Looking to beef up security? Take a few tips from the packaging industry!

So you just bought a new CD, DVD, or video game. You hurry to get home, take it out of the bag and realize that sucker is sealed tighter than Fort Knox. That grinds my gears.

You poke it, bite it and go after it with scissors, but your little bundle of joy is still wrapped in about three layers of plastic wrap.

Now, once you finally pull off all the plastic wrap, you realize your purchase is covered in more stickers than a soccer mom’s bumper. Furthermore, all of those stickers have some sort of super glue on them, making them nearly impossible to remove.

Or maybe you just ordered a new TV or stereo on the Internet. You take your lemonade and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and wait by the mailbox until it arrives. But when it arrives, you don’t receive a TV or stereo. No, you get an enormous box filled with twenty sheets of bubble wrap and ten tiny boxes.

You take everything out of the box and start unwrapping. You throw away sheet after sheet of bubble wrap and assemble components smaller than a Monopoly game piece. And by the time you finish, you don’t even want to watch TV or listen to the CD because the struggle has knocked ten years off your life from the stress it caused you.

But if you’re not into CDs, video games or even ordering things, everyone has to eat something. And trust me, that stuff is sealed pretty tight too. 

You buy a box of cereal, and after you nearly rip the top off the box, you have to try to open this plastic bag on the inside. And before you know it, you’re tugging and pulling on that bag like there is no tomorrow. When it finally does bust open, it’s like a Chinese fire drill with your brother holding back a crazed dog while you try to pick up a half million Reese’s Puffs.

But maybe you like the cheese, you know, the kind with the Ziploc bags that reseal. Those Ziploc bags might as well make you start from square one. Once you tear the top off that thing, there isn’t any material left to grab onto to open the Ziploc bag. And if you try to just open it with force, the whole thing rips and you have to use your own Ziploc bag anyway.

Packing things a whole lot tighter than they need to be – that really grinds my gears.

[comments] 

Posted by "Kristen Kreashko" on March 31, at 2:07 p.m.

Packaging is very complicated, maybe even more than it should be. The bubble wrap doesn't much bother me, though, because it protects the electronics that are inside. But just like with batteries I bought the other day, is it really nessecary to have to take 10 minutes just to open the package?

Posted by "Tom Dubovi" on March 23, at 10:31 a.m.

I completely agree with you, Dan. It took like an hour to unwrap our new computer and then another hour to put it together. If people want to steal from stores they're going to do it not matter how tight things are wrapped.

Posted by "Marlena Jackson" on February 3, at 1:26 p.m.

Okay, I got to admit packaging does suck but there is a little known thing call scissors! I hate how tight stupid companies put like 6 layers of plastic on things. It is just all out annoying! I swear if you weren't crazy or in depression before you tried to open stuff, you will be one or the other by the time you're done with it. Nice job, Dan.

Posted by "Bri Klapheke" on February 2, at 10:00 a.m.

I know exactly what you mean! The same thing happens to me when I try to open those plastic containers that have the tightest lids known to man! Once they put those things on, you better be prepared to open them with a jack-hammer.

Posted by "Beth Mort" on February 2, at 9:58 a.m.

Wow, Dan! You really have a way with words. This inspired me to revolt against packaging companies. I completly agree with all of this. I always have to get my daddy to open my cereal boxes because I never can just get them open! As a matter of fact, this happened to me this morning. (:

Posted by "Katie Kasanicky" on February 1, at 11:22 a.m.

Wow, Dan! I never knew you felt so strongly about all this . . . I agree somewhat, but I laughed throughout your whole article. It was rather interesting.

Posted by "Sabrina Jones" on January 26, at 3:52 p.m.

Oh my! You are very funny! :)

Posted by "Jacob Oberdorf" on January 23, at 5:58 p.m.

I could not agree with you more, Raz man. I liked the little visuals you added in here too. I was cracking up.

TrottyVeck.com
is a publication of
Leechburg Area High School

215 First Street
Leechburg, PA 15656
LASD Webpage