I just now received 2 cricket flies from Cabela’s. That is the only item sent to me in this shipping. The box containing the flies is about 1.5"X2"X1/2". I am assuming this is the box the flies came in from whoever made them.
Cabela’s sent this tiny box to me inside a box measuring about 12"X14"X10" !!!
Unbelievable!
I cannot fault Cabela’s for their packing procedures. Matter of fact, I can’t fault them for much of anything.
SO you think wasting boxing material on something that small is a good practice?
I like their products but this has me second-guessing ordering knowing that I am indirectly responsible for such waste(and believe me I am no environmental type)
Was that your entire order?
John
Consider the time of the year. During the Holiday season it is not uncommon to run out of small (1-2 cube) cubic space boxes and jiffy packs (envelopes). It is also more expensive for them to do a return for damaged merchandise than to use the bigger box.
Before I go any further I must tell you that this is one of my many fields of expertise. I work for the Defense Logistics Agency packing and shipping freight out to the troops.
I am certain you can use the boxes around the office and home or for packaging gifts. If you feel that strongly about it then give Cabela’s a call. It could be that they are not aware this is happening.
imagine the resources that would have to be used to keep the exact right size box on hand for every single item in the Cabela’s catalog. You’d need a seperate warehouse just to store the boxes.
It’s only wasted if you don’t reuse or recycle it.
Many companies reuse packaging materials as an everyday business practice, and perhaps your box was one such package.
If you’re still in disbelief, do as nighthawk suggests and give them a call.
Sounds like a split shipment. If they hadn’t sent the flies to you separately, you’d just be hollering that Cabela’s is holding up your entire order! Recycle the packaging and thank them for getting the order started. :roll: Life’s too short for nit-picking.
Quick question:
Which is easier for the mail service to lose?
Little box?
or
Big box?
I can match that. I ordered three things. Came in two identical boxes 13x11x5".
One of the boxes had 1 (one) package of 15 size 8 SC15 hooks.
Had a heck of a time finding it in all the paperwork.
Guess they were short on little boxes. 
Interesting replies…
There was a similar thread last year…or may be it was early this year…
Seems to me it’s got to be more costly to do it that way…I don’t think it’s a rare occurrence judging from the other thread and …I had the same experience as Drbill…only it was for all of my order and three separate way over sized boxes came at the same time…and it wasn’t Christmas time.
Your order probably came from three different locations, be they warehouses or manufacturers. Cabela’s uses the containerization, consolidation concept that D.L.A. developed. They have no doubt figured out that it is indeed more cost effective for them to utilize certain container sizes, say ABC, instead of a container for each item, say abcdefghi.
One must also take into account the amount of floor space that back stocked shipping containers will occupy, the easy of movement of the container through the warehouse system, conveyors and etc…, the method of shipment, shipping charges and item security.
Defense Logistics Agency has spent a lot of time and resources on this concept to insure that the freight being shipped to the troops will arrive in good condition. They openly share this concept with manufacturers and wholesalers, like Cabela’s, because these companies do sell us supplies for the military.
Don’t worry. I am not letting you in on any big secret here. You can check it out at:
and
http://www.ddc.dla.mil/Sites/ddsp.asp
I work at the DDSP facility. This is your tax dollars at work folks.
Most shipping companies charge by the pound weight unless the product has to be shipped on it’s own truck. Then there is an extra charge added onto the per pound cost.
If I am paying the same amount to ship you a box vs a jiffy pack, I will use the box. The box is lest likely to become lost or damaged in the warehouse and in transit. Even if the box does get “dinged” it more than likely protected your item.
Minnesota we recycle papers products, metals, plastics, glass, and motor oil. We have recycle centers for electrcal products, batteries, paints,and other house products. We even recycle food to Food Shelves.
All of our waste is recycled, where the organics are used to make electricity or as a heating source for our downtown business districts. Automobile tires are recycled into new road pavement.
Instead of throwing a high chair away, I placed it out at the curb, with a “FREE” sign attached. Gone in less than 20 minutes. A swing set did not last at the curb more than 10 minutes, my old snowblower lasted at curbside less than 5 minutes.
Recycle, Reuse, or donate for use by others.
You can’t be serious! You ordered TWO flies from Cabelas and YOU don’t like how they packaged them?
Everyone is right!, everything is recycled, otherwise the cardboard would be to expensive.
Eric knows more about this than I do, but I would like to think the person who delivered your flies to you, appreciates being able to have a box that is big enough to SEE!, especially at this time of year.
Doug 
I was tempted to say a famous line from AIRPLANE (80’s Movie comedy)
SHIRLEY YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS! YES I AM!, AND DON’T CALL ME SHIRLEY!
Doug :shock:
During the last two years of College I worked for UPS auditing packages. UPS does pretty good with the many small packages, but I believe it increases your chances of a loss to have them too small.
For the shipper, it makes sense to have only a few sizes of boxes to simplify inventory and for bulk buying, most of the manufacturers and retail that shipped in Boise used a few standard sizes.
Dimension weight only applies (Ground dimension weight OS1) if a box’s measurements are equal to or over 84" Length + girth and the box weights under 30#'s, you are then charged for 30#.
If a company can keep the boxes under 84" it does not cost them more than the actual weight of the package to ship them ground. If packaged with proper filling, the extra dead space increases the chances of the shipment making it to the customer intact if it is fragile. If not filled with extra filling the big box does tend to mush if heavy articles are stacked on top.
Most of the damage I saw, was from improper packaging. The product fitting so tight in the box there was no buffer was a common problem.
For christmas, if you ship, be sure to package your parcel so that if you control drop it from knee high or have it slide down a two story slide and then stop (Not drop) it will not bust.
My favorite shipment was a box of glass lab beakers packaged without dead space. :::Bump, Tinkle, Tinkle:::
What is the best answer to your shipping query?
If you where to ask Dr. Genichi Taguchi, he would probably say, Anything less than perfect is a loss to society. Perfect ship time, perfect size, perfect packaging, no half empty trucks driving from point a to point b.
If you were to ask Wickham Skinner, he would probably say there are trade offs involved. Speed of delivery vs waiting for space to be totally filled on the truck before shippment ie.
I think it is like finding how many licks it takes to get to the center of the tootsie pop, “The world may never know.”
WOW! So many replies and y’all missed the point. Is not Cabelas a “BIG BOX” store??
Mark
How long does it take to learn to flyfish and how many licks does it take before WE stop ticking?
Ask JC!
Doug P.S. Jay Leno said; The Oakland Raiders are SOOOO!!! BAD! that their Fans wear patches over BOTH eyes!
Marco,
Can you imagine the size of the box their store was shipped in? :shock:
If WE don’t support Cabelas, then there they go on a Container Ship to Vietnam! :shock:
Doug