One year, my mom gave me a photo album for Christmas. It's a cardboard album, kind of like a children's board book. It's red with a Christmasy design on the cover and a green satin ribbon that ties it together. Every year I put a picture of John, me and Bailey in it representing that particular year's Christmas.
I love pulling it out and looking through it but this year, I realized I forgot to add 2009's picture.
I went online to the Kodak Gallery where I store many of my pictures that I want to print and found the perfect one. I ordered it immediately.
A couple of days later at work, I was informed that I had a package. I went downstairs to our receiving dock and was handed a good-sized box. 12" x 10" x 1", to be exact.
I hadn't ordered anything so I couldn't figure out what it was. An early Christmas present perhaps?
I love pulling it out and looking through it but this year, I realized I forgot to add 2009's picture.
I went online to the Kodak Gallery where I store many of my pictures that I want to print and found the perfect one. I ordered it immediately.
A couple of days later at work, I was informed that I had a package. I went downstairs to our receiving dock and was handed a good-sized box. 12" x 10" x 1", to be exact.
I hadn't ordered anything so I couldn't figure out what it was. An early Christmas present perhaps?
I got it back to my office and opened it. Inside was a piece of heavy-duty cardboard covered in plastic wrap. I opened it and removed a blank, yellow piece of paper that had been resting against the cardboard. What was behind the piece of paper was appalling.
Behind the piece of paper was my Christmas picture. A 4" x 6" picture, to be exact.
I immediately went to Kodak's website and filed a complaint with their customer service.
After waiting for a response for almost three days, I finally received an email. After a token "we're sorry" and "we'll pass off your complaint to the powers that be," they blamed their packaging on the US Postal Service! They clearly weren't aware that the US Postal Service actually strives for a green footprint!
Behind the piece of paper was my Christmas picture. A 4" x 6" picture, to be exact.
I immediately went to Kodak's website and filed a complaint with their customer service.
After waiting for a response for almost three days, I finally received an email. After a token "we're sorry" and "we'll pass off your complaint to the powers that be," they blamed their packaging on the US Postal Service! They clearly weren't aware that the US Postal Service actually strives for a green footprint!
No, no. They weren't getting off this easy.
I wrote back. This was not acceptable! What were they going to do? They were at risk of losing a customer.
Two weeks went by. No response.
And then...I heard from them.
More token apologies for my inconvenience. MY inconvenience? How about the tree's inconvenience?!
They further explained how they strive to have your photos arrive safely. Really? I've ordered from other photo websites. Wouldn't a simple cardboard or padded envelope have sufficed?
The next paragraph: "You might consider our level of packaging to be way above standards, when compared to others within the industry. Please note that this is done to assure the overall safety of your placed order."
Above standards? What standards? I just want my small, flat picture!
They ended by "understanding my concerns," forwarding the email to their labs and offering me a $5 coupon on a future order. Don't think I'll be taking them up on that. Can you imagine how five pictures would be packaged? I'd need a cab for the box to get home!
After this atrocity, I started to re-think my shipping methods. Of course Christmas is the time for exchanging presents with loved ones near and far. And I, like many, will be shipping gifts.
I wrote back. This was not acceptable! What were they going to do? They were at risk of losing a customer.
Two weeks went by. No response.
And then...I heard from them.
More token apologies for my inconvenience. MY inconvenience? How about the tree's inconvenience?!
They further explained how they strive to have your photos arrive safely. Really? I've ordered from other photo websites. Wouldn't a simple cardboard or padded envelope have sufficed?
The next paragraph: "You might consider our level of packaging to be way above standards, when compared to others within the industry. Please note that this is done to assure the overall safety of your placed order."
Above standards? What standards? I just want my small, flat picture!
They ended by "understanding my concerns," forwarding the email to their labs and offering me a $5 coupon on a future order. Don't think I'll be taking them up on that. Can you imagine how five pictures would be packaged? I'd need a cab for the box to get home!
After this atrocity, I started to re-think my shipping methods. Of course Christmas is the time for exchanging presents with loved ones near and far. And I, like many, will be shipping gifts.
So instead of buying boxes, I've been taking boxes from work. Not new ones! Ones that our orders were shipped in...reused.
I'm also cutting down on my wrapping paper supplies. During the holiday season, Americans will throw away approximately 4 million tons of wrapping paper and shopping bags.
This year, think of creative ways to wrap your presents. How about wrapping your gift in a brand new dish towel or a comfy sweater? Or use the funny pages, paper bags from the grocery store or recycled wrapping paper.
I'm also cutting down on my wrapping paper supplies. During the holiday season, Americans will throw away approximately 4 million tons of wrapping paper and shopping bags.
This year, think of creative ways to wrap your presents. How about wrapping your gift in a brand new dish towel or a comfy sweater? Or use the funny pages, paper bags from the grocery store or recycled wrapping paper.
Regardless of what you use, make sure to reuse or recycle it and don’t forget to bring along your reusable bag on your holiday shopping spree!
But please don't send 4" x 6" good wishes in a 12" x 10" package!
Happy shopping (and shipping)!
But please don't send 4" x 6" good wishes in a 12" x 10" package!
Happy shopping (and shipping)!
1 comment:
Ugh. Amazon is guilty of the same thing...HUGE box with a plastic-wrapped cardboard sleeve inside for a small book, when a padded envelope would work just fine.
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