Sony to stop using frustrating, wasteful clamshell packaging
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Dec 20th 2008 at 6:13PM }
At least one-third of that report appears to be true -- Sony recently announced that they'd stop shipping their electronics in the laceration-prone packaging, and are working on finding a "new alternative" which they'd implement soon. To display their dedication, they even made a promotional video for their latest internal business conference. It's posted after the break, and is cheesy enough to instantly kill any lactose-intolerant viewers. You've been warned.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DETH-DEFIANCE @ Dec 20th 2008 6:21PM
Good! I remember trying to get my Playstation Eye out of it's casing this time last year, complete pain in the arse. Good ridence!
WRE @ Dec 20th 2008 6:29PM
Seriously, I just got my PSEye a few days ago and that packaging was a bitch. Also, what do you use it for? I bought mine for LBP, but I would like to use it as much as possible.
syrik zero @ Dec 20th 2008 6:31PM
Aquarium screen saver is pretty awesome
sicsided @ Dec 20th 2008 6:40PM
I got mine for Eye of Judgement (which I haven't had time to play yet) and also cause I thought my Eyetoy games from PS2 would work with it (they don't). I use it the same, as a mic and sticker maker for LBP. I'll be using it as a mic for tons more games too. Really wished it worked with my PS2 games though.
DETH-DEFIANCE @ Dec 20th 2008 7:26PM
Mainly for Voice chats, it's good to talk to my friends with it, two or three people in a chat room we have a good laugh, I barely use it on LBP but i could..I bought Trails of Topoq after i got it, good game, too short though. Oh and Memzerised.
JoeTheBlow @ Dec 21st 2008 6:50AM
I actually lost a hand trying to get that shit open.
They call me stumpy at work now.
One of those facts are true.
Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Dec 20th 2008 6:20PM
Heard all about this on NPR the other day. I agree, some of the packaging is ridiculously hard to get into. But it makes me wonder if this is really something financially worthwhile for them to address right now?
It's just packaging. I don't quite follow why now, of all times, they want to throw RnD money at something like this.
Markusdragon @ Dec 20th 2008 6:41PM
It has to be remembered that plastics are a by-product of the oil industry, so it's been getting more and more expensive to produce. Meanwhile, governments with green agendas are taxing this kind of wastage, so this is a good move on Sony's part. Plus it's a good, cheap PR buzz.
robert borrego @ Dec 20th 2008 7:00PM
well im really glad you dont work for sony. its nice they are actually doing something for the consumer, even if they arent the only ones benefiting from it.
Edward Dean @ Dec 20th 2008 8:17PM
...
RnD??
Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Dec 20th 2008 8:20PM
I posed a rather open ended question, got some great answers, and I'm getting voted into oblivion? I don't usually care about that but find it a little odd in this instance.
Did clamshell packaging come along with an early and frustrating holidays to some folks or what.
You guys are clamshells.
Happy holidays to all my fellow Joystiqers!
Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Dec 20th 2008 8:22PM
As in shorthand for research and development? I can't imagine a marketing department is somehow successfully changing this...
Roto13 @ Dec 20th 2008 8:34PM
There's not a lot of RnD necessary unless they plan to develop their own brand new type of packaging or something. There are dozens of different ways things are packaged (or more) so it wouldn't be a huge investment to switch to some other type. :P
But it's kind of crap that you go voted down. You're so completely wrong, but you're not a jerk about it. xP
Strategy_Panda (The Sandwich Poisoning Crew) @ Dec 20th 2008 8:39PM
Voted down for having your left hand in your pants while reading Joystiq.
get it out of there!
Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Dec 20th 2008 8:44PM
GAH!
DAMN YOU BEAR! YOUR SLOW AND PAINFUL DEATH IS THE ONLY THING I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR!!! That, or you getting Space Giraffe, and being thoroughly disappointed. Thoroughly, I SAY!
Merry Christmas!!!
SimbaDogg @ Dec 20th 2008 10:55PM
though sennheiser is a great company, hardly a great idea to use their headphones in a clamshell box when talking about sony saying farewell to the clamshell. a simple pic of a sony discman cd player would do that job just fine.
Courtney @ Dec 21st 2008 2:24AM
As the article cited production costs, I would say this is a great time to examine alternatives that will help both the bottom line, be less frustrating for customers and less wasteful.
As a small business owner, I can say that packaging (both for retail and shipping) is one of the areas we constantly look at to improve, whether times are good or bad. It's so easy to waste money in packaging, therefore also many chances for some inventive solutions to reduce cost.
Gah, it scares me to think how much time I've actually spent thinking about packaging.
Cyris @ Dec 20th 2008 6:21PM
The video was cheesy, yes, but I still love it because they understand how much consumers hate this type of packaging and they are actually going to do something about it.
Haggard @ Dec 20th 2008 7:40PM
The guy slicing his fingers open then having to sign the form with his own blood seemed like an attempt at a deep philosophical point.
Dustin @ Dec 20th 2008 6:24PM
Nice. Now I wont cut my hand when I open a new PS3 accessory
syrik zero @ Dec 20th 2008 6:32PM
I've always thought it was unsafe as well. I don't think I've ever been cut. but I have got that feeling that it seems like I just got a paper cut but actually didn't, I hate that feeling. I also hate having to find scissors to open the product that I just purchased
Wiinterfang @ Dec 20th 2008 6:28PM
Hahahahaha XD.
PSN: Erdie @ Dec 20th 2008 7:03PM
After seeing the PSP 3000's spiffy new packaging compared to the 2000, I can't wait to see that plastic shit go.
banels2 @ Dec 20th 2008 7:29PM
Not only that, but the plastic often breaks into jagged edges, slicing into you hand when you try to open it. Most. Frusterating. Packaging. Ever.
Charlie_Six @ Dec 20th 2008 7:29PM
They should make clamshell packaging the next weapon in Left 4 Dead. You open it up then use the sharp edges to kill zombies with. It should kill the Tank in one hit!
Obie @ Dec 21st 2008 6:53AM
I'd buy THAT for a dollar!
pika2000 @ Dec 20th 2008 7:50PM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but outside the US, Sony products use regular boxes.
fraxyl @ Dec 20th 2008 8:43PM
Whilst my PS3 had no clamshells, the extra dualshock and playstation eye both had them. I rate them one unhappiness :(
Flame @ Dec 20th 2008 7:55PM
Thank God! That packaging is a pain in the ass
acme @ Dec 20th 2008 7:57PM
my favorite packaging is when they clamshell an entire friggin box...
Roto13 @ Dec 20th 2008 8:12PM
I have never seen packaging like that before in my life.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Dec 20th 2008 8:14PM
The image above is not a clamshell.
Here are clamshells.
http://www.greatriverplastics.com/clamshell.html
Roto13 @ Dec 20th 2008 8:31PM
Oh, thank you. :P
Yeah, I hate that kind of packaging. Wii Points cards come in that. It's a real ordeal to get them out of there. If you don't have a decent pair of scissors, you're screwed.
xtremeholymuffin @ Dec 21st 2008 6:27AM
Actually this is the packaging to the headphones I just blew out by hooking them up to my drums (instead of my studio 'phones, whoops).
That packaging was actually really really nice. Like, you undo this tab and open up the front, and then the plastic on the front just pops right off. It was like Christmas but better.
xtremeholymuffin @ Dec 21st 2008 6:28AM
I mean, aside from destroying the earth or w/e
sam @ Dec 21st 2008 6:36PM
Those headphones may be well-packed - but I bought a pair of cheap Sennheiser in-ear phones earlier this year and they were in one of the horriblest clamshell packs I've ever had the misfortune to try to open.
Hopefully this massive 'R+D' investment into JUST USE A FUCKING CARDBOARD BOX FFS will pay dividends real soon.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Dec 20th 2008 8:13PM
The package in the joystiq picture is not a clamshell.
Clamshell packages were partially initiated by Wal-Mart, the thickness of plastic is specified by them and this supposed to be thick enough to keep people from opening them easily in stores (and steal stuff).
They are quite popular with warehouse clubs, I once saw a PS2 (slim), extra controller and a game in a huge clamshell at CostCo. Each of the things were in their own boxes (including the PS2) with the clamshell encapsulating all 3 boxes.
Haggard @ Dec 20th 2008 8:29PM
Costco are definitely the worst example. I hate how their DVDs and games have about a foot of plastic coated cardboard going off in all directions, with indestructible beady things around the edge.
EdZ @ Dec 20th 2008 10:05PM
Owning a pair of HD555s, I can attest that the package is easy to open, unlike clamshell packages. The plastic you can see in the image is not glued to anything, simply held in by folded cardboard.
BigD145 @ Dec 20th 2008 11:26PM
They don't even deter thieves. I've seen cut up plastic packaging all over stores.
j.howlett @ Dec 20th 2008 8:50PM
that video hits close. we keep a box cutter or knife when birthdays or christmas rolls around
Tony @ Dec 20th 2008 9:05PM
"...other companies, such as Best Buy, Microsoft and Sony would soon shuck the use of clamshells as well.
At least one-third of that report appears to be true..."
Just a minor correction, it's at least two-thirds. Microsoft was one of the first to partner with Amazon, and offer products with Amazon's FFP initiative.
seakae @ Dec 20th 2008 9:13PM
Good for them. I HATE that packaging.
TomCo @ Dec 20th 2008 9:30PM
Not exactly sure why the image for the story is a pair of Sennheiser HD555's.
Snap Count @ Dec 20th 2008 10:10PM
I think I have mentioned this before....but this packaging resulted in my first non-gaming related controller throwing incident.
Good riddance to bad rubbish!!!!
Orionsaint @ Dec 20th 2008 11:02PM
I have actually been cut before by this packaging. Now I just use a kitchen scissor from our knife set. It's strong. I just cut through the plastic.
Levi @ Dec 20th 2008 11:09PM
This is a relief.
I've bought like 9 pair of those headphones, and every time I think, "why couldn't they just stop using this frustrating, wasteful clamshell packaging."
nips @ Dec 20th 2008 11:47PM
I REALLY hope this serves as an example, as I H.A.T.E clamshell packaging I was very close to phoning microsoft after opening and xbox360 controller recently, because it took my about 20-30 mins to safely open (I even googled). They are stupid. Let ignore the wastefulness for a second they ARE DANGEROUS to open as there is NO way to open them without sharp tools, and using them in risky ways. As a guitarist who has to look after my fingers and a lab tech (if I have an open wound I can't work!). I think this entirely unsuitable packaging should be abolished immediately and NEVER looked back upon with anything but disgust.
ChiTownRuler23 @ Dec 21st 2008 3:28AM
yah it was annoying but i just use my hunting knife it slices thru it like butter i used it last when i bought my fuckin 1600 microsoft points card a couple months ago
Anonymous @ Dec 21st 2008 5:40AM
I've got a pair of those headsets (well, actually, a model up, the 595), and the packaging is FAR from clamshell. It's wasteful and excessive, sure, but it's easy to get into. Theres a little cardboard tab on the box you pull that unlocks the box, which then opens out like the picture above. The plastic shell just lifts off the headphones, no scissors or knives required, can all be opened nicely by hand.
Ofcourse, the only way I remember about this is because I thought it was clamshell at the time, and I still think it's over-the-top wasteful packaging (a full cardboard locking mechanism for crying out loud.