Potential internal damage to MacBook Air due to heavy shipping items from Amazon

Hi, this might be a weird question, but I just received my new MacBook from Amazon in its original packaging/box that was also packed within one of their cardboard secure boxes, on top of which was my new felt laptop cover, and on top of that was 12 cans of pedigree dog food in a bundle, all of which I’d ordered.


My concern is, should I be worried about potential internal hardware damage to the computer given that it was surely jostled around in shipping with the heavy weight of the dog food?


I wouldn’t be concerned if it had been shipped separately in similar packaging.


Does anyone have any experience with MacBook Airs and weight or pressure?


I should add that the computer looks fine on the outside and I haven’t fully removed it from its packaging. My concern is potential damage to the hard drive and internal components.

Am I overreacting or should I just open it and use it and if there’s any damage I can return to Amazon within 30 days?


It just seemed like a really stupid thing to do on the part of their shipping department.


Thanks!


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Concerns about potential damage to MacBook Air due to what it was shipped with from Amazon


MacBook Air (M4, 2025)

Posted on Oct 15, 2025 9:23 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 15, 2025 10:58 AM

I'd return it to AMZ if at all possible. You are concerned about possible internal damage that is not visible. Why take chances with an item as expensive as a MacBook Air?


Amazon has a 15-day return window for Apple branded products, so you need to act quickly. Do not unwrap and start up the MBAir. Make sure you repack it in its original box with everything that was included.


In the future don't combine orders for different kinds of items. Your MBAir should have been an order on its own, maybe with the felt laptop cover but certainly not with the dog food. In my experience AMZ has an awful reputation for the way they pack & ship multiple items. Best to divide & conquer.


One final note, return it for credit, not exchange. If you request exchange, you could very well end up getting back the same item you returned. It happens ... and it has happened to me.

10 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 15, 2025 10:58 AM in response to Cathazat

I'd return it to AMZ if at all possible. You are concerned about possible internal damage that is not visible. Why take chances with an item as expensive as a MacBook Air?


Amazon has a 15-day return window for Apple branded products, so you need to act quickly. Do not unwrap and start up the MBAir. Make sure you repack it in its original box with everything that was included.


In the future don't combine orders for different kinds of items. Your MBAir should have been an order on its own, maybe with the felt laptop cover but certainly not with the dog food. In my experience AMZ has an awful reputation for the way they pack & ship multiple items. Best to divide & conquer.


One final note, return it for credit, not exchange. If you request exchange, you could very well end up getting back the same item you returned. It happens ... and it has happened to me.

Oct 16, 2025 10:58 AM in response to Cathazat

Thank you! The brown outer box looks just like the Apple one in which my Macbook Pro arrived. Same stiffener panels glued to the top flaps, which are already stiffer that most brown cardboard the thickness, and multilayer side reinforcement.


Seeing that, I feel the chances of damage are minimal. However, it is your computer and what makes you comfortable is what you need to do. Regardless of your "keep or return" decision, I believe Amazon needs to see what is going on out in Shipping. Needs more horse sense and less horsing around!

Oct 15, 2025 10:53 AM in response to Cathazat

I agree with Carol—complain to Amazon and see what they offer in the way of explanation and/or satisfaction.


The white inner box for my M4 Pro Macbook Pro I bough this spring appeared to be made of foam-board. Pretty rigid stuff. Looked like about 5-6mm of rigid foam with a layer of heavy paper bonded to each side. Is that what yours came in? Was there a brown corrugated cardboard cover over the fancier box with printed graphics?

Potential internal damage to MacBook Air due to heavy shipping items from Amazon

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