I know I’ve sometimes “under-packaged” things…
But this is sort of the other extreme. A package with 80+ PCB relays from Conrad came in the following box:
That’s a 50 x 40 x 30 cm box, i.e. 60 liters of (mostly air).
The payload was this, which is admittedly a bit awkward in size:
And this is how I’m storing it at Jee Labs, until the plug PCB’s come in:
That’s a 11 x 7 x 5 cm box (they barely fit), or 0.385 liter.
A 155-fold reduction in size. Pfff…
Conrad always does this.. such a waste.. Nice you noticed the same thing :-)
Sorry, I can beat this… I received a single Zener diode the other week (it was an out of stock from an earlier order) which was sent via UPS in a box that was 30cm x 20 x 15!
I received my order this week (far more bits) in the same size box, I think it’s the smallest they have at Farnell!
Ah, yes… Farnell. Them too.
Ah, yes… That’s the box twice the size of mine, although the flux pen is somewhat larger than my zener… :-p
I think we’re both amateurs compared to these though… http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/29/aboxalypse_now/
Better a big box than a bare mail-envelope with the components floating inside made flat by the post machines… :-\
If you’ve received anything damaged, please let me know and I’ll replace it. I’m looking for the “just enough” sweet spot of packaging, but I suspect I’m not quite there yet…