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Photo illustration by BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Photo Editor and JORDAN HANSEN / Courier Graphic Artist
~ADVERTISING~
Package prison
By MARY STEGMEIR, Courier Staff Writer
WATERLOO ---- Matt Neman knows what to do when he encounters tough-to-open plastic packaging on Christmas morning.
First the Waterloo teen tries his luck with scissors, then he heads to the kitchen for a steak knife.
"With some of the packages, it's the only way to get it out," said Neman, noting that tech toys are especially difficult to extract.
As Christmas morning wears on, Neman passes his tools around the tree and helps free family members' gifts from their plastic prisons.
"It's kind of annoying," he said, while taking a break from shopping Tuesday afternoon at Crossroads Center.
But the so-called clamshell packaging, made of nearly impenetrable polymers, will likely be a force to be reckoned with again this holiday season. Although some companies --- like Logitech --- have used the past year to develop user-friendly wrappings, many manufactures are still packing their products in tough-plastic casings.
For retailers, there's a lot to like about clamshell packages.
"It keeps the products safe during shipping," said Bob Myshka, executive team leader at Target in Waterloo. "It's mostly for protection."
The hardy plastic carriers also deter theft, said Paula Mangrich, operations manager at Best Buy in Waterloo.
"Plus, it allows the customer to get a good look at what they are buying," she said.
Still, trying to open up those packages can be a royal pain.
"I know I've probably cut myself," said Don Dunting, of Cedar Rapids, who was shopping at Crossroads Center with his wife Sue. "Sometimes it's impossible not to."
Last year Consumer Reports magazine heard from readers who had used pliers, kitchen shears, bolt-cutters, military-issue can openers, hacksaws, files, teeth and fingernails to pry products from their packaging. Some of the weary warriors received bloodied hands, fingers or arms for their trouble.
"Consumers are increasingly frustrated with difficult-to-open packaging," Tod Marks, a senior editor at Consumer Reports said in a statement. "As manufacturers create packaging that more aggressively discourages theft and tampering they are concurrently creating a package opening nightmare for many consumers."
The magazine bestowed two of its 2007 Oyster Awards for hard-to-open packaging to the Oral-B Sonic Complete Toothbrush Kit and the Bratz Sisterz dolls. Testers struggled for three minutes and 15 seconds before freeing the toothbrush from its case. The Bratz dolls were confined by more than 50 restraints.
"Some of these packages are just getting ridiculous," said Bruce Simon, who invented the Pyranna, a tool that can safely slice open thick packages.
The New Jersey man created the product a little over a year ago after injuring his hand on a plastic package of disposable razors.
"Sometimes even scissors and razor blades don't cut it," he said, explaining his decision to market the Pyranna.
No matter how you choose to open your packages this holiday season, use care, said Dr. Geoffrey Miller, an emergency room physician at Covenant Medical Center.
"The obvious thing is to cut away from yourself," he said. "Cut away from your body so it doesn't come back if it slips."
Contact Mary Stegmeir at (319) 291-1482 or mary.stegmeir@wcfcourier.com.
{M3Free the toys
{M3Try out these tools on hard-to-open packages.
{M3Black & Decker 36V Cordless Powered Scissors
{M3Pros: Rechargable, cuts through even thick plastic edges
Cons: Operation requires effort
Price: $20
www.blackanddecker.com
{M3iSlice
{M3Pros: Safe to touch ceramic blade
Cons: Has trouble cutting through thick plastic
Price: $5
www.islice.com
{M3Pyranna
{M3Pros: Cuts across bumps and around rivets
Cons: Requires ample hand strength
Price: $10
www.pyranna.com
{M3Openx
{M3Pros: Cuts through tough plastic
Cons: Not good for lefties, poses a cutting danger
Price: $5
www.myopenx.com
{M3Ultimate Package Opener by Jokari
{M3Pros: Cuts plastic
Cons: Small blade; injured tester
Price: $7
www.shopgetorganized.com
First the Waterloo teen tries his luck with scissors, then he heads to the kitchen for a steak knife.
"With some of the packages, it's the only way to get it out," said Neman, noting that tech toys are especially difficult to extract.
As Christmas morning wears on, Neman passes his tools around the tree and helps free family members' gifts from their plastic prisons.
"It's kind of annoying," he said, while taking a break from shopping Tuesday afternoon at Crossroads Center.
But the so-called clamshell packaging, made of nearly impenetrable polymers, will likely be a force to be reckoned with again this holiday season. Although some companies --- like Logitech --- have used the past year to develop user-friendly wrappings, many manufactures are still packing their products in tough-plastic casings.
For retailers, there's a lot to like about clamshell packages.
"It keeps the products safe during shipping," said Bob Myshka, executive team leader at Target in Waterloo. "It's mostly for protection."
The hardy plastic carriers also deter theft, said Paula Mangrich, operations manager at Best Buy in Waterloo.
"Plus, it allows the customer to get a good look at what they are buying," she said.
Still, trying to open up those packages can be a royal pain.
"I know I've probably cut myself," said Don Dunting, of Cedar Rapids, who was shopping at Crossroads Center with his wife Sue. "Sometimes it's impossible not to."
Last year Consumer Reports magazine heard from readers who had used pliers, kitchen shears, bolt-cutters, military-issue can openers, hacksaws, files, teeth and fingernails to pry products from their packaging. Some of the weary warriors received bloodied hands, fingers or arms for their trouble.
"Consumers are increasingly frustrated with difficult-to-open packaging," Tod Marks, a senior editor at Consumer Reports said in a statement. "As manufacturers create packaging that more aggressively discourages theft and tampering they are concurrently creating a package opening nightmare for many consumers."
The magazine bestowed two of its 2007 Oyster Awards for hard-to-open packaging to the Oral-B Sonic Complete Toothbrush Kit and the Bratz Sisterz dolls. Testers struggled for three minutes and 15 seconds before freeing the toothbrush from its case. The Bratz dolls were confined by more than 50 restraints.
"Some of these packages are just getting ridiculous," said Bruce Simon, who invented the Pyranna, a tool that can safely slice open thick packages.
The New Jersey man created the product a little over a year ago after injuring his hand on a plastic package of disposable razors.
"Sometimes even scissors and razor blades don't cut it," he said, explaining his decision to market the Pyranna.
No matter how you choose to open your packages this holiday season, use care, said Dr. Geoffrey Miller, an emergency room physician at Covenant Medical Center.
"The obvious thing is to cut away from yourself," he said. "Cut away from your body so it doesn't come back if it slips."
Contact Mary Stegmeir at (319) 291-1482 or mary.stegmeir@wcfcourier.com.
{M3Free the toys
{M3Try out these tools on hard-to-open packages.
{M3Black & Decker 36V Cordless Powered Scissors
{M3Pros: Rechargable, cuts through even thick plastic edges
Cons: Operation requires effort
Price: $20
www.blackanddecker.com
{M3iSlice
{M3Pros: Safe to touch ceramic blade
Cons: Has trouble cutting through thick plastic
Price: $5
www.islice.com
{M3Pyranna
{M3Pros: Cuts across bumps and around rivets
Cons: Requires ample hand strength
Price: $10
www.pyranna.com
{M3Openx
{M3Pros: Cuts through tough plastic
Cons: Not good for lefties, poses a cutting danger
Price: $5
www.myopenx.com
{M3Ultimate Package Opener by Jokari
{M3Pros: Cuts plastic
Cons: Small blade; injured tester
Price: $7
www.shopgetorganized.com
 |
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