by Selene N.
Member since:
July 26, 2006

Odd Question: Software Packaging

November 22, 2006 03:09 PM EST
views: 21 | rating: 10/10 (4 votes) | comments: 8

I was looking for some software program, and thought of this odd question when I was staring at the box. Why is it that computer software almost always comes in a huge box in the size of a hard-cover book, but once you open it, you realize the disc can easily fit in a regular CD case, and most of the space in the box is just... empty space?

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Comments: 8

Cathy S. Nov 22, 2006, 3:12pm EST
Wasteful packaging has been a pet peeve of mine for years. I'll never understand it either!
Joe T. Nov 22, 2006, 3:14pm EST
It's about marketing. People like a larger package so that is the way it is presented. Statistics show that presentation is everything.

I agree with Cathy S. They could package it without waste.
Susan *. Nov 22, 2006, 3:19pm EST
I once asked the computer geeks at BEST BUY this same question and they said because the larger boxes are harder to rip off! Smaller items like CD's are stolen everyday but the percentage of software stolen has dropped considerably since larger packaging was introduced. Make sense to me....
Vikki M. Nov 22, 2006, 3:37pm EST
I always was curious about this too and Susan has definitely pointed out something that makes a world of sense. I never thought about it in the way that it would deter people from stealing, but now I can see how that would make it difficult for someone to sneak a software package into his/her pants.
Cathy S. Nov 22, 2006, 3:41pm EST
Anyone else here love treehugger.com? They do an annual "most wasteful packaging" contest and that's always interesting too!
Selene N. Nov 22, 2006, 3:42pm EST
Interesting. I had suspected it was all about marketing. I have never thought about the theft issues.
Michelle W. Nov 22, 2006, 5:50pm EST
It is because people tend to see what is large rather than what is small. I worked at Staples for 3 years, and you would be surprised at how many CDs are actually stolen, even from the large boxes!
Abby N. May 24, 2008, 4:04am EDT
Good article!

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