Amazon Ships Records in Plastic Now

Yeah - they're a bunch of goofballs.

It happened to me again yesterday. I received one lp in a plastic/padded bag and two lps in their own cardboard mailers inside a bigger box. This has only happened when I'm on Prime.

Just received 2 albums from Amazon this week and they were in cardboard album packaging.  

“Amazon usually packs records in an oversized bow with balloons. The record slides around in there damaging the corners of the cover.”

I just received my Eva Cassidy’s Nightbird 7LP Boxed Set in a custom cardboard box from Amazon. The box set was in pristine condition. As I said before, damages can happen with any vendor when packaging person cut corners or being careless.

My last shipment from Elusive Disc was in bullet proof packaging, 5 LP’s double boxed with bubble tubes protecting the internal box.

Amazon usually packs records in an oversized bow with balloons. The record slides around in there damaging the corners of the cover.
Elusive disc uses special cardboard record mailers. I have never gotten a damaged disc from them. 
I only order records from Amazon when I have no choice and keep my fingers crossed. You can always return damaged records free of charge.
If you are a good Amazon customer you usually do well by them. 
The plastic wrap was probably a newbie with no one watching. 

@lalitk - good to know re the options.

Haha - one of my reviews where I called out Amazon did not make it.

Thank you for submitting a customer review on Amazon. After carefully reviewing your submission, your review could not be posted to the website. While we appreciate your time and comments, reviews must adhere to the following guidelines:
Amazon Community Guidelines

from xxxxx on October 31, 2020
Came in a Plastic Bag
Enough said. Amazon shipped this record in a plastic bag.

“Amazon Ships Records in Plastic Now”

Amazon gives you an option to use Amazon (box) packaging if you don’t want clear plastic wrap. I just ordered few LP’s and got following packaging option during checkout, 
“Item arrives in packaging that shows what’s inside. To hide it, choose Ship in Amazon packaging”

Amazon, FACEBOOK, GOOGLE, TWITTER are all current examples of arrogance and greed on the part of the people in charge of these companies.  Such conduct is the reason why we have anti monopoly laws.  They will get more arrogant before they are controlled because they can not control themselves.

Just say no.  Support local record stores.  Even if they're in another state.  Many of them offer shipping and many are on Discogs.

“With all the specialized record stores (websites), why do you buy on amazon?”

$$$$Savings.....I have saved $5-$7 on each record I bought from Amazon vs Elusive, AS and Music Direct. Just saved $40 on Eva Cassidy’s Nightbird 7LP Boxed Set.

Shipping damages can happen with any vendor. I know it sucks when you’re at the receiving end. Amazon is very easy to deal with, the return process is simple and automated and they offer free returns. 

Why do you buy records from amazon???

You don’t know professional record dealers or proper online recordshops ?

All records available on discogs from many shops or private dealers and all of them have feedback score from their customers. Only idiots don’t know how to pack a record. Do not buy from idiots. 

Plastic packaging?
As well as the safety of our LPs, we must think of environmental issues.

When lobbying Amazon and other suppliers we should criticise use of unfriendly, unrecyclable materals as well as poorly thought out packaging.

Those (nearly all) of us on Prime who get free delivery shouldn't abuse this privilege.  We should group our orders so that less packaging is used and less energy and CO2 in making one delivery instead of say four or five.

Be thoughtful!

I just received (2) LPs from Amazon on different orders in two different boxes.  They were both in the normal, thin "Frustration-Free" LP packaging inside a box that was way too big along with those air pillows for protection.  Both arrived fine, but they definitely need some guidance on how to ship records.

With all the specialized record stores (websites), why do you buy on amazon?

Amazon for vinyl is the last place I would shop. True about poor packaging plus they ship those records with the resealable sleeve covers as new but often have numerous scratches from having been used. 

@lalitk:

I suppose I have been fortunate then, as I have ordered and received scores of undamaged LPs from AS. Perhaps the damages your’s incurred had more to do with rough handling than with the shipping parcel? Try to imagine how those LPs would have fared in an unpadded plastic bag.

@aewarren,

I had quite an opposite experience with AS. I ordered three LP’s and they arrived all damaged with corners bent. I gave them feedback not to use ‘wrap around’ corrugated box. 

I ordered two LP's from Amazon at the same time. They both arrived the same day, one in a cardboard mailer the other in a plastic bag. The listing for each LP listed Amazon as the order fulfiller. Amazon has until now been great, but it appears those days are over.

I received a record last week from Amazon and it was in a regular LP cardboard mailer. Maybe the plastic wrap is coming from Marketplace vendors?

Acoustic Sounds has new LP shipping boxes that are awesome.

I received an LP from Amazon yesterday. It was in an unpadded plastic bag (?!), one corner of the cover bent and creased at the LP's perimeter. Back it goes!

I am expecting a record shipment next week, will post packaging feedback. I am not too worried, if it’s not in pristine condition then it goes back.

It appears teo_audio forgot to take his happy pill today 😂

Prior to this, I had also received a similar shipment and shrugged it off thinking of it as an isolated incident. For this particular shipment, one album shipped from OR and the other from IL. Hopefully they will correct this soon.

I expect that this is the case, as well....

However, it being a full moon and under fairly stressful conditions, with that as a mood modifier and amplifier... I figured it was time to break out the 'off center spinning out of control over the top' big guns.

I suspect this incident is the result of an error and not a change in Amazon's packaging. Mistakes happen.

So, $50 blues record, sent by Dog teeth tight clench carrier express.

Er, ok. Prolly no more records should be purchased by anyone at amazon.

They're apparently not investing the effort to get to the understanding that the packaging of the record, and the pressures placed upon the record, are, as a pair, critical to the item's functionality and core value as a purchase.

"This thing is no different than a 2012 calendar of puppies with MAGA Hats! Claim denied!"

Almost akin to shipping you a wine glass in a paper bag. You got the glass, so what is your problem? So what if it is in mild disarray! Permissible wear! Claim denied! For the seller and the purchaser!

Look for scratch covered jazz records at $5% off full retail,  in the warehouse deals section.....

BO HO!!!

Yep - plain plastic, no padding.

Plastic? Flat? Like a magazine?

I had that happen once and that was when I had a Prime trial.