Kotaku
I'm not much of a religious man, but every time I have to break out the kitchen shears to open a set of earbuds or a spare controller, I consider joining a faith just so I can believe in a hell just so whoever designed clamshell packaging can burn in it.
And if you've skinned your knuckles trying to get to a product you bought, made by a company that treats all of its customers like shoplifters, well, now comes word via CNET of a movement to get rid of clamshell packaging. Yay. Naturally, it's something of a green-backed movement, which means it'll need about 15 years to take hold in the U.S. The expansion of big-box stores doesn't bode well for clamshell's demise. My guess also the revenue stream represented by completely bullshit restocking fees — which is to Best Buy what a security deposit is to a landlord, money for nothing — might keep the clam with us awhile, too.
Still, there are people who share our pain and want to do something. Now if they could just do something about DVD packaging. There's another circle of hell waiting to be occupied.
Killing the Oyster Pack [CNET News.com]
Comments
That stuff irritates the hell out of me. I won't be sad to see clamshell packaging go.
I've heard that there's a psychology behind this type of packaging, in that studies shows people who open these packages are significantly less likely to return unwanted products.
Oh thank fucking god.
My hands and the hands of many others thank you.
Even with scissors / sharp objects those things are a bitch to open at times. If not DANGEROUS. ;D
Amen.
MAN do I hate those packagings.
It's easier to crack open a safe than to open that kind of packaging.
Death to clamshell packaging!!!
@Cruithne: Id assume thats because most places say return the product in its "original packaging".
That would be awesome but what would they replace it with. The whole point of the clamshell was you can see in and its a bitch and a half for shoplifters.
Amen brother. One time i sliced open the side of my finger because i triped prying open the plastic case the covered teh controller when it suddenly exploded and my finger slid down the jagged edge of a plastic blade.
And then it wasnt as much fun to use the controller because my trigger finger was tender and sore because of my owie.
But im not sure of your gripe on dvds. It's just covered in plastic right? Generally i either just rip it off with my fingers or take the top or bottom of the case, frin the corner of a table, slide the dvd down real quick and off comes the plastic.
Actually that would be quite a good idea. Hate those thing. And don't you worry U.S. consumers - I think you were first with those clamshell packaging, maybe you are also first with the alternatives.
Has anyone else broken the product they just bought because of this stupid packaging?
I'm just miffed because i bought some of those energy efficient twirly light bulbs and by the time i got the stupid package open I had broken one of the bulbs.That sucked problably shouldnt have thrown the box...
@NitrousO: They could replace it with regular old packaging and a law to cut off shoplifters hands. That would more than suffice.
This is one campaign I would support. Blister packs are annoying and serve no purpose. Shops here lock up stuff behind glass cabinets anyway so the whole point about theft and impulse purchase is moot.
death to the clamshell!
@GUNDAM-RX-78-2: My friend did with his logitech headset. Then again Id say 75% of the blame is on him doing a Bruce Banner on the packaging with his bare hands after making a slit to tear from.
YES PLEASE. I bought a new SD card today - it's literally like one-inch square, yet the clamshell packaging was huge and impossible to get open. I freaking hate those things >:O
This would be heavenly. I absolutely hate the hard plastic shells so many accessories come in these days. My hands always get all scraped up trying to open them.
Its cool to see Wal Mart step up and address this problem because they have such a strong influence on all retail business in the US. and clam shells suck.
"Naturally, it's something of a green-backed movement, which means it'll need about 15 years to take hold in the U.S. "
haha, "within 10 years we plan on having 20% of all clamshell packaging out of the market, and in 15, we'll hopefully be up to 35%, clearly leading the world in going green."
kill the clamshell! KILL THEM GOOD!
I don't like the term "clamshell" packaging. The word implies that you can actually open it as you would a clamshell, rather than being forced to tear the thing to shreds with scissors.
clamshell...are we talking about the packageing that i have to use scissors to cut it open only to have to pull with all my strength it apart only to have it crack half way and have to use scissors again cutting my hands on the packageing *breathes...* /end rant
If its gone that'd make me happy.
You dont get a restocking fee on video game accesories at best buy, I believe that only applies to laptops, gps units, cameras and in certain cases appliances. Also its not money for nothing, its a policy to deter abuse. Those items are the type that if the policy weren't in place could be used for a few days and never used again. For example a trip using the gps systems or the camera. Or for a project at school done on a laptop.
i was wondering how long it would take before people realized how much of a frickin' hazard those things are...aaaaaaahhhh i hate clamshell packaging!!!
Really? Would it be that much of a problem if we got rid of this crappy packaging system? Is shoplifting really that big of a threat still? I thought that went out when the internet rolled around and people just downloaded everything.
"Won't somebody please think of the children!"
Fuck clamshells.
They should make rockets / Space shuttles out of this stuff it's just that resistant. And when they would finally encounter aliens it could be used as a deadly weapon.
My voice could be heard in the next city yelling alot of expletives one after another as i tried to desperately get in to my new PS3 EYE TOY last night...... bloody hell i hate that type of packaging, crap for the environment, seriously unfriendly to get in to and invites you to destroy what you bought attempting to get in to it!
Huzzah! Death to the clamshell! DIAF!
It took a pair of scissors and an exacto knife to open a wii points card last night. My scraped knuckles would like to meet the marketing genius behind clam shell packaging.
I hope that as Owen pointed out, since this is a green (environmental) movement, it has hopes of making a difference before 2010 arrives.
I've hated those things since I was a child. The inital bane of my existance was the plastic-nylocs (the little dealies that you pull through themselves and they make clicky noises, but you can't pull them the other way) put into cardboard boxes of various toys. Then once I got older and I could appreciate the finer things in life, like... you know... Tiger Handhelds. I came to realize that there was a greater evil at hand in the form of clam shell packaging. I still remember getting a Ninja Gaiden handheld for my birthday and promptly slicing into my thumb with a pair of scissors. To this day I still have a scar there. Not that anyone would notice it since my hands, despite having the best nails that you'll see on a male, look as if I initially took up a job in professional glass shared punching.
Oh jesus christ I hate those so much. Just put it in a damned box, I know it's more expensive to package, but jesus man.
@Anemone: Shard... not shared. *glowers at the fact that my typing gets lagged as I type despite removing preview comment.*
@Witzbold: Damn that sucks, But can you blame him? The packaging is rediculously thick!
I wouldnt mind keeping the Clam Shell packaging, if only they made the Coke bottle plastic just half thin, that could save us alot of trouble.
i've sliced myself up on a few of those packages before, pain in the ass.
Ive always loved how the fact that the items I purchase take n obligatory 10 minutes just to open so I can begin using them. Clamshell packaging. Worst idea ever. Especially as a collector, some items I just have to say "fuck it" to, with that goddamn clamshell and all of its satanic evilness.
I seriously despise those things -- and, I'm obviously not alone. When you think about it, though ... the amount of packaging we use on stuff is pretty ridiculous, when all we do is throw it away.
I got a pretty gnarly gash on my palm after I tried opening one of those...
the reason these packages were designed like this was to keep people from stealing them from the store. Ive seen people trying to steal from these packages and sometimes succeeding but it does slow them down a bit.
hay how about we do something about stickers on the outside of CD cases and on the booklets inside that ruins the art when you try to remove them.
What's wrong with DVD packaging? If anything, it's not secure enough.
@ShiNZ: - "Death to clamshell packaging!!!"
QFT
I dont have a problem with them really. You just have to cut off the outer seem and it opens fairly easy. Sure it's not the best packaging but what else is there?
@stickfodder: I know I'm liable to get shot in here for mentioning it, but EBgames has been pretty good about using stickers that don't use Krazy glue as their primary adhesive. I remember back in the day when I would pick up a used game and have to peel off 4-5 used stickers that would, at times, tear holes into the case before giving up the ghost. I've neverhad an issue with CDs since they come in hard cases, but putting them on the cover-insert is just evil... and stuid.
@Anemone: Stuid like typoing stupid!
You know, I don't mind the clamshell packaging. It's a hassle and all, I know. But it's a minor one. With a pair of scissors, you've simply just lost two or three minutes of your time, not that much of a big deal.
Though I have to say I don't think it should exist anymore, for a pretty obvious reason. All of those products in clamshell packaging at the stores I go to are behind glass cases and security locks. That means there's absolutely no reason for that level of security. What is a shoplifter going to do? Smash the glass, get a boxcutter, cut off the lock, and then remove it from the packaging?
It's absurd at this point. No need for such excess.
Clam Shell Packagin reminds me of buying a new toy and not having anything to open it with on the ride home. Oh how impatience tormented me then.
"Excuse me, I'd like to return this..."
"What's wrong with it?"
"It doesn't open" :(
@ GUNDAM-RX-78-2: You have to be careful with those compact fluorescent lightbulbs, they contain mercury, if you didn't know. I'm just looking out for ya.
They should create "biodegradable" clamshell packaging... cuz I can understand the views of the retailers trying to lessen shoplifting from occurring as often.
@Iceking5:
Clam Shell Packagin reminds me of buying a new toy and not having anything to open it with on the ride home. Oh how impatience tormented me then.
Frustrating days long since past.
@holy_cow: HOLY COW! sorry I could'nt resist...
Thats good to know now I wont throw the box around anymore.
I did hear that they would be getting rid of such packageing, mostly due to the old struggling to open items.
though, in the end, nobody can open it unless they use a large pair of scissors, some knives, and spend at least 20 minutes stuggling to yank free that object of which they desire.
in most cases, I tend to stab the plastic several times, trying to make a hole big enough so that I can rip the plastic apart.
no such luck so far.
There have been plenty of times I cut or slashed some nice accessory hidden between the cardboard!
@ GUNDAM-RX-78-2: GREAT!! Glad you got the message. Pass it on.
I didn't even know it was called Clamshell packaging. I've called it a lot of things in my time, but that wasn't one of them.
What ever happened to cardboard boxes? They're easily recyclable and don't need a several megaton warhead to get into.