I feel like Lionel's recent packaging is not quite as sturdy as it was. With minimal cost and effort the boxes could be made more dent resistant. Also the thermoformed clamshells for Vietnam sourced cars crack easy which then allows the car to bounce around. Funny that the Hallmark ornaments sourced in Vietnam also suffer the same flimsy plastic clamshell. Again an easy fix to demand a thicker thermoformed plastic. And yes we need high quality plastic and Styrofoam in our train boxes...its not the same as reducing plastic in single use plastic. Boxes should last the life of the train.
The worst is the new Lionel starter Set packaging. Why reinvent what worked? Set box lid should lift out and the contents can still be in tray layers or dense foam. But now with the odd end that opens (often tearing the hinge side) and having to pull that heavy yet flimsy tray out (also tearing it) is a pain. I have never understood why companies mess with what was already designed and proven.
