Pet Peave No. 4 - Packaging

[james t kirk]

Ok, here's my latest rant.

Packaging.

Why is it that just about everything you buy has to be ENCASED inside that clear rigid plastic that is as tough as a water bottle to get into?

Used to be that there were a couple of snaps on the package that you simply pulled apart and you were in. Now, it's fully sealed.

You practically need a band saw to get into it.

I just bought a blue tooth hands free for my car so I'm not an asshole talking on my phone in my hand. The unit is a Blackberry which is probably a scam to allow them charge you more than the fucking phone. Anyway, try to get into the thing. You have to use a pair of side cutters and a pair of scissors. To make it EVEN worse, one you are in, there's a second plastic thing holding the actual unit in place which you must then carve apart.

I think we should all start a movement when buying such shit that when we get to the check out you tell the clerk to open the package for you (and keep the debris). I know they allow this in Germany as a way to discourage manufacturers from such crap.

 

[Bopper2]

I hear ya. This has been a pet peeve of mine for years. I feel sorry for kids too. Half the fun of getting a new toy was pulling it out of the box and and seeing what it really looked like. Now you can see it in the package, but you have to wait for your old man to go down in the basement and get his toolbox before you get at it.
Plus, I don't know how mant times I've cut myself on that plastic crap.

 

[swouwee]

then they come out with a multi tool that cuts through that plastic....but low and behold its in cased in the same packaging that its meant to cut

 

[great bear]

then they come out with a multi tool that cuts through that plastic....but low and behold its in cased in the same packaging that its meant to cut

so true!

 

[james t kirk]

First off, wearing a Bluetooth earpiece = automatic asshole (sorry JTK! )

I totally agree with you. That's why I bought one that clips to my sun visor.

 

[james t kirk]

As for the packaging, you can leave it with the retailer (at least, with FS and BB).

Just open it on the spot and tell them to throw it out for you. I've done that with everything from my BB cradle to my lcd tv. I just don't want to deal with the packaging.

But you need tools to open it at the store and the store conveniently won't have them.

 

[Cycleguy007]

Packaging.

Oh I'm totally with you on this one Captain! Especially in this day and age when we are all supposed to be so environmentally conscious.

I actually cut myself on one of those F'ing packages LY trying to open it!

 

[Brill]

I hate that packaging, if it's hard for us to open imagine what it's like for the elderly.
I suspect that shoplifting is a big reason for it, plus the ease in shipping and hanging on hooks in the store. Ask the cashier to open it, hopefully if enough people do that they'll rethink this.

 

[toughb]

Oh I'm totally with you on this one Captain! Especially in this day and age when we are all supposed to be so environmentally conscious.

***

I'll second that. They should make every president of the companies that use these packaging techniques open a dozen just to give them the customers feelings.

...

 

[Rockslinger]

Almost as bad are those "child proof" bottles. Damn, are they hard to open.

 

[Hangman]

You guys should all learn to use scissors...

My pet peeve is people who spell it "peave"

 

[james t kirk]

You guys should all learn to use scissors...

My pet peeve is people who spell it "peave"

Scissors didn't work very well.

Sorry about spelling Peave Peave.

.....

Peave


Peave......

 

[alexmst]

Plus, I don't know how mant times I've cut myself on that plastic crap.

I kept count - I've cut myself 4 times on it over the years.

I guess they don't want shoplifters opening the boxes and taking out the items, but locking the things in display case would be better. Memory cards (SD, MS) are often selaed in plastic that even scissors can't open easily. I use an exacto knife now - make four starights cuts on the back overlaping, then lift out the middle of the square to remove the plastic.

 

[CapitalGuy]

You have some sympathy out there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFdQ-TOVTyw&feature=related

 

[Moraff]

I just bought a blue tooth hands free for my car so I'm not an asshole talking on my phone in my hand.

Of course now you just look like an idiot talking to yourself.....

 

[Rockslinger]

Ever look at the packaging for a chocolat bar and try to figure out the "best before date"? Try a Hershy or Cadbury bar and you'll see what I mean. For all you know, that bar could have been on the shelf for the past 5 years before you bought it.

 

[tboy]

the odd thing about packaging: in most cases you don't need ANY packaging of any sort. Take software for eg: just about any game is available online for downloading which equals: no transportation, no production costs, no (real) impact on the environment etc etc etc.

back in the olden days, you'd have an item on display for you to play with, then if you decided to buy it, you'd get one out of the back. For blue tooth headsets, all you'd need is it tied to a piece of cardboard (recyclable) with the UPC code on it and ship it in bulk.

Of course there are big ticket items that require protection: ie: LCD or flat panel tvs, but most items don't. Plus, I thought they were working to ban styrofoam packaging? Recycled cardboard gives the same protection and is SO much better for the environment......

What kills me about software (staples) is they have an empty box on display, then when you buy it they get one out of the back (fine) but it comes in a display box containing 1 CD rom, and some instructions. The whole thing could be packed in an envelope (like OEM software).

 

[Twinklegirl]

Kids toys that have the impossible to open box, then the toy, and all the accessories attached to said box with no less than 20 knotted twist ties. aargh!

 

[C Dick]

There was an episode on Curb Your Enthusiasm this season where Larry has a lot of trouble with packaging, he buys a utility knife to open it, but he can't get that open, etc. It was pretty funny.

 

[Worf]

Almost as bad are those "child proof" bottles. Damn, are they hard to open.

Yup, packaging and adult proof (oops, I mean child proof) bottles.