Attack of the Killer Product Packaging!

How many times have you fought and struggled with the too tough to open product packaging that was audaciously keeping you from having access to your brand new gadget? Too many times for my taste would be my answer! When I recently purchased a 2GB memory stick pro duo, as many of you already know, the outer bubble was so tough to get into I nearly broke the actual memory stick while I was violently struggling to get it out of the package.

The stubborn plastic casing, that is designed to protect XBOX 360 faceplates from theft, has claimed yet another young victim (see photo left). The fact that the faceplate only costs about 20 bucks retail adds irony to the injuries that this particular gamer has suffered because of his decision to buy a new 360 faceplate. Retailers are the reason that manufacturers are continuing to make their packaging more and more impenetrable.

The retailers, fearing theft, are demanding more from manufacturers in the way of theft deterrent packaging and manufacturers are responding by creating more devious ways of keeping people out of their product packages. While the tone of this discussion has remained light and humorous, the fact is, many emergency rooms have been reporting major increases in hand injuries around gift giving season, and this is no joke! Consumers, doctors and retailers agree that this is becoming a problem, but they disagree about the solution. Many consumers would do away with the theft repelling packaging all together.

While retailers and manufacturers bristle at the thought of eliminating hardened packaging as an option. All it would take is one child bleeding to death because of this silliness and the debate would come to an immediate end. Lets hope it doesn’t come to that. Unfortunately corporations commonly refuse to listen to consumer complaints and tend to only respond after some tragic event has forced their hand.

How many times have you fought and struggled with the too tough to open product packaging that was audaciously keeping you from having access to your brand new gadget? Too many times for my taste would be my answer! When I recently purchased a 2GB memory stick pro duo, as many of you already know, the outer bubble was so tough to get into I nearly broke the actual memory stick while I was violently struggling to get it out of the package.

The stubborn plastic casing, that is designed to protect XBOX 360 faceplates from theft, has claimed yet another young victim (see photo left). The fact that the faceplate only costs about 20 bucks retail adds irony to the injuries that this particular gamer has suffered because of his decision to buy a new 360 faceplate. Retailers are the reason that manufacturers are continuing to make their packaging more and more impenetrable.

The retailers, fearing theft, are demanding more from manufacturers in the way of theft deterrent packaging and manufacturers are responding by creating more devious ways of keeping people out of their product packages. While the tone of this discussion has remained light and humorous, the fact is, many emergency rooms have been reporting major increases in hand injuries around gift giving season, and this is no joke! Consumers, doctors and retailers agree that this is becoming a problem, but they disagree about the solution. Many consumers would do away with the theft repelling packaging all together.

While retailers and manufacturers bristle at the thought of eliminating hardened packaging as an option. All it would take is one child bleeding to death because of this silliness and the debate would come to an immediate end. Lets hope it doesn’t come to that. Unfortunately corporations commonly refuse to listen to consumer complaints and tend to only respond after some tragic event has forced their hand.