It seems those citing minimal package had "picked up" their hardware (at a store?). If that's the case, then you don't see the packaging that got it that far. Of course the packaging can be minimal if you're not submitting your package to the tender mercies of the postal system or UPS.

I make a small electrical controller for fountains and ship about 10 a month. Every one is double boxed with bubble wrap around each layer. I use another box for the sensor and cords, not so much because they needed a box themselves, but that the box is part of the packaging for the controller (more resistive crush room). Using just one box would result in, probably, a 25% loss rate. At less than a buck a box, it's cheap insurance.

All this I found out the hard way.

Oh, yeah, UPS will get it there most of the time. I found the postal service is only about 80%. They just don't care.