belfast_harper
409 posts
Nov 23, 2016
3:33 AM
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I just bought a new set of marine band harmonicas and I think the packaging is excessive. Marine bands used to come in the plastic case, and before that a cardboard case.
Does anyone know why Hohner have decided to start shipping the plastic cases in large fully colour printed cardboard boxes and do customers really want this?
My 12 plastic cases and 12 cardboard boxes are all going to end up in the recycling or bin, what a waste.
I would like to see Hohner reduce the amount of packaging to help the environment and to stop adding unnecessary costs to production, shipping, storage etc. I would be quite happy to get my harps in a case similar to the old cardboard cases, they were much more attractive and should be more environmentally friendly than the plastic cases.
Are there any Hohner representatives on the forum that can comment on this?
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florida-trader
1032 posts
Nov 23, 2016
5:32 AM
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Hohner pacakges everything so that it can be displayed in a retail store. The larger retail packages are also sealed so that provides some assurace that the harp is new and unused. If that seal is broken, the retail store will not accept a return. I get harps from Hohner 50-100 at a time and they are delivered in huge boxes. The first thin I do is remove every harp from the retail packaging so it takes up less space in my storage.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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Frank101
194 posts
Nov 23, 2016
7:21 AM
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Switch to Seydel, they come in cardboard boxes with a leatherette case inside. Or Lee Oskars, they come in plastic boxes that supposedly snap together, so I guess you can make lego-type structures with them.
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florida-trader
1035 posts
Nov 23, 2016
10:00 AM
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I don't think I would switch brands or models based on the box. Besides, Hohners do come in nice boxes or zippered pouches. The OP's question had to do with the excess retail packaging that Hohner uses. Inside of the retail packaging the harp is still inside a plastic case or zippered pouch.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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nacoran
9297 posts
Nov 23, 2016
10:36 AM
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You'd think if they were shipping directly to the customer (whether that is a reseller like Tom who is going to take them out of the box to modify them or an end customer) that they would have a checkbox on the order form for reduced packaging. I know sometimes it's easier to do things just one way, but the last time I saw one of the clamshell ones it still had the regular case inside, so they still put it in the regular case- it seems maybe they could divert some for mail orders at that point and save themselves some clamshells and maybe some shipping costs (as well as being a bit more environmentally friendly).
Personally, I hate clamshell packaging. I understand it's appeal for displays, but I've cut my hands up on them trying to get the silly things open so many times I've lost count.
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Nate
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belfast_harper
412 posts
Nov 23, 2016
10:56 AM
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@Frank - The Seydel harps are nice, but I think the Marine Band Classic is the the best 'bang for the buck' professional level harmonica on the market and I like them better than anything else I have ever tried.
The Marine Bands that I bought where shipped in the same size of cardboard box that Hohner use for the Pro-Pack sets of 3 harps, so the boxes are 3 times bigger than they need to be.
I haven't been in a music shop recently, but I liked it when they had their selection of harps displayed in a glass cabinet and you had to ask the shop assistant to go and look for the keys that you wanted.
I would guess that a large percentage of harmonicas are sold online and the excess packaging doesn't add any value.
Last Edited by belfast_harper on Nov 23, 2016 10:57 AM
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Ian
383 posts
Nov 23, 2016
12:06 PM
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Couldn't agree more. I bought 4 marine band deluxe from my local music shop at the end of the summer and they basically filled a carrier bag. Once I got to the car I tore them open and got to the good stuff, what I was left with was a bag of cardboard and leaflets, whilst the harps sat neatly in one hand.
I mean at least they are cardboard I suppose but it is excessive.
If they want to homogenise the packaging for retail display they could at least half the size of it all.
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SuperBee
4298 posts
Nov 23, 2016
4:48 PM
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I don't like it.
I love the harps.
I can't imagine how bad the packaging would have to be for me to change my harp choice over it.
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nacoran
9299 posts
Nov 23, 2016
9:10 PM
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SuperBee, I think maybe, when you have fairly expensive items that are out on display where people can pick them up they like the display to be a certain size for loss prevention. That wasn't an issue if they were in a locked case or behind the counter... but of course, it's not an issue with mail order either.
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Nate
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