15 Bad Packaging Fails You Won’t Believe Exist

Packaging. How hard can it be to get it right? Actually, it happens all the time. Just take a look at these bad packaging designs that went viral for all the wrong reasons…

We take packaging seriously at Packaging Supplies. We’ve been doing it for over 40 years, so we know our stuff. We work with clients worldwide to provide or design top-notch custom boxes. 

Unfortunately, not everyone takes packaging as seriously (or sustainably!) as we do. Whether they’re completely inaccessible, bamboozling or wrap-rage-inducing, bad packaging is everywhere. Let’s take a whistle-stop tour of some truly puzzling packages that’ll leave you scratching your head. 

Related: Accessible Packaging and What It Means for Your Customers

Packaging Fail 1: Merry Easter?

We don’t really get this one. Did the easter bunny take the wrong shift? Maybe the easter bunny has been Father Christmas this entire time. What’s the lesson here? Trust is everything. Otherwise, you’ll be giving out non-stop refunds and damaging your credibility because you misled your customer. Consumers are far more likely to buy from brands they have built a trusting relationship with. 

Packaging Fail 2: Let Me Get My… Oh, Wait?

You buy scissors because you need them to cut something, but you need to cut the packaging to get the scissors out. It’s like Inception — with scissors. The takeaway? Inaccessible packaging is a huge turn-off for consumers. Opt for the ease factor so they can open their packaging without a fuss.

Packaging Fail 3: Crying Out for More Crisps

We’re sorry if this is a familiar sight, but it’s one we can all relate to. You open your favourite salty snack, only to find half of them missing. This might seem like a case of misleading the consumer, but it’s a little more complicated than that.

Nitrogen is commonly used in crisp packets and other dried food packaging to keep food fresh and prolong its shelf life — so it’s not just air in there. But there’s another reason for all that space. Crisp manufacturers don’t want you to receive your crunchy delicacies all broken up, so they leave extra space to cushion them on their journey to the retailer. Think of it like an airy void fill. 

Related: Why Is Nitrogen Gas Used in Food Packaging?

 

Packaging Fail 4: How Is This Supposed to Stay Sealed?

We’re not sure how you’re supposed to keep this one fresh. A mistake has clearly been made here, which just emphasises how important it is to keep on top of quality control on the assembly line. 

Packaging Fail 5: Confusion about What’s on Offer

It’s the age-old question: cats or dogs? Personally, we think this is a really weird-looking dog.

Jokes aside, double-check your branding and packaging to ensure it’s right. On-brand, well-designed, sustainable packaging can drive more sales for your business, but packaging fails like this one will only confuse shoppers.

Packaging Fail 6: Plastic Problems…

Eco-friendly packaging is in demand now more than it has ever been. Consumers are becoming increasingly eco-conscious in their purchasing decisions, with many finding excessive plastic packaging immensely frustrating and unnecessary. With the UK government introducing more stringent measures — such as the plastic bag tax and the plastic packaging tax — plastic is becoming a thing of the past. 

In October 2023, the government is also banning single-use plastics, so by choosing environmentally friendly packaging, you’ll save money in the long run. 

Related: The Rising Cost of Plastic Packaging: Alternatives You Can Start Using Today

 

Packaging Fail 7: Waste Lots, Want Not.

One particular online retailer is infamous for using too much packaging for small items. There’s even a Twitter account about it. This customer is one of many annoyed about all this unnecessary packaging. Really, this item could’ve gone in a cardboard mailing envelope (or a book wrap mailer for multi-depth size options). You don’t want to confuse or irritate your customers, especially in this world of social media. 

Packaging Fail 8: False Advertising

Don’t give your customers less in a new product and lie that they’re getting more. This will destroy trust in your brand. Your customers aren’t idiots, so don’t take them for a ride. They’ll do their research. If you’ve misled your customers with false advertising, they’ll question your authenticity and transparency and are less likely to buy from you again.

Packaging Fail 9: Misleading Promises, Bad Packaging

Ready to eat… but you have to cut them up first to get the advertised number of servings. There are just three sausage rolls in this package — it only becomes a 12-pack when the customer makes an effort to cut them into smaller pieces. 

But where does this end? You could cut each sausage roll into 10 tiny pieces, but that doesn’t mean you have a 30-pack. Make sure you check your shelf-ready packaging to avoid misleading consumers.

Related: A Guide to Shelf-Ready Packaging: Boosting Sales for Retail Products

 

Packaging Fail 10: Blatant Lies

Let’s face it, this ain’t no extra virgin olive oil. It’s basically all sunflower oil (90%). The biggest, clearest typeface — designed to be easily seen from afar — on this bad packaging design reads “extra virgin olive oil”. But it’s not. Brand Transparency with your customers is paramount. Otherwise, they’ll go to a competitor, and you can bet you’ve lost their trust, too.

Packaging Fail 11: Wait, What’s the Product?

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? What even is this product? The brand name is clear and central, and there’s even a strapline about being recommended by leading washing machine manufacturers. But what actually is the product? If you guessed laundry detergent, you’d be wrong. These are washing machine cleaning tablets… apparently… 

This bad packaging example demonstrates the importance of ensuring your shelf-ready packaging is clear and accessible. Otherwise, you risk confusing the consumer and costing yourself a sale.

Packaging Fail 12: Why, Just Why?

Unfortunately, excessive use of blister packs is everywhere, but we think this one really takes the biscuit. Not only is this a complete waste of packaging, but it could also make it difficult for the bottle to stand up on the shelf due to its shape. Do we even need to mention that glass is endlessly recyclable, too? Honestly, the more we look, the more flaws we see.

Packaging Fail 13: Proofreading Blunder

It’s obvious someone didn’t check their packaging before it was printed… Not only does this make the product inaccessible to the French audience, but it could also put people off from buying as it may make them think about what other areas have been overlooked. 

Always carefully check any copy before your packaging goes to print and double-check again with a few samples before printing in bulk. 

Packaging Fail 14: Do You Want Product with That?

With the amount of void fill in this box, we doubt there’s even enough space for a product in there. But do you know what really takes the cake with this bad packaging example? It was for a product that was made from foam! 

Being mindful of how you package your goods can save you money. It can also help you avoid unimpressed customers who end up with far more packaging to dispose of than they bargained for. 

Packaging Fail 15: Not Getting Our Stamp of Approval

There are just no words for this bit of bad packaging. A gigantic box and plastic void fill just for a pack of stamps? Not only is this costing the supplier more to post than using a cardboard or jiffy envelope, but it’s also a complete waste of plastic.

All we can say is, don’t be this guy. Your customers won’t be impressed, and neither will the planet.

Bad Packaging: What Can We Learn?

Through these examples of bad packaging designs and concepts, we can see where certain companies have let consumers down:

• Accessibility

• Trust

• Transparency

• Limited waste

• Sustainability 

Alongside an eye-catching design, these five factors can make or break your packaging, especially sustainability. However, you need to be careful about how you represent your brand; transparency and sustainability go hand in hand. It can be even more detrimental to your business if you mislead consumers by “greenwashing”. Be authentic with sustainable packaging that stands out.

Avoid bad packaging and go eco in the process with a free custom packaging quote from us today.