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Worst Design Ever? Plastic Clamshell Packaging
Hugh Pickens writes "Rebecca Rosen writes that if you've recently opened up — or, more specifically, tried to open up — a CFL light bulb, you can sympathize with the question posted on Quora last year, 'What is the worst piece of design ever done?' The site's users have given resounding support to one answer: plastic clamshell packaging. 'Design should help solve problems' — clamshells are supposed to make it harder to steal small products and easier for employees to arrange on display — but this packaging, says Anita Schillhorn, makes new ones, such as time wasted, frustration, and the little nicks and scrapes people incur as they just try to get their damn lightbulb out. The problem is so pervasive there is even a Wikipedia page devoted to 'wrap rage,' 'the common name for heightened levels of anger and frustration resulting from the inability to open hard-to-remove packaging.' Amazon and Wal-Mart are prodding more manufacturers to change their packaging to cut waste. 'We've gotten e-mails from customers who've purchased scissors in a clamshell, which would require another pair of scissors to open the package,' says Nadia Shouraboura, Amazon's vice president of global fulfillment. Other worthy answers to the Quora question include the interfaces on most microwaves, TV remotes, New York City's parking signs, and pull-handles on push-only doors, but none gained even close to the level of popular repudiation that clamshells received."
For every iPhone sold there is at least one package. Absolutely THEIR fault.
Why they insist on hermetically sealing them, though, that is baffling to me.
I believe it is that way for as a theft deterrent. The harder it is to open the harder it is to open in the aisle in the store and not get caught.
Regardless, if I ever meet the inventor, I will punch him/her in the face.
Nah, just seal their head in a clamshell package.
<xml><I><am><so><damn>Web 2.0</damn></so></am></I></xml>
That is exactly what a filthy pirate who is smuggling counterfeit light bulbs would say!
Another key advantage is that it's very effective at protecting goods in shipping.
Which, of course, explains why the last chisel I bought was hermetically sealed in an indestructible plastic clamshell package.
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
It's being replaced by guys shaking hands in front of giant maps of the world?!?!?!?
More seriously, while natralock is better, it still sucks.
...and the little nicks and scrapes people incur as they just try to get their damn lightbulb out.
Not to mention the estimate 6,000 - 7,000 people a year who get cut badly enough to seek treatment in emergency rooms!
If we're down to the 'several thousand' of a particular injury per year then we're in the territory of injuries due to contact with spacecraft (ICD 10 code WX849OXA), initial turtle attacks (W5921XA) or repetitive turtle attacks (W5921XD) and other similarly major dangers to civilization.
Not to worry.
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
For a handy guide to opening clamshell packaging using standard kitchen implements, see this informative video by Larry David:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HubZInAs0-A
Not head; their *hands*. Each in its own clamshell.
bring a jacket or hoodie, lay it over the basket, carry something around then pretend to be looking through the pockets while you're cutting it open under the jacket.
Helpful shoplifting tips like this are why I keep coming back to Slashdot.
sudo eat my shorts
And that is why we shoot people wearing hoodies. :)
To be fair, he didn't say that they passed the test.
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