(Mis)Uses of Technology

(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Mike Masnick


Filed Under:
bubble packs, clam shells, frustration free, packaging




More Companies Rebelling Against Annoying Plastic Packaging

from the about-time dept

A few weeks ago, Amazon announced a program to push for more customer-friendly packaging -- specifically moving away from those impossible to open plastic clamshell bubble packs that have a way of encouraging excessive swearing (and injuries) from consumers trying to open them. The good news, however, is that many retailers and manufacturers all agree that it's time to end that practice and to move towards more reasonable packaging solutions. It's about time.

30 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 

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  1. by martha - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 4:20am

    paper packaging is good than plastic and more user as well as environment friendly. dissertation help

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  2. by Anonymous Poster - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 5:01am

    I'm personally waiting for the day the movie studios move to Thinpak cases for all of their DVDs.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  3. by Liam Potter - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 5:09am

    About time, no longer will I need to get a butchers knife just to get my pair of headphones/[other electronic thingy] out of the bubble.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  4. by HFC - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 5:19am

    Now can we get rid of those damn stickers they put on DVD cases? The ones meant to keep shoplifters from stealing movies from out of the case. I have had several cases ruined because of those damned stickers.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  5. Re:

    by Anonymous Coward - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 5:33am

    Great advertisement. I would love to get dissertation help from someone who can't construct an intelligible sentence.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  6. Now Now

    by Me - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 5:42am

    It's not really dissertation help, it's really a link to a fake "punch the monkey" page with a click jacking link buried underneath to your paypal account. That's my dissertation.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  7. Packaging

    by NullOp - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 6:02am

    For years i've kept a pair of "cut a penny in half" scissors handy to get through the damn packaging. BTW, if you're not careful you can cut almost anything in half with those scissors. Its about time we went to something a human can get into.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  8. dissertation help

    by Charlie Potatoes - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 6:24am

    Try me I speak gooder Engilsh. www.NewWorldEssays.com :D

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  9. by Alan - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 6:30am

    I think this is a terrible idea. If you get injured opening a package, you deserve it. I believe theft deterrent should come before a few idiots injured a year.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  10. Next week's headline

    by Nicholas Overstreet - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 6:48am

    In a related story, retail thefts sky rocket.





    Really though... it takes scissors and maybe 20 seconds to open one. Are people really getting that lazy?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  11. Re:

    by streadwick - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 6:55am

    Alan, you must own stock in plastic packaging and plastic surgery companies. I don't know too many other sane people who approve of a 10 minute battle trying to remove something from a bubble from hell.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  12. by Anonymous Coward - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 6:59am

    It's time to get rid of that stupid "clam shell" packaging.

    I'm not lazy. Ass-hat, these packages hurt people with the sharp and jagged edges that result from cutting/ripping them apart. Not to mention the fustration.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  13. by Charlie - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 7:05am

    What a bunch of whiners! Treat opening these packages as a challenge. Take a deep breath and "think!" ... what's the best way to do this without injuring myself? It's an adaptation thing.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  14. Re:

    by HFC - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 7:13am

    I believe consumer happiness should be more important than treating those same customers like they are thieves. Theft deterrence should be handled completely in-store. I shouldn't have to bypass it after purchasing anything.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  15. by Alan - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 7:26am

    Amazon was the company who started this. They are mainly, if not completely, online bases and do not have to worry about theft. It’s okay for them to make easy access packaging but nation wide; businesses lose around $16M a year in theft. If companies lose less money in theft they can afford to charge lower prices.

    I would be happy if they were trying to find more environment-friendly ways to package, but not if it promotes easier theft.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  16. Well shoot.

    by Yakko Warner - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 7:28am

    Now what am I going to do with my special clamshell-package-opening scissors (as seen on TV)?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  17. Re: Re:

    by Anonymous Coward - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 7:37am

    Ok, well then add that onto the price the store is charging.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  18. by Joe Schmoe - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 7:39am

    Ah, everything balances out. These fools are forging ahead to negate the gains...

    http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080922/0247072325.shtml

    Walking into a BestBuy the other day I passed a display of these. They actually made it all the way to stores. Stupid. Sad. Oh, and just as much or more packaging bulk than a CD...

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  19. One more reason to shop at Amazon...

    by PRMan - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 7:39am

    Hey, it's another way they can compete with B&M. Sounds like a sound business plan, right Mike?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  20. by Anonymous Coward - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 7:51am

    The best way to open clamshell packaging? A can-opener. It'll just rip right through it, and if the corners are sufficiently curved, the can-opener will just follow right along all the edges and open that thing up in one fell swoop.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  21. Re:

    by Chronno S. Trigger - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 8:21am

    It's not just opening them that's a problem (I just use the scissor trick mentioned earlier) but the dumb ass return policies at stores now. You rip one of those things open, the store more than likely isn't going to accept it as a return.

    I always figured that is why they started using the bubble package, not to deter theft (it doesn't) but to stop the returning of open items.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  22. Re: Next week's headline

    by interval - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 8:31am

    No. Its not a mere matter of 20 seconds with a pair of scissors. Its never taken me less than 2 or 3 minutes to open that packaging and its almost always caused me some minor injury and in more than one case cuts. I swear every time I have to open one of those things. You MUST be a shill for the packaging industry. I can't think of ANY good reason for a valid consumer to praise that stuff. None at all.

    So you never need to open a package right after you've bought it or you always carry scissor with you I presume?

    I'm glad they're looking at doing away with that nonsense. About time.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  23. by seatec - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 8:54am

    Sorry but if you are either to lazy or to dense to figure out that a simple pair of scissors can easily open those package them maybe you shouldnt have bought the item in the first place. Besides, there are nifty little gadgets out there designed specifically to open those packages. You wouldnt open a can of beans with your bare hands, would you?
    Lets evolve and use the tools that we have. Primates do!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  24. by Anonymous Coward - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 9:56am

    I got a blue tooth head set for my phone a year ago (never use it) that came in a package big and strong enough to hold a baby bear and keep it captive for ever.

    But really the packages was 200 times the sized of the ear peice.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  25. Oh, Puh-leeze

    by Not A Whiner - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 11:27am

    After breaking an expensive pair of scissors, using a heavy can opener and still suffering cuts from the sharp ends of the plastic, my tool of choice is now bolt cutters. If this is how I'm supposed to "adapt," there's something very wrong with this picture.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  26. What are you opening?

    by 6 YO at Christmas - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 11:32am

    The people saying it is easy to open packages probably haven't tried opening stuff that is popular and for younger kids.

    I've opened Bratz packages and similar stuff for my niece. It is _nothing_ like more normal stuff. The plastic is 2-3 times thicker than most packaging and double or triple sealed. The toy is attached by 8-12 thick wire twists to another thick piece of plastic and maybe cardboard.

    I had trouble getting a sharp knife into it that I normally use to just hack the end off packages.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  27. Re:

    by icon chris (profile) - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 12:09pm

    I think this is a terrible idea. If you get injured opening a package, you deserve it. I believe theft deterrent should come before a few idiots injured a year.

    amazon really needs theft deterrent. i shoplift stuff from their website all the time, just reach in my browser, grab stuff and run.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  28. Re: What are you opening?

    by BinaryRock - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 12:25pm

    Don't even get me started on kids toys. These days you also need a screwdriver.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  29. by Caleb - Nov 18th, 2008 @ 1:54pm

    I hate blister packaging as much as the next guy. BUT, there is a fairly easy solution. I've seen it implemented once, and it worked amazingly! On the back of the blister packaging was perforation punched into the clamshell plastic, and a finger hole to work your finger in. Insert finger into the package, pull, and the back of the package is ripped off. It was loud (theft deterrent) but convenient!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  30. Don't Buy Stuff!

    by Doubtin' Thoms - Nov 19th, 2008 @ 9:55am

    We Americans buy too much crap anyway, and virtually all of it is imported. Can you get by without all that electronic junk? Can you live a happy life with less material goods piled up around you? I think so. If you have trouble with packaging, don't buy anything. That solves the problem.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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