Jeffery - I try to limit my online purchases to books (apologies to the independent bookstore down the street; I just can't afford you.) The last three non-book purchases I made arrived in boxes close to a reasonable size. I think enough people are screaming about ridiculous packaging that it's beginning to take effect. I hope so, anyway. Like you, I've had more than my share of the stupendously-huge full-of-air boxes.
Most of my non-book orders are due to mobility issues. Large stores are a pain in the rear, both from a physical and mental point of view (what is all this "shite," and who's buying it?) I think the overproduction of crap and aggressive marketing of same are just as bad as the on-line packaging.
If the local-chain hardware store doesn't sell it, I'm likely to buy on-line.
