You can tell from reading my posts that I happen to buy a lot of things off the internet due to the more competition that exists at the local levels. Like everyone else I also happen to like free shipping or some form of subsidized shipping like $1.99 shipping or $4 to get something in one day. Even when you add in my items being shipped from the east or west coast, I am probably still being more “green” or efficient than if I drove over to Minneapolis for something.

On that note, my friend recently gave in and bought an SSD like my recent post suggested. He had it shipped to my house because he is going to be here this weekend so we can install it. The part that made me laugh and seriously consider how out of control companies standardizing things* for more profit is getting. The picture says it best, a 4″x5″x1/2″ Thick box was shipped in non-biodegradable packing peanuts in a shipping box that measures 10″ by 10″ x 6″ which they could have shipped 48 of the same SSD drives in. My guess is having the smallest box be classified as Large by the USPS probably saves them money and time with employees being the highest cost.

Would you avoid buying something if you knew it was going to have ridiculously wasteful packaging? Or does saving a few bucks ultimately win over?

*Think how many stores just offer a LARGE soda, because it’s cheaper to give you more than stock multiple sizes.