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Scepticalscribe

macrumors Haswell
Jul 29, 2008
65,205
47,593
In a coffee shop.
My gripe for the day - Does anybody else get into a rage when trying to undo the multiple layers of plastic in most store-bought containers? I hardly produce any waste for the landfill, but a mountain of unnecessary plastic crap from food and other containers from the shops.
A profound and heartfelt amen to this.

Worse than the many (criminal) layers of impenetrable plastic is the fact that the damned stuff is sometimes so difficult to open, requiring some ghastly blend of brute force and incredibly sharp implements; I have cut myself on sharp plastic edges more than once.
 
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Crowbot

macrumors 68000
May 29, 2018
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A profound and heartfelt amen to this.

Worse than the many (criminal) layers of impenetrable plastic is the fact that the damned stuff is sometimes so difficult to open, requiring some ghastly blend of brute force and incredibly sharp implements; I have cut myself on sharp plastic edges more than once.
I've been tempted to use C-4 on a few occasions. ;)
 

compwiz1202

macrumors 604
May 20, 2010
7,389
5,746
My gripe for the day - Does anybody else get into a rage when trying to undo the multiple layers of plastic in most store-bought containers? I hardly produce any waste for the landfill, but a mountain of unnecessary plastic crap from food and other containers from the shops.
I'm convinced ever since prices went insane, even brand names have total junk packaging. I pretty much always have to use scissors to open anything now, not just generics.
 

Crowbot

macrumors 68000
May 29, 2018
1,837
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NYC
I'm convinced ever since prices went insane, even brand names have total junk packaging. I pretty much always have to use scissors to open anything now, not just generics.
My guess is that in-store theft, where the thief opens the package and just takes the product, is a big part of it. They want to make it as hard as possible to easily opne it.
 

Kung

macrumors 6502
Feb 3, 2006
485
496
My gripe for the day - Does anybody else get into a rage when trying to undo the multiple layers of plastic in most store-bought containers? I hardly produce any waste for the landfill, but a mountain of unnecessary plastic crap from food and other containers from the shops.

This, as well as those stupid 'childproof' plastic packages that are essentially heat-welded at the corners. They take forever to open - IF you don't slice the @$%@$ out of yourself in the process. I mean, just call them person-proof and get it over with. LOL
 
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Scepticalscribe

macrumors Haswell
Jul 29, 2008
65,205
47,593
In a coffee shop.
My guess is that in-store theft, where the thief opens the package and just takes the product, is a big part of it. They want to make it as hard as possible to easily opne it.
Possibly.

However, the ordinary consumer shouldn't have to use an industrial strength heavy-duty scissors - all the while protecting your hands (those plastic edges can be incredibly sharp) while opening - that is, trying to open - something that you have bought.
 

Crowbot

macrumors 68000
May 29, 2018
1,837
4,152
NYC
Possibly.

However, the ordinary consumer shouldn't have to use an industrial strength heavy-duty scissors - all the while protecting your hands (those plastic edges can be incredibly sharp) while opening - that is, trying to open - something that you have bought.
Well it's a balance. They don't want their stuff stolen and since the average customer isn't going to reject a desired product just because it might be hard to open the package, they do what they feel they have to. Once the purchase has been made it's the purchaser's problem.
 

Scepticalscribe

macrumors Haswell
Jul 29, 2008
65,205
47,593
In a coffee shop.
Well it's a balance. They don't want their stuff stolen and since the average customer isn't going to reject a desired product just because it might be hard to open the package, they do what they feel they have to. Once the purchase has been made it's the purchaser's problem.
Not quite in agreement.

Protection (by companies) against possible or potential theft shouldn't mean that one (a consumer, or purchaser) has to treat certain products as though they were an actual hazard when you try to open them.

Let the companies hire more security (and till) staff, and pay them properly, if theft is an issue.

Risk is something I will deem acceptable when I travel to a dangerous country, or where conflict can be expected.

Risk of injury is not something I should expect to have to confront when attempting to open a package of something - say, a light bulb for my overhead fan extrator - that I have bought.


Once the purchase has been made it's the purchaser's problem.
Not a good attitude.

This almost sounds like an argument that the principle of commerce should be "caveat emptor", almost literally.

In any case, in Europe, I would imagine that regulation will (eventually) take care of this nonsense, if only on environmental, rather than on public health and safety grounds, or, protection of the consumer.
 

Crowbot

macrumors 68000
May 29, 2018
1,837
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NYC
Not a good attitude.

This almost sounds like an argument that the principle of commerce should be "caveat emptor", almost literally.

In any case, in Europe, I would imagine that regulation will (eventually) take care of this nonsense, if only on environmental, rather than on public health and safety grounds, or, protection of the consumer.
I did not mean to say that that was my attitude. It's the attitude of the manufacturer. My point was that the difficulty in opening the package is a feature, not a bug. They thought about this and came up with these hard to open packages, balancing a griping customer and keeping the product in the package while on the shelf.
 
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Crowbot

macrumors 68000
May 29, 2018
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NYC
Not quite in agreement.

Protection (by companies) against possible or potential theft shouldn't mean that one (a consumer, or purchaser) has to treat certain products as though they were an actual hazard when you try to open them.

Let the companies hire more security (and till) staff, and pay them properly, if theft is an issue.

Risk is something I will deem acceptable when I travel to a dangerous country, or where conflict can be expected.

Risk of injury is not something I should expect to have to confront when attempting to open a package of something - say, a light bulb for my overhead fan extrator - that I have bought.
I agree that these packages are not fun but it's a cheaper alternative to hiring security. Anyway, that kind of security is the stores's business, not the product manufacturer's. For bean counters it's an easy choice. The way of the world, I'm afraid.
 

sgtaylor5

macrumors 6502a
Aug 6, 2017
724
444
Cheney, WA, USA
Ah, okay.

Thank you.

Well, I will admit that my mind runs to evil thoughts - including dreams filled with satisfyng destruction - when confronted by many layers of heavy duty impenetrable plastc, so, perhaps, yours is a good idea.
evil dreams :) ? like this: "There is no problem so difficult that it cannot be solved by a suitable application of high explosives"

and I thought that packages wrapped like that were an American invention...
 

AVBeatMan

macrumors 603
Nov 10, 2010
5,968
3,849
I don't really like summer but have to say today it is absolutely gorgeous. Was up early at 6:30 and out for a walk. A nice chill in the air. Currently here it's sunny and 18ºC. Just perfect for me.
 

Crowbot

macrumors 68000
May 29, 2018
1,837
4,152
NYC
I had an online friend, who, sadly, has now passed away.
He had been a US Navy SEAL.
He used to say, "If it doesn't move, use C4. If it still doesn't move, use more..."
:D

I think I heard someone use that on MythBusters. It's amazing how much I learned about boom booms from that show.
 
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Scepticalscribe

macrumors Haswell
Jul 29, 2008
65,205
47,593
In a coffee shop.
Well, today is a (surprisingly) sunny Saturday, one that started out ominously overcast - the mist last night was astonishing (heralding autumn, that "season of mists and mellow fruitfulness").

Somewhat to my own surprise, I visited the farmers' market (where some meat I had ordered awaited me), and, I also visited the library.

And yes, I was weighed down - meat, (shin beef on the bone, which had to be ordered in advance, a few chicken thighs, fillet beef, a beef and stout pie), cherry tomatoes, aubergines, herbs (basil, thyme, sage, parsley), garlic, pesto, salami, pâté, olives (three different types: Black Moroccan olives, green olives stuffed with anchovy, and plain green olives), cheeses (several, described in the cheese thread, but blues, hard cheese, and washed rind cheese), pasta, and French bread (baguette, brioche, and rye bread) were all purchased, thus, I took a taxi home.

The library was visited; five fat books were returned, and four equally sturdy tomes were picked up.
 
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scubachap

macrumors 6502a
Aug 30, 2016
514
824
UK
Risk of injury is not something I should expect to have to confront when attempting to open a package of something - say, a light bulb for my overhead fan extrator - that I have bought.
Tinned corned beef? I think it's all blister packed in recent years (at 50p a slice!) but opening a can was always a terrifying experience...
 
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