sw20

Just ordered a pair of GP5000 folding tyres and they came just wrapped in plastic with a band around them, is this normal as the last tyres I bought came in boxes, just hoping they aren't fake or factory seconds?

blakcloud

This is common and I wouldn't worry about it. Some retailers get bulk items. Typically they are for bike builds so they forgo the traditional boxes or packaging you see. Last night I just received an order for Dura Ace discs, brake pads and Dura Ace shifter cable set that were not in packages. When purchased from a reputable establishment you shouldn't have any problems.

AdkMtnMonster

Good things come in small packages. Great things don’t need packages.

'02 nrs

whats Continental have to say? did you pay MSRP or a deep discount?

Flip Flop Rider

it's cheaper? less packaging

mdarnton

Why do things that don't need a box or a plastic wrap come in one at all???

UniChris

One thing that probably would be worth doing is mounting them (and otherwise giving them a good look) while you're still in any return window. Have heard of the occasional tire which runs substantially untrue even when properly seated on a true rim, and of course there could be various sorts of structural issues, too.

The whole "bought it, forgot about it, pulled it out six months later and discovered it was defective but was told it was too late" is a story that comes up from time to time in e-commerce reviews. Such refusals are probably illegal, but difficult to do much about for small ticket items.

And quality control does really vary - found a needed rare size tube suddenly available online early last year, ordered one, it had a pinched spot that bulged when it was inflated, sent it back and got two others of the same item (from different sellers just to be sure) and they seemed fine. Really glad I looked though - the suspect one held air but I really didn't want to ride it.;

UniChris

Supply chain integrity is surprisingly difficult, even careful well-intentioned companies have gotten bit by fakes in various industries.

And of course times of short / erratic supply are the times when a pallet of items from a new distributor, auction, etc are most likely to make it into a warehouse.

Iride01 

Might be they spilled their cup of coffee on their last bunch of tubes. Might have figured you wouldn't care as much about not having a box as you might have for getting a box with coffee stain all over it.

Or one of all the stuff above.

bOsscO

No box

indyfabz

Why do you ask?

bOsscO

OP stated they hope the Conti GP5000 tires they ordered online aren't fakes or factory seconds (assuming tires that come in boxes are the real deal).

Charliekeet

Normal. As long as you bought through a channel which allows for returns no worries. I just had two tires delivered yesterday from 2 different sellers & they were totally different shipping methods: one banded (folding bead) with the hanger-packaging (like in the Maxxis photo above), and one full-size (wire-bead) just in a big white/silver bag with the shipping label on the outside.
No boxes, no need for packaging as they're just coming to me (and I've already bought them).

indyfabz

That he did. Time to get that new glasses Rx filled.

topflightpro

OEM parts generally just come in plastic bags. I had a Thomson stem arrive like that once from an eBay seller, and it definitely raised concerns for me that it was a knock-off. (Thomson confirmed it was just OEM.)

But as others noted, if you are ordering from a reputable dealer it is probably fine, and I have not seen any major new stories about knock-off tires.

That said, I'm not sure I am familiar with any bikes coming with GP5000s as stock tires, so I'm not sure there is an OEM market for them.

Iride01 

I'm so used to OEM computer parts coming in just an electrostatic bag with minimal documentation that I marvel how many bicycle components come in all these fancy boxes that must add something to product cost.

Though I did just get a new Wifi that I swear the box must have cost as much as the Wifi itself. It was such a well built and complicated multi part packaging system, it took me a few days to come to terms with the fact there isn't any use for the box and put it in the re-cycling bin.

scott967

Agree that it sounds like OEM (or multi-unit buy) vs retail packaging. Also with any computer item marketed as "gaming" has the most intricate boxing, so you can have your "unboxing" video. Think those packaging engineers must make good money.

scott s.
.

sw20

Just wondered if anyone else had experienced this as all previous tyres folded tyres I have bought came in boxes (GP4 Seasons, Corsa G) just checking I hadn't bought duds!
Anyway, fitted them and they have mounted fine and look and feel good.

Troul 

The OEM that sold tires without the boxes were just tired of the extra work.

Lakerat

I got some GP4000 shipped without boxes once and just figured the shipper was saving shipping weight and making them fit easier into a plastic shipping envelope. Maybe they buy in bulk without packaging as noted. I can imagine a box full of tires without boxes.

JohnDThompson 

Turn the question around: why do bike tires need boxes? Packaging should only be used when needed, e.g. to protect the contents or preserve freshness, etc. We have more than enough garbage to deal with already.

Troul 

So they don't catch air & roll off somewhere.

Sy Reene

Maybe a rhetorical question, but in case the obviousness isn't apparent:
1. The box has a thingamobob hole on top, so the boxes can fit on store hooks for retail prettiness and space efficiency
2. The box contains lots of marketing copy that explains all of the high tech stuff you're buying, so you can comparatively shop while in the store. It also has a printed UPC barcode so it can be scanned by the fancier LBS checkouts that may pop up from time to time.
3. At home, the boxiness makes stacking easier on shelves for storage.

JohnDThompson 

Ok, "prettiness," maybe (given that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"), but space efficiency can be gotten with a simple wall-mounted dowel, perhaps one for each size tire.

Nothing that couldn't be accomplished by a simple loop of paper around the tire, as some manufacturers do.

Ok, if that's what works for you, I can't argue with success. I use the dowel method, myself.

Troul 

squeezing the tube in a smaller package cost less to ship, & less likely for a saboteur to play their role, or at least makes it more work.

Once I have the new tire, I ring them around two posts in the pantry area... i mean storage area.