Post by: KDR_11k on March 14, 2006, 06:08:50 AM
What the f### is wrong with Microsoft? Why can't they use packaging you can open without cutting the whole thing to shreds? PC hardware is usually packaged in those two plastic sheets, yes, but it's normally held together with a cardboard box with big holes in it to expose the hardware. You just need to open the box and the plastic comes apart automatically. But MS decides to save a few pennies on the box and produces a nightmare for the buyer.
Not that that was my first encounter with this godawful idea. Sony loves it as well. But at least I could cut through the cardboard area when I was "unwrapping" my PS2 memcard. Some crappy GC controllers are sold in the same packaging but I don't think 3rd parties are of much interest to most.
Nintendo is the only one with a clue here, simple cardboard boxes with no attempts at clear plastic windows or other gimmicks that just annoy the buyer and place a burden on our waste system. Open the carboard flap, pull out the stuff, remove plastic bags around it, good to go. No fiddling with hard and sharp-edged plastic sheets.
Post by: Ian Sane on March 14, 2006, 06:13:41 AM
The worst though are scissors in plastic sheets. So I need scissors to open the packaging for scissors? If I already have scissors handy why would I buy another pair?
Post by: MaryJane on March 14, 2006, 06:41:42 AM
They suck because they do their job. Waterproof, theftproof, and tamperproof. All good things come with a price.
Post by: jasonditz on March 14, 2006, 06:44:39 AM
I once took a new (Cheap) digital camera over to a friend's house only to find he had no sharp tools of any kind, and we melted the seem off with his cigarette lighter, which worked eventually, but made kind of a mess.
Post by: Ian Sane on March 14, 2006, 07:23:11 AM
They suck because they do their job. Waterproof, theftproof, and tamperproof. All good things come with a price."
Well this isn't exactly a bottle of Aspirin here. I can easily open FOOD with my bare hands and I think it's much more important for that to not be tampered with. The loaf of bread I buy comes in flimsy plastic that's as thin as saranwrap but my game controller? Oh man I can't let someone tamper with that.
Hell the consoles themselves come in cardboard boxes. So it's okay to have low "tamper protection" on the expensive console hardware but the controller has to come in an airtight space capsule.
Post by: KDR_11k on March 14, 2006, 07:39:22 AM
Nope, definitely not waterproof. It wasn't welded around the hole where the poles some retailers use to hang these things on goes through. Plus it's impossible to keep the packaging intact for returns or storage. I doubt it's more theftproof than any other packaging, it's not too easy to remove the other items from their packaging either so a thief would probably steal it with packaging. And tamperproof really isn't something to worry about. You can see on other packagings whether they have been opened before.
simplest way to open those: take a box cutter and cut all along the inside of the back of the seems
Doesn't work with this one, it goes outwards at 90° right where the welding ends. So you'd have to hold the cutter parallel to the seam and risk damaging the contents.
Post by: vudu on March 14, 2006, 08:09:59 AM
QuoteConsoles tend to be bigger, i.e. harder to shoplift. Plus they're almost always either locked in individual security boxes or locked behind a security case.
Hell the consoles themselves come in cardboard boxes. So it's okay to have low "tamper protection" on the expensive console hardware but the controller has to come in an airtight space capsule.
Controllers and other accessories are smaller so they're easier to steal. That's why they put them in over-sized, impossible to open quickly/quietly packages. It makes it very difficult to steal. It wouldn’t be cost effective to the retailer (or convenient to the consumer) to lock them up with the consoles.
Post by: jasonditz on March 14, 2006, 08:41:26 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: KDR_11k
They suck because they do their job. Waterproof, theftproof, and tamperproof. All good things come with a price.
Nope, definitely not waterproof. It wasn't welded around the hole where the poles some retailers use to hang these things on goes through. Plus it's impossible to keep the packaging intact for returns or storage. I doubt it's more theftproof than any other packaging, it's not too easy to remove the other items from their packaging either so a thief would probably steal it with packaging. And tamperproof really isn't something to worry about. You can see on other packagings whether they have been opened before.
simplest way to open those: take a box cutter and cut all along the inside of the back of the seems
Doesn't work with this one, it goes outwards at 90° right where the welding ends. So you'd have to hold the cutter parallel to the seam and risk damaging the contents.
Just cut along the edge, using the welding angle as a guide... I've never damaged the contents of a package doing it that way.
Post by: jasonditz on March 14, 2006, 08:45:46 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: vuduQuoteConsoles tend to be bigger, i.e. harder to shoplift. Plus they're almost always either locked in individual security boxes or locked behind a security case.
Hell the consoles themselves come in cardboard boxes. So it's okay to have low "tamper protection" on the expensive console hardware but the controller has to come in an airtight space capsule.
Controllers and other accessories are smaller so they're easier to steal. That's why they put them in over-sized, impossible to open quickly/quietly packages. It makes it very difficult to steal. It wouldn’t be cost effective to the retailer (or convenient to the consumer) to lock them up with the consoles.
Who cares what the retailer wants... the controllers aren't being marketed to the retailer, they're being marketed to the consumer.
Suppose Nintendo put all their controllers in cardboard boxes next generation... do you think some retailer is going to refuse to sell Nintendo controllers because they're "easier to steal"? Sega's controllers always used to come in a box, I think Nintendo should follow their example.
Post by: vudu on March 14, 2006, 09:46:49 AM
QuoteNo, it just means the retailer will demand additional markup on the controllers in order to fund the new security displays they have to install in every store.
Suppose Nintendo put all their controllers in cardboard boxes next generation... do you think some retailer is going to refuse to sell Nintendo controllers because they're "easier to steal"? Sega's controllers always used to come in a box, I think Nintendo should follow their example.
Post by: Strell on March 14, 2006, 10:04:36 AM
Post by: King of Twitch on March 14, 2006, 11:39:19 AM
"Well this isn't exactly a bottle of Aspirin here. I can easily open FOOD with my bare hands and I think it's much more important for that to not be tampered with. The loaf of bread I buy comes in flimsy plastic that's as thin as saranwrap but my game controller? Oh man I can't let someone tamper with that."
>Videogames are more sacred than food/water
Post by: Smash_Brother on March 14, 2006, 12:06:40 PM
Post by: Renny on March 14, 2006, 04:20:04 PM
Post by: nitsu niflheim on March 14, 2006, 05:27:41 PM
Post by: Shecky on March 15, 2006, 03:41:23 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Strellit's all in tin cans, and you don't have a can opener, but the freakin' Hispanic rodent with a sombrero does
In the words of Sylvester: "Quick! Quick! Gimme the can opener!!"
Post by: PIAC on March 15, 2006, 03:55:06 AM
p.s. I can't even believe this thread exists. What is this planetbaby forums.
Post by: Ian Sane on March 15, 2006, 06:12:37 AM
I always love that.
"I need to return this controller. It's defective."
"Sorry you took it out of the package."
"Of course I took it out of the package. How else can I determine if the thing works or not?"
I would appreciate it if stores didn't assume that when I return something the day after I bought it and merely wish to exchange it with the same exact item that I'm trying to pull a fast one. It's not really much of a scam if I don't come out ahead in the end, is it?
Post by: KDR_11k on March 15, 2006, 06:49:21 AM
Post by: Ages on March 15, 2006, 10:57:41 AM
Post by: vudu on March 15, 2006, 11:09:48 AM
QuoteHere's mine. This is you.
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
Space Devil Packaging!
Post by: blackfootsteps on March 16, 2006, 01:37:07 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: MJRx9000
It seems like everything was in cardboard boxes before CD/DVD cases - games, controllers, and even the N64 memory cards. They have security cams and RFID tags on everything they don't need this ridiculous bulletproof plastic.
In Australia, GC memory cards and controllers do come in regular cardboard boxes! Joy!
(PS2 and XBOX peripherals do not)
Post by: Strell on March 16, 2006, 02:41:30 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: blackfootsteps
In Australia, GC memory cards and controllers do come in regular cardboard boxes! Joy!
In Soviet Russia, memory cards YOU!
Post by: KDR_11k on March 16, 2006, 03:07:40 AM
