I THOUGHT I had "seen it all" when it comes to terrible packaging, but a few weeks ago I got the all-time topper!
I had won a travel poster on eBay for over $100, and a few days after I paid, I got an anguished e-mail from someone else who had bought from that person, and they said their purchases had come in a really flimsy tube, and that it had arrived bent in half, and he was e-mailing the seller and others who had bought from this person, urging them to tell her to get better tubes.
I contacted her right away, but alas, she had already sent it. It came a few days later, and the tube was EXACTLY like what is inside a roll of paper towels (and only around 2 inches wide at most, and it was over 30 inches long (do they make rolls of paper towels that wide?). To boot, she solely rolled the paper very tightly and stuffed it inside, with no wrapping, or padding at the ends, and she put clear tape over each end.
Of course it was bent in half (it could barely be held without bending, and the slightest pressure would dent it), and the poster now has huge creases down the middle.
To the seller's credit, she offered to give me a full refund, and I offered to keep it for $35, and she accepted, and refunded me the difference. I was just feeling sorry for her, because it is only worth $100 or so in nice condition, so it is not worth backing, and the creases are extremely noticeable.
The capper is that she told me she asked the Post Office if the tube was strong enough, and they assured her it was!
I have the tube and I intend to photograph it and put it on my site.
Bruce
