Wired Magazine answers a question that has boggled, and ultimately bloodied, consumers the world over? Why the hell is the packaging on electronics-related stuff so ridiculously hard to open? The gory knife wound at right resulted from a near death struggle to free a simple Xbox 360 faceplate from it's vacume sealed plastic prison (You know, the kind that requires a box-cutter, a blow-torch and a plasma donation to scratch). As you might expect, sharp objects and over-eager customers make for a dangerous combination. Emergency room physicians report an anecdotal surge in packaging related injuries as frustrated fanboys slice and dice themselves in a futile attempt to reach their precious cargo. It figures that this river of spilled blood flows toward the almighty dollar: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.
The worst part is that Moms finally have proof that video games cause violence. Have you ever bought a 360 bundle at Costco and stabbed yourself in the thigh with a steak knife trying to open it?
[Via digg]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-24-2006 @ 4:49AM
Bob said...
i have just givin up on opening somethings and left them in the package. I figure i will save them and if WWIV breaks out i will use them as aarmour plating.
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 6:56AM
Tim said...
I like to keep my packages neat and tidy when opening them in case I have to return them... but god help me, when I was opening the plug and charge kit I ended up ripping it to pieces.
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 7:35AM
Osiris said...
I too like to look after my packaging so that one day if i wish to sell it it can still be boxed.
That type of packaging is just horrible and evil as once it's opened you might as well throw it away.
To open them, just use scissors. Works well.
And if you're gonna use a knife, remeber to always cut away from yourself. (i.e. opposite direction of your body).
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 8:51AM
Retro_X said...
What Osiris said, just use scissors and cut along the edge. Works well.
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 9:19AM
WARLYKE said...
http://www.myopenx.com/
Your welcome.
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 9:38AM
stace said...
scissors are you friends lol
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 10:14AM
Xbox360Fan said...
I just use my swiss army keychain, small enough to get the job done, but not large enough to cause a major stab wound.
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 10:37AM
matthew said...
I open my packaging carefully, but what you really have to watch out for is the sharp plastic once you've started to cut through the packaging. Opening an adaptor case and taking my time, the thing slipped in my hands and ended up slicing my wrist open, the long way, like when idiots try to kill themselves. Yep, almost committed acidental suicide thanks to that packaging.
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 10:39AM
quanta said...
Is it just me, or are X360 accessories packaged in blister packaging that's stronger than usual? I had a helluva time cracking open a MS Points card package last night. It was extra difficult because the package is sculpted in a way where it isn't easy to get leverage from your scissors/knife.
Why is a simple plastic card wrapped in such a huge package anyway? Not terribly environmentally friendly.
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 10:42AM
matthew said...
I forgot to mention that the scar really sucks. It's no fun telling a new friend the story. Once people see it they look at me with so much concern and when I tell the story they don't always believe it, they think I'm just trying to avoid the issue. Luckly I have a great girlfriend and an Xbox360 to dull the pain of society's down-looking eye. Really though, it's pretty funny overall, I think.
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 10:46AM
Snapcount said...
So I bought my 360 and a week later I went and bought a second wireless controller. Needless to say I had my first non game play related controller throwing incident.
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 11:36AM
Yukeake said...
It just takes one good personal injury lawsuit to get this kind of thing to change drastically. I'm honestly suprised noone has sued over it yet, given the litigious nature of our society today, and the number of folks I know (myself included!) who have suffered cuts from trying to open these things...
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 12:19PM
james f. said...
I've got to chime in on the costco 360 bundle blister pack. That thing is LETHAL once you cut into it. And I WAS using scicors at the time. Thankfully only minor scrapes and bloodshed resulted.
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 4:36PM
jron said...
I cut my thumb up bad from the packageing my play and charge kit was in... I understand why they are in such crazy packaging, but there has to be a better way. At some point they are going to get sued.
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 5:35PM
DeadPlasmaCell said...
How hard is it to actually just use some scissors and cut along the sides? And if you're cutting yourself with knives trying to open these things, you either need to learn how to use a knife or get a better knife. Easiest thing to do is just to use a cheap box cutter.
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 6:40PM
DeddyL?ger said...
its not the knives it the plastic once its cut. that stuff sucks. Im always pissed when i have to open things with that type of packaging. i think they want u to have to destroy the packaging so u cant return it.
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 10:00PM
Mintz said...
I'm more scared of the plastic than the knife I open it with...
Reply
5-24-2006 @ 11:42PM
Uptight Copyeditor said...
Dude, spellcheck. Vacume? Why is it that you lap the field when it comes to typos in your posts? And your first sentence ends in a question mark even though it isn't a question.
Reply
5-25-2006 @ 10:33PM
Wiser said...
#13, Definately! I remember opening the shipping box and just staring at the thing. The only thing what would come to my mind was: "WTF? I didn't know they could make them that big!"
I'm still amazed that I survived unscathed.
Reply
5-26-2006 @ 4:32PM
ben said...
I pinch.
Reply