I think one of my Ribble orders came in a sealed opaque plastic bag. Chains + cheap steel cassettes. Not much to bang up. Chains were probably in plastic bags, and maybe the cassettes in bubble wrap.

I've gotten handlebar tape from China also in the sealed plastic bags. Although, occasionally a Chinese order will come as if it is gift wrapped.

I would think companies that offer "free" shipping would make an effort to minimize costs (and, of course, also minimize damage). Something like gloves could almost be shipped in a manila envelope at letter rates.

The plastic bags don't stack, but they probably pack very well in a bin.