Everyone Hates Clamshell Packaging

[Marcus Yam]

At one point or another, we’ve brought home a shiny new toy only to discover that it’s protected by some custom shaped force field that prevents us into easily freeing our purchased good as quickly (and sometimes safely) as we’d like.

Everyone Hates Clamshell Packaging : Read more

 

[Christopher1]

Clamshell packaging is dangerous as all get out. I cannot COUNT the number of times a very sharp pair of scissors was nearly ripped out of my hands and sent into my eyes by the clamshell packaging on various items..... I simply stopped buying stuff that came in clamshell after awhile, unless there was no alternative.

 

[Guest]

I will not buy anything in a clamshell package, or I make the merchant agree to cut open the package open for me immediately after my purchase. Made that choice years ago after my first "stab myself in the arm with a razor knife" trying to get the product out. It was a stereo headset. Still remember how angry and frustrated I was trying get that thing open!

 

[gm0n3y]

I don't care how difficult the packaging is to open, I'd just like to see products avoid the use of plastics altogether. Also, there is no need to have a cubic foot of packaging for something as small as a set of headphones or a memory card. Seriously, this is such a waste of resources. Use small paper-based packaging please.

 

[Guest]

OMG people! Is there nothing else to bitch about?! 6000 American's sent to the ER by clamshell packaging every year... Sounds like Darwin is hard at work here, but the stupid idiots just won't die!! It's a plastic wrapping, cmon...

 

[DXRick]

It just adds to the incredible amount of plastic waste that we create and toss away. It bothers me much more from an ecological stand point than anything else.

 

[JonnyDough]

What I'm really wondering is why Tom's is taking DailyTech stories and regurgitating them? Are we THAT hard up for blog news?

 

[JonnyDough]

Also, there's a saying:

You must be smarter than the tools you use. Use the proper tool, and you won't be one.

 

[JonnyDough]

I mean seriously, razor blade? How dumb do you have to be? Someone doesn't know that you're not supposed to cut TOWARDS yourself. Always cut AWAY from yourself, and TOWARDS someone else!

 

[radium69]

Some of our people here in holland have warranty, and if your product fails, you have to return it, with original packaging!
I've had several clamshell products, that were a pain in the butt to open. And after my earphones were broken, I had to return them, with original packaging. However, when I came back they didn't accept the packaging, it was too far ripped. And didn't get my warranty, cause it should be send back with original nice package. (I've used a scissor btw) Mostly you can't open them from the top, And the back is thick, and hard to cut with a scissor. (You really have to take a sharp knife or other object to cut it open) But then you risk the hazard of cutting into your product...

Just put a carton box around it I don't care, with a little plastic window. Saves plastic aswell...

 

[hellwig]

radium69 is right. The plastic clamshells aren't designed to deter shoplifters, they are designed to deter/inhibit people from returning products (whether defective, or simply unwanted). That fact that a warranty could be denied simply because the included packaging was intentionally made hard to open is ridiculous.

Any shoplifter knows you can walk into Walmart and find all the necessary tools to disable the anti-theft devices and open the packaging anyway, so its good to hear they're starting to carry simpler packaging. Since Walmart is also a mega-company that can force the market any way they choose, they'll hopefully use their power to "coerce" other companies into using simpler packaging as well. Save on customer frustration AND reduce the thousands (if not millions) of tons of consumer waste their customers are responsible for generating.

 

[gm0n3y]

I think they're mainly used for marketing reasons. They're shiny, cheap, big, and provide a good view of the product. Just show us a demo model and have the boxed version on the shelf below.

 

[JonnyDough]

Online sales are different than in store sales. If you don't like the packaging, don't have to buy the product. Staples like food and clothing don't come in hard plastic cases usually, so you don't really have to worry about that. The commodities like electronics that you can actually live without usually utilize it, so the choice is still in the consumer's hands. Online though, you don't always get the luxury of seeing the packaging before you purchase. Which is where Amazon fits the bill quite nicely. Since they're putting the crunch on manufacturers, I imagine we'll see a change in retail stores as well.

 

[dieseldre2k]

adults that hurt themselves with this packaging deserve it in my opinion, but i cant deny that the packaging was annoying. this shouldnt be front-page news but its a welcome change.

now i look forward to them changing candy wrappers so that i dont see idiots unsealing (instead of ripping the corner) and spilling all their M&M's/Skittles on the floor.

 

[kamkal]

apparently there is a tool that makes it easy to get things out of the clam shell packaging

the irony is that the tool itself comes in its own clam shell packaging

 

[gm0n3y]

[citation][nom]kamkal[/nom]apparently there is a tool that makes it easy to get things out of the clam shell packagingthe irony is that the tool itself comes in its own clam shell packaging[/citation]
Maybe it comes with a tool to open that packaging?

 

[kamkal]

[citation][nom]gm0n3y[/nom]Maybe it comes with a tool to open that packaging?[/citation]

in its own clam shell
endless cycle of ironies

 

[hellscook]

Happy to report that I've never injured myself at all opening thousands of clamshell packs. They make these things called utility knives that are much better at cutting plastic than scissors.

 

[JonnyDough]

That depends on the scissors. Get yourself a good pair of kitchen shears and never look back. An ACTUAL titanium blade FTW.