HP And Walmart Get Rid Of Laptop Box; Buy The Computer And Get It In A Messenger Bag

from the about-time dept

Thu, Sep 4th 2008 6:08pm — Mike Masnick

Having bought my fair share of laptops over the years, I've noticed that the packaging has gotten smaller. I remember years ago buying a laptop and receiving a huge box with the actual laptop suspended in a styrofoam suspension system. More recently, I've seen laptops coming in much smaller boxes. However, Wal-Mart and HP have apparently decided to try ditching most of the packaging altogether, and letting you walk out with your new laptop in a messenger bag, rather than a box. Yes, there are still boxes from when the machines are shipped from HP to Wal-Mart, but the company can now fit 3 laptops to a box, significantly reducing packaging and making life easier on customers in the long run.

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Filed Under: boxes, laptops, packaging
Companies: hp, wal-mart

37 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 4 Sep 2008 @ 6:17pm

hmm
wow what a life changing decision!
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Sep 2008 @ 6:31pm

"3 laptops to a box, significantly reducing packaging" and making the probability that you purchase a trashed (by dropage) piece of junk increase 10 fold.
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Stan, 4 Sep 2008 @ 6:48pm

Do the Math
Um, if there's a measurable risk of damaged equipment due to "dropage", wouldn't it be increased three-fold, not 10-fold?

I think this is an intelligent decision. The packaging to get it into Wal-Mart is still significant enough to protect the equipment, and anything that lets you carry home less trash from Wal-Mart (don't say it) is a good thing.
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- CastorTroy-Libertarian, Lover, General Annoyance f, 5 Sep 2008 @ 4:59am
  
  Re: Do the Math
  I WOULD THINK WAL-MART IS THE TRASH...
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  - DS, 5 Sep 2008 @ 11:36am
    
    Re: Re: Do the Math
    On the plus side, I now know when place that I can go and avoid you.
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Sep 2008 @ 6:56pm

How can they do this? What about all the children who use to play with the empty boxes? Who's thinking of them!
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- Soytinly, 4 Sep 2008 @ 9:07pm
  
  Re:
  Let hope HP is at least generous enough to cover the laptop with a polyethylene bag that the kiddies will be able to enjoy!
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Sep 2008 @ 6:57pm

Ok, but does the messenger bag meet the TSA requirements ?
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Sep 2008 @ 6:59pm

"Um, if there's a measurable risk of damaged equipment due to "dropage", wouldn't it be increased three-fold, not 10-fold?"

Lol. The comment was more geared toward the shoddiness of the packing material, and less toward the laptop density per unit volume. If the bag can't take a few drops, it's not worth it to have. This whole process ensures your laptop is solid and the bag good protection for it provided you power it on in the store.
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Anne, 4 Sep 2008 @ 7:05pm

I think this is a great idea, for a few reasons:

First off, I don't give a flying f--- about global warming, the environment, the size of my carbon footprint or leaving the planet a better place.

However, I think eliminating excess consumer packaging is an excellent idea, for several reasons. Those of us who live in urban areas don't have to worry about the meth addicts next door rooting through our recycle bins, finding the laptop computer box and then breaking into the house when we're at work and stealing the laptop we just bought.

If eliminating consumer-level packaging saves Wal-Mart or HP money, then it's better for all of us, because no matter what you think of Wal-Mart, they will eventually drop the price of their laptops if it's cheaper for them to obtain those products in the first place.

I am also highly reluctant to walk through a parking garage with my huge brand new laptop computer box advertising to every potential car jacker that I'm ready to be taken for a ride. It just makes common sense and this is a great idea.
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- Rick, 4 Sep 2008 @ 7:33pm
  
  Re:
  You have to be kidding, and I suppose you beat baby seals too? Your thoughts is why our world is the way it is. Dont get me wrong, I dont drive green or obey by all the so called green rules. But I still think about and do what I can to lessen our effect here on earth.
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- Bill, 4 Sep 2008 @ 7:50pm
  
  Re:
  By the sounds of your comment, you should be less worried about the laptop box and more concerned about moving to a better neighborhood.
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- Anonymous Coward, 4 Sep 2008 @ 8:08pm
  
  Re:
  Somebody is paranoid.
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- CastorTroy-Libertarian, Lover, General Annoyance f, 5 Sep 2008 @ 5:02am
  
  Re:
  Are you Kidding? You worry about the Car Jackers and Meth Addicts, I'd say move!
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- Charlie, 5 Sep 2008 @ 12:32pm
  
  Re: Anne
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- Charlie, 5 Sep 2008 @ 12:33pm
  
  Re:
  I was walking in the park and accidently stepped on something. I think it was you.
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Captain-Insano, 4 Sep 2008 @ 7:14pm

Who in the fuck shops at China Mart?
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Sep 2008 @ 7:20pm

Send the packaging back?
Couldn't Walmart send the packaging back to HP to be reused for another 10,000 laptops? Yeah, the shipping might consume some carbon credits but I'm sure that keeping a couple tons of styrofoam out of the landfill would more than make up for it.
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net625, 4 Sep 2008 @ 8:21pm

What about desktops
I know this doesn't help those who are paranoid but What about taking the Styrofoam from desktop pc packaging and having it in a way so you could assemble it into a small desk. Their is a tv that comes packed this way why can't we do it with more things?
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thinker, 4 Sep 2008 @ 9:37pm

down the road
"significantly reducing packaging and making life easier on customers in the long run."

Hmmm....

reduced packaging - saves money for HP and WalMart - does that get passed along to you? I don't think so. It should, because you are the one not getting a box

and that brings us to

making life easier on customers in the long run - in the long run, when your computer breaks, you have no box to ship it back for repair.

I don't really see this as a big plus for me. I have never had a problem storing, reusing, or disposing of boxes. How about leaving that decision to me WM? Must you run the world?
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- Anonymous Coward, 4 Sep 2008 @ 10:22pm
  
  Re: down the road
  Yeah, but you're forgetting something. You get the bag in place of a box. And if it breaks right away, bring it back with the receipt. If it doesn't (I know for sure I can't hang onto a useless box for more than a week), then you're probably going to end up buying a new box in any case. They're around a dollar from Staples/U-Haul. And even then, why worry about the condition of the computer when you ship it back?! Its already broken!
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- Anonymous Coward, 5 Sep 2008 @ 7:04am
  
  Re: down the road
  Of course. Why on Earth would we want that money going to *them*??!
  
  They might use it to do something incredibly Evil....like make better computers!
  
  You entitled morons really make me laugh. A Companies savings are not "automagically"" yours. You are not entitled to a single penny of the money they save in any cost savings initiative, Jr.
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Russell Grover, 4 Sep 2008 @ 11:04pm

You are still required to ship the Item back secure
You forget Warranty People, they will say, the computer was not Properly Boxed when Shipped, Since this is a requirement... Warranty Denied...

The Issue of Walmart Employee's Handling my PC before I do, doesn't give me any warm and fuzzies either...

Looks like I'll still get my computer from Dell who kills 5 trees to box up my PC and send it.. (At least it's in a known good condition.)

Laugh
(Can you tell I live in Oregon, Doing this Takes away Oregon Jobs.
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- Nasch, 5 Sep 2008 @ 7:17am
  
  Re: You are still required to ship the Item back secure
  You apparently didn't read the summary. The laptops are shipped from HP to Wal Mart in boxes. Boxes that HP packed the computers into, 3 to a box. Then at the store they're taken out of the boxes and put into bags. HP is not going to tell you they were shipped improperly.
  
  My question is, is the messenger bag a dismal piece of **** like I would expect from Wal Mart, leading to throwing away a messenger bag instead of a cardboard box, or is it actually worth having?
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bobbknight, 5 Sep 2008 @ 2:53am

FedEx
Has a great shipping box for notebooks when you ship it overnight.
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Schuss, 5 Sep 2008 @ 4:52am

If you buy a laptop at Wal-Mart, you get what you deserve!!!
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- CastorTroy-Libertarian, Lover, General Annoyance f, 5 Sep 2008 @ 5:06am
  
  Re:
  Best Truth in the entire Blog! Well Said..
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Dennis, 5 Sep 2008 @ 11:05am

So how would I ship a defective laptop back to HP?
The messenger bag wouldn't offer much protection. I also notice a few of you throwing the words "carbon credits" around like there is actually such a thing. Could someone please explain what a carbon credit is?
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- Anonymous Coward, 5 Sep 2008 @ 11:17am
  
  Re: So how would I ship a defective laptop back to HP?
  Could someone please explain what a carbon credit is?
  Its something where you give me money and I give you a made-up thing called a "carbon credit". In other words, its kind of like printing money.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Sep 2008 @ 11:13am

No returns...
without the original box! Clever!
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Charming Charlie, 5 Sep 2008 @ 3:57pm

Carbon Credits
Carbon Credits are a recent attempt by Western governments to stop the externalization of environmental costs incured in the operation of business. Before, if I owned a factory which put coal dust into the air I didn't have to pay anyone when the local hospital had to install new air filters every month because my factory polluted the air. There was no way to measure the amount of filter degradation my factory was causing, after all there are a lot of other businesses, factories, people driving cars, and so on. By polluting a public space/the environment, I don't have to pay for that one particular consequence of my business. Things like pensions and on-the-job injuries I do have to pay for, but polluting a public space, no.

Nowadays businesses need to buy carbon credits from the government in order to put crap into the air, water, and ground. This increases the costs of doing business which then provides a monetary incentive for businesses to reduce their waste output. Nowadays a business can't just externalize these costs and let taxpayers pay for the cleanup. In theory. The reality is more complex as business can buy and sell credits to other companies. Environmental advocacy groups buy the credits so there are less in circulation, etc.

It's not like printing money.
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- Anonymous Coward, 5 Sep 2008 @ 10:10pm
  
  Re: Carbon Credits
  Nowadays businesses need to buy carbon credits from the government in order to put crap into the air, water, and ground.
  No, carbon credits are voluntary. A "voluntary guilt fine", if you will. Kind of the way the Catholic church used to sell "indulgences" to allow people to sin. And they are sold by private organizations like AtmosClear.org, not the US government.
  
  It's not like printing money.
  Oh yeah? Just where do those "credits" originate? As said previously, they're just made up. And then sold. That sounds an awful lot like "printing money" to me.
  
  To quote a recent Penn and Teller Bullshit! episode: "Hey, no worries! You may be a carbon sinner, but now you can buy yourself a clean, green conscience for cash. It's a new craze based on eco-guilt and it's bullshit!"
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  - dkp, 6 Sep 2008 @ 8:21am
    
    Re: Re: Carbon Credits
    some industries are required to buy them individuals can buy them
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    - Anonymous Coward, 6 Sep 2008 @ 8:46am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Carbon Credits
      some industries are required to buy them individuals can buy them
      Citation, please.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Sep 2008 @ 9:40pm

Re:
Good things come in small packages, but I didn't know Wal-Mart sold laptops. At least you can return it if it doesn't work or stops working, I guess.
Not without the box.
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Paul Slusarczyk, 28 Sep 2009 @ 6:12am

Recycle Foam packaging material
Blue Earth Solutions recycles number 6 plastic commonly known as styrofoam (which is actually a trademark of a Dow Chemical product) or its correct name is "expanded polystyrene" (EPS).

Blue Earth takes in EPS foam from companies across Florida and, using its state of the art processing, returns the EPS foam back into its original plastic form so it can be reused in the making of new plastic products. It is 100% recycled. For every pound of foam that comes into the factory, one pound of usable plastic comes out.

Look Blue Earth up at www.blueearthsolutions.com
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Mary, 16 May 2014 @ 12:11pm

EPS foam is Recycleable!
Are these messenger bag's 100% Recyclable?

I know with Expanded Polystyrene cushioning you can achieve less weight and lower damage rates which translate into positive sustainability factors across the board. Expanded Polystyrene foam can be recycled into a product of equal value or up-cycled into a product of higher value.
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