Since it happened more than once (by two different companies), I'd certainly let the companies know. Take pictures if you can. I agree with others that it could be the carrier and not the fabric shop. I have often times received packages (usually a box) that has been slit on the box seam through the tape or ripped in a corner as if someone wanted to see what was inside (IMO). It's possible it was repackaged by someone else along the way.

Agree with others you need to contact the company and let them know what happened. If possible I would call their customer service department and also send an email to document your problem. Don't forget to remind them that for every unhappy custormer they will tell everyone they know about the terrible service. I also think you should name the company if they don't give you a decent response. I had a problem with Keepsake and was not getting any response by phone or email but once I let them know I was discussing them by name online I suddenly got a call from the head of their customer service department to solve the problem. It may have not been their fault but they should be notified of the problem. Taking photos is a great idea to protect yourself in the future.

I know a person that works in a big company shipping dept. She said time is more important than getting the right size box.

I can't think of anyone other than a "I'll show you" teenager packing fabric rolled up in a big wad like that. I would definitely let the company know.Always take pictures if a package looks odd.

I will definitely take pictures next time. I don't know why I didn't think of it before I opened the package, most probably because the packaging wasn't torn or ripped, just a ball of weird. It certainly looked like a disgruntled employee packaged it up. I don't think it was repackaged on it's trip to my house as the fabric was completely clean, and you can bet I looked!

I'll drop an email to them and let them know how I was disappointed in the way the fabric was shipped as I had always been pleased with the care they took with their shipping for my past orders. See what they say. Between the cost of the fabric and the cost of shipping, I'm not asking it to be shipped in cashmere, just packed with care and due diligence.

The first time this happened with bad packaging (when they used to pack it nice) with the other company, it was about a month ago, so I think it is a little to late for contact about it with that one.

Let us know how the company responds, please.
At Christmastime, my daughter had something shipped for her husband here. She said he's like a child at christmas-lol Anyway, the box was busted near one end. I immediately took a picture and text her. I didn't know what was inside but she said go ahead and open it, so we were on Facetime and she saw that everything was indeed okay. I can't even remember what it was, but it was inside the original box the item came in and that box wasn't damaged. Thank goodness. I would have been sick to have to iron 15 yards of fabric! Poor you

If I was unsatisfied about the condition of the fabric, I would want it replaced! Pictures do indeed say 1,000 words. Amazon damaged our electric gate by wedging a largish box at the opening. They broke the mechanism to the tune of $1,000. Fortunately, the delivery driver had sent me a picture of it sticking out of the gate to tell me that my package had arrived. They paid-no problems!
​​​​​​My motto: Can't win if you don't enter.

this is against forum rules here.

I think your experience reflects the effort to keep shipping, and indirectly, employment costs down. For some carriers, it costs substantially less to mail in an envelope than to use a box; and for every business, time is money.

I use Etsy quite a bit, and I marvel at what vendors are able to squeeze into a flat rate container. On the matter of tape, many independent and established businesses do seem to go crazy with the tape. They are certainly not thinking about ease of opening for the recipient; I don't know why they do this, except maybe to cover themselves from blame if the package should be damaged. I think tape is probably harder to penetrate with a sharp object than plastic or cardboard is.

When we were in the Covid period, I recall a well-established company actually putting a notice on their website, explaining that due to the Covid-related challenges involved, they weren't taking the usual care arranging their fabric for shipping. Maybe laxer standards prevailed across the industry even after things more or less returned to normal. There must also be concern about maintaining their profit margin as prices go up and sales go down.

Having said all that, I've never had fabric arrive that was negatively impacted by the determination to squeeze it into as small a package as possible, and I have never had anything arrive that resembled a ball. So I agree, taking a photo next time and informing the company of your dissatisfaction would be a good move. (I pre-wash all of my fabric, so having it arrive wrinkled (which I have never had happen) wouldn't be a major inconvenience for me.)

This takes me down memory lane. When daughter was a child GMom let her have as much scotchtape as wanted. I'd allow 1/2 hour pick-up time to be sure I removed it from tables, lamps, walls, etc. Yes, I think little children are fascinated by scotch tape.