Frustration and Danger in the Land of Packaging Hell and Shrinkage

[mandy]

An article on annoying packaging that is impossible to open.  The article focuses on retail product packaging but fails to mention people who ship items that are wrapped in 20 rolls of tape and impossible to open. 

From Psyclone electronics cables encased in impenetrable layers of thick plastic to DigiPower camera batteries coated with packaging several times the size of the item itself, the hardest part of buying electronics these days is opening the products when you get them home. In many cases, it makes solving Halo 2 seem like a kindergarten project.

The bottom line is the bottom line. Retailers demand the hard-to-open packaging to avoid "shrinkage," or shoplifting, a problem that cost U.S. stores more than $10 billion a year or $25 million a day, according to statistics from the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention. They also want the item to be visible to customers and capable of withstanding the rigors of long-distance shipping from manufacturing plants in Asia...

full article: http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,7...=rss.index

[stardust]

Just trying to open the inside container of a new box of cereal (AND without tearing  it all to shreds) can send you to the funnyfarm.    >

[amy]

items that are wrapped in 20 rolls of tape and impossible to open.

[mandy]

A related article:

There's a part of Christmas morning that Tiffany Seay dreads: getting everything out of its packaging. The twisties. The tape. The hard plastic ties, like handcuffs for dolls. The itty-bitty screwdrivers.

"It takes at least 40 minutes to get all the packaging off all the toys," fumes the Fort Washington mother of two and government analyst. "I have a 2-year-old and he's like, Mommeeeee!"

In an effort to keep toys intact and music players from being pilfered, the consumer products industry has moved en masse into a style of wrapping that's more prison than package...

full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...01575.html

[DecorativeDishes]

Is this really necessary? I don't think the dish is going to escape by itself. Did the employee get paid by the yard of tape used? I still miss that dumb tape...  :'( Kim

[stardust]

heh...

*I* have a roll.  Got it from my local friendly and super handsome postal worker at our local postal express inside our local grocery store...

heh...

[chiquita]

[quote author=stardust link=topic=3825.msg34803#msg34803 date=1165181831]
heh...

*I* have a roll.  Got it from my local friendly and super handsome postal worker at our local postal express inside our local grocery store...

heh...
[/quote]

Star care to share your source? The only thing I get at the local post office is long lines, and I mean long lines. They don't even keep a good supply of priority mail boxes in stock.  >

[stardust]

He's MY handsome PO guy.  MINE, I tell you.  ALL MINE !!  > 

:-*

The secret is to stay far, far away from the main PO's.  Find an Express near you.  Expresses are open 7 days a week, 7-7pm.  Nice.

[chiquita]

[quote author=stardust link=topic=3825.msg34875#msg34875 date=1165205384]
He's MY handsome PO guy.  MINE, I tell you.  ALL MINE !!  > 

:-*

The secret is to stay far, far away from the main PO's.  Find an Express near you.  Expresses are open 7 days a week, 7-7pm.  Nice.
[/quote]

Well in that case, seeing as you are smitten with the handsome PO guy  , I'll let it slide. No express near here, man we need another PO here. 

[BellisimaJ.]

He's MY handsome PO guy.  MINE, I tell you.  ALL MINE !!

My pet peeve is a large item sent in a box that barely manages to cover it, filled with little packing peanuts. When you take the item out of the box, the damn peanuts fly everywhere!!!