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Curbing Wrap Rage

Posted February 24, 2008 7:46 AM

Here's a Christmas morning turned sour: Dolls left boxed up. A teen's new iPod(R) untouched. And parents and children equally frustrated. It's called "wrap rage" and it's a common post-holiday syndrome. Aggressive packaging may protect a product from damage but may also deter its owner from using it. Here's what a post on The Plastics Exchange says the industry is doing to deter packaging woes.

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Plastics Fabrication, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Plastics Fabrication today.

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Taganan
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#1

Re: Curbing Wrap Rage

02/24/2008 10:48 PM

It is good that they want to protect the items, however I have damaged them trying to open the packages, or have damaged myself using knives or heavy shears to cut open the unopenable packages.

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EnviroMan
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#2

Re: Curbing Wrap Rage

02/25/2008 12:57 PM

I'm not so old as this may sound to some, but I can still recall when there were items you could actually buy from stores that did not HAVE packages! Seems to me, the trend toward putting things in packages started in the late 1960's or early 1970's.

I can't recall how many CD 'jewel cases' I've ruined beyond use (I like 'em because they keep the dust off my shiny silver plastic discs) simply due to the fact that I couldn't open the package without tinsnips and a claw hammer. The excuse that it deters kleptomaniacs is lame, because 1) it doesn't seem to, and 2) better store security works better. I like the idea of alarm rfids in the goods instead of the package. If the item MUST have extraneous packaging, then it should be either biodegradable or recyclable, not merely landfillable. Why, if we can put a man on the moon and bring him back, etc., etc., etc.!!!

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Ron
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#3
In reply to #2

Re: Curbing Wrap Rage

02/25/2008 7:44 PM

At the moment, as a matter of fact, we CAN'T put a man on the moon and bring him back. We've squandered the knowledge & expertise, equipment and infrastructure, that we worked so hard & spent so much to obtain. And we've put into office people whose knowledge of science is abysmal, or who are actively anti-science, and permitted them to slash budgets for the space program and other pioneering science and engineering work. The sad results will persist for decades, but most people are too ignorant to realize what was lost, or why it matters . . . What percentage of people cannot comprehend the statement that "We live in outer space"? (After all, it's the only place there IS!)

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EnviroMan
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#4
In reply to #3

Re: Curbing Wrap Rage

02/26/2008 11:14 AM

Well, of course you are correct, I was just using that as a figure of speech, but I concur on every syllable of what you said. And if we don't stop electing these know-nothings to high (and low) political office, we will be in the soup before you can say "Chinese space program". (With applicable appropriate apologies to our honorable Chinese members here.)

Hells fire, we can't even come up with a reasonable method of reaching the ISS now. The space shuttle is about as cutting edge as a Mack truck, and a whole lot less reliable... But I'm way toooo easily drawn up on the soap box over this, so before this becomes an actionable post of 15 pages, I shall withdraw.

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Anonymous Poster
#5

Re: Curbing Wrap Rage

03/05/2008 9:50 PM

Get an Open It Universal Package Opener from your local hardware store, big box store, or Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Zibra-ZPCOPEN-Universal-Package-Opener/dp/B000IHHOVI

The right tools make every job easier.
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Taganan
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#6
In reply to #5

Re: Curbing Wrap Rage

03/05/2008 9:55 PM

Does that come in an easy-open package or will it too wind up in a box full of unopenable packages? LOL

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EnviroMan
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#7
In reply to #6

Re: Curbing Wrap Rage

03/06/2008 12:38 PM

I'll bet a good stone knife will work just as well, whattya think?!?

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Taganan
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#8
In reply to #7

Re: Curbing Wrap Rage

03/06/2008 9:11 PM

I use a fresh sharp chip of quartz to open cat and dog food bags and plastic bags of cedar chips since I don't carry a knife. Stone does pretty good at that. It gave me the idea for my technology not being too obsolete to work statement.

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 No technology is so obsolete that it won't work. A stone knife still can kill you as dead as a laser.
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EnviroMan
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#9
In reply to #8

Re: Curbing Wrap Rage

03/07/2008 9:41 AM

That's a pretty 'sharp' idea!

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