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Reader Comments (97)

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 5:46PM (Unverified) said

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Good God I cannot stand clamshell. Hopefully this news is true.

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 5:47PM vidguy said

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Clamshells are pure evil. Scissors and knives only get you so far with these things. I eventually break down and start ripping them open after a while, getting scratched or cut in the process.

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 5:48PM south said

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That's why I carry a knife around me almost always. Plus, if I ever meet fernando, I can force him to say that nintendo sucks with it.

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 5:48PM Esat Dedezade said

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There not that hard to open. In the past I've used flamethrowers, RPGS and a stick of TNT to open various packages.

The only product that survived however in said packages was a titanium coffee mug.

Boy was that an expensive year.

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 5:49PM Jakey777 said

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Thank you Jesus.

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 6:01PM HighFiveJesus said

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highfive!
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Posted: Apr 12th 2008 6:06PM Jakey777 said

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*highfives*

You're da man Jesus!
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Posted: Apr 13th 2008 2:52AM (Unverified) said

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*misses the initial highfive and is left hanging, much like the proverbial idiot*
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Posted: Apr 12th 2008 5:50PM ThornedVenom said

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This is going to give jobs to industrial designers, about making cheap but protective designs for packaging.


Hopefully.

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 5:55PM Anticrawl said

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6,500 people who don't know how to open packages? And to the point of indjuring themselves?

*makes video, burns, presses lable, sells via-infomercial and scaring people into buying it with horrific box-opening related images*

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 5:58PM Anticrawl said

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Does anyone have the data on how many people were killed opening these things? Not to sound like an asshole or anything but the human race is already heavily safe-guarded from natual selection and we need to weed out the genetic pool a bit.

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 6:18PM (Unverified) said

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They actually have a diagram showing you the proper way to open them now with scissors on the back of the DualShock 3. Not sure when they started doing that.

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 6:24PM Anticrawl said

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Actually nearly all those sealed packages have dotted lines on them that say "cut here" or just have a picture of siccors cutting on the dotted line.
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Posted: Apr 12th 2008 6:37PM ZeroCorpse said

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Wasteful things. I've had items that were 5% of the total on-shelf volume. The other 95% was packaging, pack-in cards, and other junk.

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 6:47PM (Unverified) said

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I hate them, Clamshell packaging has killed my father and raped my mother F U clamshell!!!

Posted: Apr 14th 2008 9:51AM Duke said

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Please visit this joke on the first page - when it was funny.
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Posted: Apr 12th 2008 6:49PM (Unverified) said

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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

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 6:54PM (Unverified) said

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ive still got a 2 inch scar on the back of my hand from a DS2 controller. this packaging is the devil

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 7:00PM NukeAssault said

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Ive cut myself a few times on those thing but nothing serial.

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 7:20PM (Unverified) said

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I don't think Microsoft's packaging is 'clamshell,' but by god do I hate it. Why would you need to seal a card in that much plastic? Why? Nintendo, I'm looking at you too.

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 7:22PM Shmil said

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I hate the fact that scissors come in this type of packaging.

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 9:50PM LaughingTarget said

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That sounds like a punishment in Hell. "You get to leave once you get this package with the scissors in them open. You'll need scissors to get it open. Those scissors you need are in the package. Have fun, I'll be back in an eternity, give or take a couple of hours."
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Posted: Apr 12th 2008 7:41PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said

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Thing is, even cutting them risks you cutting yourself as you reach in to take the item out, works sorta like a paper cut :P

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 7:43PM (Unverified) said

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Chuck Norris didn't invent clamshell packaging, he IS clamshell packaging.

And no, he will not be silenced.

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 8:03PM hotpuck6 said

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they should really just slather package contents in a skin absorbable poison that will kill on contact, then just have a neutralizing agent be released via RF when you go through the stores exit.

Not only will it kill thieves, it'll kill store employees that throw the packages around and abuse the merchandise. EVERYONE WINS!

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 8:26PM (Unverified) said

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I have those headphones... :S

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 11:39PM jisoon said

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I want those headphones

Posted: Apr 13th 2008 4:50AM samfish said

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So go on...take 'em.

...no one's looking...
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Posted: Apr 13th 2008 2:06PM (Unverified) said

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Sennheiser HD 595s retail about 90 pounds on play.com.

They are ironically not blister packed though. The packaging is the best design in the world ash the plastic inside just lifts out completely.
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Posted: Apr 13th 2008 3:02PM jisoon said

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i'm poor
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Posted: Apr 13th 2008 3:45PM (Unverified) said

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That's a shame. Those headphones are shit hot! The great soundstage make them ideal for FPSes and of course music.
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Posted: Apr 13th 2008 4:51PM hotpuck6 said

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90 pounds?
must be a strain on the neck too.
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Posted: Apr 12th 2008 11:43PM mocax said

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That should remind the neanderthals (who tear open every package with their teeth and claws) that we live in a sophisticated "The Internetz" age.

I've finally evolved from neanderthal to cro-magnon stage after spending hours attempting to open one of Microsoft's new DVD cases (only to realize I just need to press a button).

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 11:51PM enbadesign said

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Every consumer hates clamshell packaging. Guess what though, they are not going anywhere. Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, and many other stores require companies to sell easily stolen merchandise in clamshell packages.

If you want to sell to them you need to use that type of package and an easy to open version defeats the purpose.

It sucks but the huge rise in shoplifting brought about the handripper. We could probably have cardboard boxes but we'll have to do a Saudi Arabia on shoplifters. Japan doesn't have a lot of clamshells because getting caught shoplifting normally causes your mother to jump of the nearest tall building in shame.

Posted: Apr 13th 2008 12:01AM mocax said

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Stores can put empty boxes or replicas on shelves. When a customer wishes to buy, he brings the box to the counter to exchange for the real package.
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Posted: Apr 13th 2008 12:37AM CinnamonJScudworth said

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I hope that Japan/shame thing was a joke, if not, pretty freakin ignorant. I can't tell, my sar-dar isn't working too well tonight.

Regarding the matter at hand however,

I can totally see that being a normal figure and not entirely a result of user moronicy. Take the RCA to mini jack adapter I just bought for example:

I had the damnedest time getting the buggers out of their shell of doom. I mean really!!! First off, they charge 35 freakin' dollars for something that should be 5. Then they pack it in that damn capsule such that if you use a box cutter you risk cutting the cable, because they chose Sega brand Space Age Polymer Plastic(p.a.) which is such a high fluid density you can't get an easy puncture. I recall someone mention scissors, this thing needed bloody tin snips apparently, as they buckled and almost broke my scissors however I tried using them. I finally lost it and made a hole with my Henckle french knife, then 'tore it open like a savage' because it seems to be how they were designed to be opened. Bullsh!t.

I could easily envision that ending differently. Like if I tried using the box cutter and having the blade snap while trying cut. The stupid shell was a slippery bastard and there wasn't a single secure way of holding it.

Sure people are stupid, but packaging designers can be sub-cromagnum in their quest for crapulance.
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Posted: Apr 13th 2008 1:33AM (Unverified) said

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You make it sound as if clamshell is the ONLY way to make a product hard to remove. What happened to the traditional "vacuum plastic wrapped" solution?
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Posted: Apr 13th 2008 1:19AM Batzarro The worlds WOrst Detect said

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I have a tried and true technique for that kind of packaging!(picks up knife)

Posted: Apr 13th 2008 1:22AM (Unverified) said

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Seriously, a heavy-duty scissors removes these packagings easily, usually. I've never had problems.

Posted: Apr 14th 2008 3:30PM ecco6t9 said

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I usually end up using more profanity and racist remarks whenever trying to open something.

I can't even type what I say.

Posted: Apr 13th 2008 2:33AM Vcize said

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I bought an extra MS 360 headset and they had the dire combination of clamshell packaging and two pieces of cardboard that the wire for the microphone was inbetween.

The result?

I was cutting through that stupid ass clamshell packaging and snipped right through the microphone wire. 15 bucks out the window.

Posted: Apr 13th 2008 4:33AM (Unverified) said

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I have actually resorted to using a bandsaw to open clamshell packaging!!!

Posted: Apr 13th 2008 9:37AM treeofmana said

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Finally! It's about time they figured out a better system. I personally was rather impressed with the DS lite's packaging.

Posted: Apr 13th 2008 3:43PM (Unverified) said

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I don't even think these packages are steal-proof. They are basically a waste, you can just cut the gadget out of the package from the back most of the time, then just leave the empty package on the shelf, which is what people who steal do.

I recently purchased a microsoft wireless mouse and it had cardboard AND blister packaging!

The worst offender of packaging seems to be Bratz dolls. Not that you should be purchasing these dolls anyways given what they stand for, but when you are trying to get it out of the package and it takes 30 min to cut all the wires and string holding down the doll in the package (without damaging its hair, clothes or accessories) and your 6 year old is whining for her new doll you think differently about it! These REALLY don't need to have 20-30 wires and strings on them, they aren't going to move around in the package, they could be held in the packages with something much simpler, so parents could remove it quicker when their kid starts screaming and whining for it.

Posted: Apr 14th 2008 9:55AM Duke said

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Oh c'mon, "6 year old is whining for her new doll"....admit it, the Bratz doll was for you.
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Posted: Apr 15th 2008 1:36AM dabamf said

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Huge gash on my finger from one of these damn packages...good riddance.

Posted: Apr 22nd 2008 1:28AM hvnlysoldr said

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Companies go green to save green.

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