Author Topic: Be careful when you open your spark mailer bag (Read 4441 times)

MichaelMeissner · « **on:** January 10, 2013, 02:09:13 pm »

This really isn't a support question per se, but I just got my sparks, and I was very disappointed in the packaging in that the non-electrical parts that weren't in separate bags were all lose in the padded envelope. The case parts have separated, and the header pins were all just loose. I didn't realize this, when I initially opened the envelope and they all spilled out. I think I've found all of the parts that fell out onto my carpet, but we shall see. For those of you still in the queue, be careful how you open the goodies, so that things don't fall out and get lost.

I realize things are probably crazy right now, but after the kickstarter deluge, can I suggest for future orders, packing the parts for each shield, pins, cases, in separate plastic bags with labels on them?

digistump · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2013, 02:38:46 pm »

@MichaelMeissner - should I guess that you probably ripped it open in excitement and parts went everywhere? I hope that was the case, but I do apologize that we didn\'t post notice that loose parts were in some envelopes.

We try to package things in a balance between fragility and speed - obviously we have many many orders to crank out, but if things break it costs us a lot to resend - so for all except the larger orders - headers, stickers, and cases go right in the padded mailer - if case parts pop out they still have their protective coating and they need to be popped out anyway. Headers seem to be surviving OK and you get more male headers then you need. Boards - well they are most certainly OK, since they get shipped to us in giant bags.

This also reflects how our packing line works - it would have taken (literally) weeks to put all the Digisparks in ziplock bags with their headers and labeling the kits would have been 100,000 labels to apply, most likely to not have much benefit - we didn\'t just leave them off because our margins are thin and time limited, we also don\'t believe that we need to add 100,000 labels to a landfill when kits can be quickly identified online.

Once our webstore opens we\'ll still keep out minimal philosophy but some things will change (which will be paid for by a bit higher prices - we also hope to make at least a little money on the webstore) - what we call extras (headers, raw boards, etc) will come in a bag, cases will come in bags (though the current cases will not be available to non-kickstarter buyers, we\'ll be moving toward a custom cutting service instead). Will kits get labels? Maybe - we\'ll certainly be listening and welcoming feedback - but also considering any changes with an eye towards the end price the customer pays.

Thanks for the feedback! And the warning to others!

I hope you enjoy your Digisparks!

Thanks,
Erik

MichaelMeissner · « **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2013, 03:24:32 pm »

Well, I was walking back to my office after picking up the parts from the company mailroom. Since everything else I\'ve ordered with small parts had at least has been in plastic bags inside the mailer envelope, I didn\'t even think that such small parts would go over the floor.

I realize you are somewhat a victim of your success, and that\'s why I\'m willing to give you a pass this time. But after the crunch, if you are just dumping parts in a bag that isn\'t labeled, I will likely decide to go to the next microprocessor, unsubscribe from your lists, and wish you the best of luck. Now, if the order is only one item, that is perhaps understandable, but when it is 3 sparks, 10 shields, etc. it becomes unwieldy on my end. I might not get to a particular shield for a few weeks, and then I have to go back to the site to make sure I have all of the parts for that particular one.

This goes back to my experience in buying my Uno, where it was a \'starter\' kit, and it was just a loose bag of components. I was starting out completely fresh. A few of the sensors in that original bag I had no idea which one they were. and just kept them for later. But it left a bad taste in my mouth, and I have not been back to that vendor since the original order.

Would I be willing to pay a little more to have things clearly labeled and bagged. Perhaps. It all depends on how much more the cost is, compared to what your competition charges.

But I\'ve bought from other vendors that do bag and tag everything, and I find I go back to them first because of that (and in fact the best one, dipmicro.com has some of the lowest prices for a North American retailer, so presumably they have a system down pat).

digistump · « **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2013, 03:33:55 pm »

I should add that our some retailers we\'ll be distributing to will carry things in \"retail packaging\" - for the Digispark that means everything is bagged, tagged and nicely labeled with descriptions - perhaps we should just offer it in both forms on our website and clearly note the difference - similar to sparkfun, only our retail packaging will be a bit simpler. Thoughts?

dipmicro looks good, never come across them before. Though I have strong distaste for the bold pricing referring to quantity, and the single unit price in small vague font - looks like they have a lot of stuff, thanks for the tip.

MichaelMeissner · « **Reply #4 on:** January 10, 2013, 04:16:10 pm »

I tend to not like retail packaging with its excess of plastic, particularly if the plastic needs heroic efforts to open. If you have to use a scissors to open a package, it can make returns if needed harder.

All, I really am asking for is for each unit that your order (shield, spark, etc.) that all of the pieces for that are put in a clear recloseable bag with some sort of printing on it so that I know exactly what it is, and that all of the parts are there. And that I can put the bags down, and come back to it later to know that I have everything.

On at least one of the shields (the motor one I think), the anti-static bag is opaque and I cannot read the writing on the shield to identify it before opening the bag. Again, if you had a printed label on the bag, I wouldn\'t have to open it.

One of the 6 pin headers was bent in the mail, but it was easy to get it reoriented. It looks like some of the pins on the lcd may be similarly bent, but I think I can straighten them. Most other vendors I\'ve bought from use stryofoam or similar to protect the pins in shipment.

The cases seem to have an usual smell to them. I\'m not sure whether it is the case or the paper it was originally stuck to. I can also see why people are asking for how to put them together.

Due to the size of the shields, I cannot read the legends on some of the shields without putting on close-up glasses. I suspect there isn\'t much that can be done due to the form factor.

I don\'t recall there being a packing list in the bag. Yes, I can go to the backer page to identify what I got, but the packing list can be useful after the fact to make sure everything got here, or whether something is backordered (or missing). And also, with the previous Christmas in mind, the person ordering the parts might not be the one who gets them in the mail. I suspect again this is just due to the rush, and that when you go to normal retail mode, things will be better.

digistump · « **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2013, 04:25:49 pm »

Thanks again for the feedback - we will never sell anything in retail packaging that requires scissors to open! Our retail packaging is exactly what you describe.

Re the case smell: This is the smell of laser cut acrylic, likely stronger than some other suppliers because ours generally ends up in the package within an hour of being cut. It will dissipate quickly in open air (overnight generally), especially if you remove the backing.