MarK Cuban’s Rant about Ballistic Packaging illustrates a nice point:
That stuff is a pain in the ass to open!
You know what I mean — a frighteningly high percentage of tech related materials come shrink-wrapped in plastic-packaging that is so tight and inpenetrable as to be bullet proof.
Trying to open these monstrosities of manufacturing is so dangerous, so fraught with risk that you’d be liable to skewer yourself on the sharp edges once you’ve started cutting into it, I’m really surprised someone hasn’t brought litigation to companies either a) making the stuff or b) companies wrapping their stuff in that stuff.
My understanding is that they’re meant as a deterrent to theft.
But can’t they make it easier to open it once you’ve bought it?
I mean, right this minute, some poor kid is opening their next tech toy, and lacerating themselves after either trying to penetrate the plastic (and cutting themeselves with a knife), or creating Emergency-room worthy hatchet-jobs on their tiny fingers with the edges left on the plastic!
Luckily there is a solution!
MyOpenX — is a tool that allows you to open these plastic wrappings with ease and bloodshed. It costs about $5 in the USA, and is something worht thinking about the next time you’re worried about getting stitches opening up a package of cables. The Pyrana also looks like something worth getting into … but its about $10.
For more information:
Wired’s take on it: And does give a few gory stories on people hurting themselves too
The Times Weighs in: But also reviews those plastic-packaging opening devices as well.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:24 pm | Permalink
[...] Health Hazard or Theft Prevention? [...]
September 17th, 2006 at 6:27 pm | Permalink
[...] One of my more creative rants were picked up by Chris Pirillo and News.com [...]
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:59 pm | Permalink
[...] One of my more creative rants were picked up by Chris Pirillo and News.com [...]
October 6th, 2007 at 10:49 pm | Permalink
I vote for health hazard.
Theft protection is up to the store vendor. The makers of the products should address health, not both.
Linsey W
Naclo.com
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:43 pm | Permalink
I just recently purchased a black light that came in this packaging, and had the exact same thoughts you wrote about while I was opening it. I was so disgusted, that after minutes of wrestling with the packaging, I was actually hoping it could cut me just so I could find somebody to sue and complain about! Just thought it was funny as I just had this situation happen to me, and all I could think about was how unsafe and annoying this kind of packaging is.