months back. When it arrived the exterior box looked like the camera could possibly have been damaged. I asked the FedEx driver if he could possibly return a bit later so that I would have time to call B&H for advice. The driver said he could do that.

When I called and described the box condition the B&H rep told me to refuse the package and they would get a new one out as soon as they received the damaged shipment. There was no hesitation on their part. Even the FedEx driver said, considering what the item was, he wouldn't take it either. B&H came through for me with flying colors and I didn't have to worry about something wrong with my new camera showing up at a later time.

I don't see any reason for all the sarcasm and angst aimed at the OP. If anyone doesn't like a post, why not just forget about it and move on.

So, the OP is not decisive about his issue, but that does not invalidate his question or issue- especially nowadays. Even before the world-wide pandemic, small neighborhood camera stores are becoming a rarity- they are disappearing at an alarming rate, yielding to the big-box suppliers. Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, folks are ordering just about everything online- from pizza and Asian foods, clothing and other necessities, and, of course, costly photographic equipment.

Even local restaurants had to gear up for take-out, curbside service and home delivery. They had to devise methods of preparation, packaging and delivery that many had not engaged in before.

For photographers who are not in the business and perhaps not accustomed to all the trials and tribulations of dealing with transportation providers, parcel services and courier service it could be an unfamiliar experience. I have had, over the years, decent service but every once in a while there are issues. Many delivery services are overburdened with unusual volumes of freight brought on by the pandemic. Someof the new or part-time personnel are inexperienced and perhaps not the "sharpest knives in the drawer". Lately, I have had "signature required" parcels left at the doorstep, hanged on the doorknob, or thrown on the floor in the vestibule. Times are bad and the so called porch pirates are out in force. During the last Christmas season, deliveries around here were a nightmare.

The folk at B&H, Adorama, KEH, Roberts and some of the others are experts in what used to be called the "mail-order" business. They are geared up and staffed up to follow up on problematic occurrences. By the way, packing is a technology. You may notice that corrugated materials are categorized by various strengths and load capacities and there are specialized tapes, closures, staples. and paddings. and strappings used to protect contents. In companies, the shipper is supposed to know what they are doing.

So...if any of y'all are into the "the big brown truck" kinda thing on a frequent basis, heads up! Make sure you know the laws and regulations pertaining to carriers, insurance, and classes of delivery times. Currier serves used to be very fast- oftentimes overnight. Nowadays they offer many categories of delivery times. The longer the packages are in transit- the more likely they can be damaged. If you are dealing with imported goods, there are customs duties and time delays as things are inspected at customs facilities.

If you receive a parcel that looks like it has been shipped through a war zone or improperly packaged, do not hesitate, get on the phone, notify the sender and the carrier and take the appropriate action.