chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

I am sorry but I couldn't resist.
Yes if your lens has been out in the weather it might have been damaged.

pego101

This post may surpass the "jpeg photography" one.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

Or Clear/UV Filter vs. No filter topic

Muddyvalley Loc: McMinnville, Oregon

Nice story, but...The "original packing box" contains multiple items, not just one lens. This would be grossly inefficient.
Very doubtful that the semi moves the individual lens boxes separately and not combined into larger boxes for delivery to the destination. Few retailers buy items one at a time. I find it very hard to believe that these lenses/cameras are shipped loose and not combined together in another larger box especially on a ship or airplane from another country. These are thin cardboard boxes not meant for shipping. In fact, all the graphics on the boxes would make them hard to scan by hand or automatic equipment.

cyclespeed Loc: Calgary, Alberta Canada

I hope the popsicle sticks were not damaged.

pego101

I agree about the sticks.

Remove the labels with goof off.

Roy Levit Loc: New York

Keep any information as to the time of delivery, photograph the box from more than one angle and then open it. If there is damage, send it back with photos of the pre opening. If no damage, you have the lens you wanted.

Bill_de Loc: US

I love when people suggest "call and demand!"

If you want to return something to Amazon you go to the order page and click return. Then a few more clicks and follow the directions. Not as exciting as making demands, but more efficient.

I actually watched a substitute mail carrier damage something out of stupidity. I took it to the local post office. The Post Master said even though the mail carrier damaged it, Amazon would replace it. They did!

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E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

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.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

Sarcasm is not directed at the OP or the condition of the lens. If it works then keep it, if it doesn't work, or he's uncomfortable with the condition it arrived, return it. His issue is that the lens is hard to find during the manufacturing break downs of the pandemic. His struggle got me in the feels as that is a real decision factor.

The sarcasm, at least from me, is the importance this community places on the importance of a box for potential resale value. Like it or not, some of us just see that as plain silly and make light of the issue instead of being rude.

jstampa

They arrived perfect?

pego101

Yea some folks think the box is as important as the contents.

jstampa

I'm posting pictures. People can decide what they would or would't do. I have placed the blue tape to cover personal info. When I wasn't home UPS took the package back and put a new label over the original shipping label. This was because they were actually overnighting it to the UPS store for my pickup. As someone asked to see the label (I guess me saying it came from Lexington KY wasn't good enough) I peeled the label back to show the original labels return address.

I also receive on average between 5 - 10 amazon packages a day from different drivers throughout the day. I regularly receive items in the manufactures box and not an amazon box. Someone also stated about their and their neighbors amazon's boxes "always being shipped in an amazon box". It happens all the time. My wife does some business thru amazon and has a lot of packages coming so I'm very familiar with their shipping habits.

henryp Loc: New York, NY

Thank you. Kind of you to say so.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

That is, as you said, stupid - and I would include the words "utterly" and "inexcusably" as well