Retail usage of clamshell packaging may be shucked

97 Comments by Griffin McElroy Apr 12th 2008 5:00PM
Filed under: Business

We've all suffered an injury or two at the hands of a hermetically-sealed package containing a shiny new controller or other accessory, but did you know that 6,500 people visited the emergency room with a plastic packaging-related injury in 2004? That's not all -- these "clamshell" packages are often made of environmentally-unsound non-recycled plastics (which are increasingly expensive to produce due to rising petroleum costs), and are the largest contributer to various worldwide terrorist organizations?

Okay, that last part was a lie, but there are plenty of reasons to dislike this hand-lacerating form of consumer packaging -- luckily, a recent CNET article revealed that some experts in the packaging industry think that clamshell usage may be on its way out, for the reasons listed above. Retailers still prefer the shoplifter-deterring containers, but consumer frustration and cheaper alternatives may signal the end of the mollusk-inspired packages in the coming years. Our gnarled, decrepit hands are very relieved.

[Via Kotaku]

Tags: accessory, clamshell, cnet, container, controller, environment, greet, oyster, packaging, retail

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

peacebyanymeans (AKA: Moorio): Apr 12th 2008; 5:05PM

I lost both my hands and one of my feet to clamshell packaging.

Shignami: Apr 12th 2008; 5:17PM

Hey man, thats not funny, my brother died that way.

BananaBoat: Apr 12th 2008; 5:19PM

I cut my hand one time on these things, never again. Invested in a pair of scissors and an x-acto knife.

Sometimes even that doesn't work though. There have been times where, despite furious attempts to use other methods, I've resorted to using my hands. I will be VERY glad when these things are gone for good.

Trickob: Apr 12th 2008; 5:43PM

"This is how 'Faceless Joe' lost his legs!!"

B Tizo: Apr 12th 2008; 6:17PM

I bet all the emo kids love those packages!

Tiptup300: Apr 12th 2008; 10:18PM

I saw an infomercial with a device that cuts these things in a snap. That device has saved my life.

waynski1457: Apr 13th 2008; 4:42AM

but that device comes in one of these packages if memory serves me correctly.

tc: Apr 13th 2008; 7:48AM

Exactly like Father Bigley!

ClarkyCat: Apr 13th 2008; 11:52AM

Clamshell packaging raped my mother, it gets tough when people say they can see right through me :'(

Brett Poirier: Apr 13th 2008; 1:09PM

I think clamshell is the incorrect term to use for this type of packaging. It's actually called blister packaging.

Maybe if people would stop stealing things that weren't there's, we wouldn't have this problem.

NATO_Duke: Apr 14th 2008; 9:48AM

Brett Poirier - damn are you ever a downer man.

I don't see how sealing products in this kind of plasic stops stealing. People can steal it just the same when its shrink wrapped.

Tim The Enchanter: Apr 14th 2008; 12:28PM

I lost an x-acto knife trying to one of thess packages. A tragic loss. To this day, the item remains sealed, forever lost, blankly staring through it's clam-like prison.

Tim The Enchanter: Apr 14th 2008; 12:35PM

*open

Sigh. edit button, where art thou?

Tim The Enchanter: Apr 14th 2008; 12:38PM

*these

Damn it! This lack of an edit button is as frustrating as clamshell packaging. If only a *little* less dangerous.

Imran: Apr 12th 2008; 5:06PM

godjesus finally

I Love Bowser: Apr 13th 2008; 6:16AM

God is Jesus.

nxtiak: Apr 12th 2008; 5:08PM

Thank you. It's about time. Sometimes I get all sweaty and tired after unpacking some stuff.

mike: Apr 12th 2008; 6:57PM

if you get all sweaty and tired from opening your gaming packages, I think thats a sign you need to put down the controller and get off your fat ass.

Sora267: Apr 12th 2008; 7:43PM

Or maybe you should try to open it without a controller in your hand...

nick: Apr 12th 2008; 7:47PM

I've been complaining about this type of packaging for years. It's about time it draw some attention and hopefully an alternate solution.

The manufacturers says that consumers demand this type of packaging, which is NOT true, it's retailers who seek this kind of packaging. I'd be just as happy if it were in a cardboard box, and it wouldn't detour me from a sale.

But I can't tell you how many times I've hurt myself trying to open up that brittle, must have been created by NASA plastic. Plus, I'm sure it's not environmental at all.

I know Microsoft is a HUGE offender for using this type of plastic-- not to single them out, but I'm hoping someone from Microsoft reads this and considers alternatives.

colin: Apr 13th 2008; 6:04AM

my local mom and pop computer shop will open an item for you, and you don't even have to buy it. they just put it in a cardboard box and sell it to the next guy if that heatsink won't fit on your motherboard. long live the mom and pop! pay the extra money to keep them around!

colin: Apr 13th 2008; 6:09AM

also, the worst is the clamshells that also have the indestructable 1000 twist wiring connecting the plastic to the little miss makeu---- erm... manly action figure.

EC: Apr 12th 2008; 5:17PM

Well that just made my day! I've had multiple scratches from getting those damn things open.

DemonGSides: Apr 12th 2008; 5:19PM

Knives ftw people.

Vidikron (FU): Apr 12th 2008; 5:39PM

Hah... knives... LOL. Use of knives is likely the source of a pretty large chunk of the inuries. Bad idea. Just get some good strong scissors and seal off around the outside.

Vidikron (FU): Apr 12th 2008; 5:40PM

*cut the seal off

Trickob: Apr 12th 2008; 5:45PM

or a box knife.

Batzarro: Apr 13th 2008; 1:28AM

A serrated knife should do it. Unless you start cutting all fast and crap. I just cut enought to pry with my fingers and then pull. Haven't cut myself yet.

samfish: Apr 13th 2008; 4:48AM

I usually use an X-acto knife on this crap. I carve it open like a surgeon...this has the added effect of making me feel like a doctor and for a brief instant makes me think I makes tons of money.

I also broke a pair of scissors on clamshell packaging once. I was pissed. It was my only pair of scissors.

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!): Apr 13th 2008; 7:42PM

i carry a small pocket knife with me. its not super sharp but it can cut most of the stuff i need it, especially blister packs such as these. its also super handy if i buy something for my car since i usually dont want to wait to get home to use car accessories (since ill be in the car when i drive home).

Mr Khan: Apr 12th 2008; 5:23PM

Hmm, maybe they'll adapt the neat little packaging system they use for such items in Japan

Limezor: Apr 12th 2008; 5:25PM

Could you show an example of said packaging?

Mr Khan: Apr 12th 2008; 6:22PM

Read Mills' comments about how they go in the UK, its the same way Nintendo does it in Japan, along with other dealers

Fernando Rocker: Apr 12th 2008; 6:50PM

I bought last week a wireless Logitech mouse, with a clamshell packaging, but it's the first package that I see that you just need to push with a little strenght a corner of the package, and it opens very quick.

Anyone has seen this kind of package? This is the package:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat13506&type=page&skuId=8352882&productId=1176507037870&defurl=false&h=387

rv: Apr 12th 2008; 5:24PM

I hate this shit. You always have to go find a scissor, and even then, its hard to cut through. I hate this packaging so much.

driven2sin: Apr 13th 2008; 12:15AM

just buy shit used from ebay

Robotochan: Apr 12th 2008; 5:26PM

I've always believed that residential recycling was only a small part of the solution to landfill over usage. If companies would make their products in less packaging using more recycled cardboard it would be easier for countries to meet their recycling quotas. This would be a step forward as the plastic is not recyclable in my area and others however almost everyone in Britain should be able to put their paper in the paper recycling bin

BigD145: Apr 12th 2008; 6:57PM

Petroleum based plastic isn't recyclable in the first place. --Note: Being able to recycle a product once and only once does not count as being recyclable in my book.

Robotochan: Apr 12th 2008; 6:59PM

I didn't know that, even more reason to move to Paper only packaging. I wouldn't suggest for a second to use vegetable based plastic as we're running out of food fast enough as it is!

Simon R.: Apr 12th 2008; 5:26PM

Logitech has always had the most impenetrable packaging designs. After wrestling with their clamshell cases my hands were always too mangled to even use the damn product for a while afterwards.

Lone Starr: Apr 12th 2008; 5:34PM

Apparently there are 6500 more morons in the world than I previously thought.

Mrblonde: Apr 12th 2008; 6:02PM

Dude, that stuff funking hurts when trying to open it. Hard to open too. You can't say that

mike: Apr 12th 2008; 7:00PM

I agree it hurts, and I myself have even been cut before opening them, but 6500 in one year injured themselves badly enough to warrent a visit to the EMERGENCY ROOM. I would classify that as 6500 idiots.

Lone Starr: Apr 12th 2008; 11:50PM

Yeah, like Mike said. It hurts to get cut with it. But to sent yourself to the emergency room? You have to not be paying attention at all.

Imadogg: Apr 14th 2008; 6:59AM

His name is Mrblonde, he must have been one of those people who paid a visit to the emergency room.

But for real, this packaging sucks.

scooterbaga: Apr 12th 2008; 5:35PM

We all know they could care less about people getting hurt... Or they would've stopped years ago.

It's because now it's costing them too much. Bastards. And it never stopped anyone from stealing a damn thing.

Quaddw: Apr 12th 2008; 5:42PM

Ive had this happen before few cuts but nothing major. More annoying when you accidently scratch product when trying to remove casing.

Haven't tried this but may be useful:
Package Shark:
http://www.packageshark.com/

Seattle Yonkers: Apr 13th 2008; 11:53AM

That's just a box-cutter.

Which, incidentally work well on this type of packaging.

Mills and Boom: Apr 12th 2008; 5:44PM

About time.

I like Wii packaging in the UK. It's all cardboard and easy to open stuff. Same goes for Apple stuff - all miniature boxes with everything stuffed inside so well. Designed by Apple in California, assembled in China by Alexey Pajitnov.

Soft spot for good packaging. Getting my Razer/MS Habu out of the box was like lending my hands to a box of Gillette's.

mr mobius: Apr 13th 2008; 12:44PM

I did like the little two cases inside the Wii packaging. I've never seen anything packaged like that before. One thing that can ruin the experience of some new huge thing is if the packaging is terrible to open. It's always the cheaper accessories that seem to use this clamshell packaging in my experience and more expensive items such as mobile phones and mp3 players are more cardboard intensive.

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