41 2009-05-12 14:27:26 UTC 6 57 Boxes should be easy to open, and not require a welding torch and a chainsaw. 55 Paul 2009-05-12 14:04:42 UTC 2 false 27 41 2009-05-15 01:08:09 UTC 15 yes, yes, yes -- i totally agree. 68 sararube 2009-05-14 02:24:26 UTC 0 false 70 41 2009-05-18 17:29:46 UTC 5 Even a scissor is difficult to use. 149 davidcruzo 2009-05-18 17:03:46 UTC 0 false 77 41 2009-05-18 19:07:11 UTC 3 I think I have at least one scar on my hand from trying to pry one of those packs open. There's gotta be a better anti-theft system! 22 s_foy 2009-05-10 13:43:53 UTC 0 false 80 41 2009-05-18 22:48:35 UTC 9 I completely agree! They are so difficult to open. I'm surprised we haven't gotten sued over that like the Urban legend of the coffee burn from a McDonald's coffee. 153 nausheena 2009-05-18 22:47:35 UTC 0 false 82 41 2009-05-19 00:46:50 UTC 4 You should also require your manufacturers to use Recycled PET. REI does this. 154 kcb48 2009-05-19 00:43:50 UTC 0 false 91 41 2009-05-19 18:32:52 UTC 5 Amazon does it, so should you guys! 165 sorjai 2009-05-19 18:32:08 UTC 0 false 97 41 2009-05-20 18:43:04 UTC 8 Thanks for all your comments and votes. Keep them coming. 35 JohnS 2009-05-11 01:09:26 UTC 14 true 101 41 2009-05-21 16:20:22 UTC 8 Agree with the scar - I have one. In fact, I literally wore gloves the other day to open up a package. 177 Best Buy Mobile Marketing Guy 2009-05-21 16:17:09 UTC 0 false 124 41 2009-05-30 22:17:22 UTC 0 They won't do it until people stop opening boxes and stealing stuff. Come up with an idea to combat *that* and you'll have easy to open boxes. 204 gizmo78 2009-05-30 21:49:46 UTC 0 false 151 41 2009-06-03 19:57:17 UTC 7 gizmo78: Their problem, not ours. At some point, the cost of frustrated and/or bleeding customers outweighs the cost of theft.... 55 Paul 2009-05-12 14:04:42 UTC 2 false 156 41 2009-06-05 13:58:16 UTC 8 I've cut myself on some plastic packages. Ugh 231 jowyang 2009-06-05 12:44:20 UTC 1 false 170 41 2009-06-19 00:59:03 UTC 6 Why not a zip tie style packaging system. Same rigid/tough plastic, but with a sort of zig-zag strip across the back that you can open with one hard tug that tears it open across the width of the package (much like they use on cardboard packs of microwave meals). Those things would make a nice loud toy machine gun style noise that would be just as much of a theft deterrent as the spider wrap on an iPod or Laptop that can be wrestled off fairly easily. Loud noise = Theft deterrent win Quick Rip Packaging = easy open win Happy happy joy joy 263 Terrence 2009-06-19 00:59:02 UTC 0 false 176 41 2009-06-19 10:20:46 UTC 8 a suggestion from taulpaul via twitter: http://twitpic.com/7pnf7 12 garykoelling 2009-05-09 12:21:11 UTC 9 true 199 41 2009-06-20 11:54:03 UTC 6 Yep. That is pretty much exactly what I am talking about. The perforated part would need to be fairly rigid and could easily be a nice thick, zip-tie style strip so it would make a loud ripping noise. 263 Terrence 2009-06-19 00:59:02 UTC 0 false 217 41 2009-07-01 21:08:17 UTC 6 Terrence... I'm so with you. Loud ripping noises are a sound of tearing into something COOL! 46 CamG 2009-05-11 19:28:03 UTC 23 true 219 41 2009-07-01 21:29:35 UTC 0 Nice 294 Rafabuciani 2009-07-01 21:18:38 UTC 0 false 253 41 2009-07-08 16:40:29 UTC 0 How about shrink wrapped zip lock bags for packaging? 355 kentosan 2009-07-08 16:38:29 UTC 0 false 277 41 2009-07-09 13:44:19 UTC 1 Opening these boxes are tricky. As a Bestbuy Mobile employee I have cut myself countless times on getting prepaid phones out of their packaging. On the other hand though, it is not Bestbuy's fault for this packaging, as maybe a letter to a manufacturer or enough people protesting would get the job done faster. :) 386 AdamL1420AUB 2009-07-09 13:40:14 UTC 0 false 302 41 2009-07-10 15:07:43 UTC 0 Agree, they are way to difficult to open. should implement an RFID type of concept if shoplifting is a problem. I can't imagine what some elderly people has to go thru to open them. 440 CK 2009-07-10 15:04:00 UTC 0 false 304 41 2009-07-10 17:12:35 UTC 0 They are insanely hard to open. If you are brave enough to try this I found that it helps----heat them up for about 30 seconds or so in an oven...It softens the plastic enough where it is easier to either cut open or pull open. DON"T MELT IT in the process! 449 TB 2009-07-10 17:10:23 UTC 0 false 306 41 2009-07-10 17:16:14 UTC 0 You know someone is taking perverse pleasure in the amount of pain and effort it takes to open these things (The DVD wrapping isn't much better). If you are bold enough you can try this: Warm up your oven to 375 degrees--place the package in if for about 15 seconds. It will soften it up enough to easily cut through or pull apart. DO NOT MELT IT....... 449 TB 2009-07-10 17:10:23 UTC 0 false 312 41 2009-07-10 20:33:37 UTC 0 That's not really something Best Buy has control of.. it's more of the manufactur of the product. You can always go to LP right in front of the door and have them cut it, but in case you decide you want to return it, keep the packaging and the receipt 458 old_sky_blues 2009-07-10 20:21:07 UTC 1 false 383 41 2009-07-16 19:00:36 UTC 3 These are great comments, please keep them coming – we’re listening! Your comments and concerns really help validate the work we are doing on the Best Buy Exclusive Brands (Insignia, Rocketfish, Dynex, Init & Geek Squad) Packaging team. Over the past several months we have increased our diligence in offering more customer and environmentally conscious packaging options. Examples of these efforts range from our more established products such as the Dynex Optical mice skus (DX-WLMSE & DX-WMSE) that are in easy-to-open hybrid boxes and use a minimal amount of plastic, to our recent Dynex 6’ HDMI cable which is held in an efficiently sized corrugate box, using only as much plastic as needed to showcase the product. While we aren’t currently able to eliminate molded plastic packaging for all of our products, we are working towards incorporating a customer-friendly opening feature on all clamshells going forward. An example of this would be our latest headphone offerings with the Rocketfish ear bud products (RF-EHP11 & RF-EHP12). The perforation on the back of this package allows the clamshell to be opened with one pull of the finger tab – no more scissors, no more injuries! Our newly launched Rocketfish Gaming line is a great example of family-friendly packaging which has a focus on offering the customer products children can open themselves, without the use of tools or adult assistance. Again, your comments are appreciated. Our innovations don’t always come from within our own walls; a customer’s feedback speaks volumes! Regards, Ryan Salow 410 RS_BBY ExB Pkg 2009-07-09 19:45:03 UTC 0 false 489 41 2009-07-25 23:13:23 UTC 5 Ryan great response, I have always wondered why those sealed plastic packages are that way. It must be because they are cheaper I'm guessing right? 673 Albert Maruggi 2009-07-22 11:47:47 UTC 0 false 640 41 2009-08-11 07:03:59 UTC 4 I agree that the plastic may "over compensate" for the level of security they are trying to impose. I will not say boxes need to be easy to open but at least managable. The krimped style siding is a little overboard. If you did have to make them easy to open put them in a case or something. I have to say that I would not feel any time was wasted if I had to go through waiting for it to come out of the case and into my hands vs. using my skill saw to open packages. Plus I am usually met a few feet past the door with customer caring employees who jump right into whatever issue or need I have that day, and this is why I love to spend my money at best buy. 832 robbiek426 2009-08-11 06:59:15 UTC 0 false 641 41 2009-08-11 13:16:49 UTC 0 Unfortunately, Best Buy does not choose how to package their items, manufacturers do. Granted, it does help with theft that they are not easily accessible, but it's not Best Buy's doing. Box cutters work perfectly fine, and for the issue of theft, Best Buy does use cases, but there are only so many of those available per store. 833 mlj613 2009-08-11 13:16:48 UTC 0 false 758 41 2009-08-22 16:19:16 UTC 4 Plastic boxes combat in-store theft. They do not combat any form of theft that occurs outside the store. Therefore, out-of-store customers should have at least an option (if not by default) to receive items that are not packaged with the hard plastic designed to prevent in-store theft. This would require an arrangement among retailers and manufacturers, and would increase costs because at the time of shipping (from manufacturer to retailer), these parties would have to designate which products will be shelved in-store and which will be delivered out-of-store. My guess (I am not a retail or shipping expert) is that a retailer ships products that retain anti-theft packaging in order to reduce costs that are not quite outweighed by the increased costs of shipping the additional size and weight of anti-theft packaging. The Best Buy representative's post above suggests a compromise that applies to all customers -- simplifying removal of anti-theft devices, but it would be interesting to see a cost/benefit analysis comprising these strategies. I am not a lawyer, but I wonder what case an out-of-store customer might have for an injury caused from the attempted removal of anti-theft packaging. I don't often see visible warnings about its removal, and again, the packaging adds no security for out-of-store purchases. 891 ShadowWolfMD 2009-08-22 15:37:02 UTC 1 false 838 41 2009-09-02 20:51:59 UTC 6 totally agree.. I've cut my hands on those things many times 963 Mattador315 2009-09-02 20:51:07 UTC 0 false 851 41 2009-09-02 21:43:51 UTC 6 aren't those packages the responsibility of the manufacturer? yes, amazon does it, but only for SOME products so far...yes, these include memory cards, but who can steal those from amazon? i don't think it's cost effective or practical to expect this from best buy, unless memory cards are placed at the cash register as a POS purchase, like Micro Center does. Wear garden gloves or utility gloves when opening hard plastic packaging and you won't bleed. 1001 SMHicks 2009-09-02 21:43:49 UTC 1 false 892 41 2009-09-03 18:10:31 UTC 9 YES!!!!!! 1061 TheHunter117 2009-09-03 18:09:56 UTC 0 false 897 41 2009-09-03 21:09:17 UTC 0 uytdn 1073 Jerry 724 2009-09-03 21:09:17 UTC 0 false 916 41 2009-09-03 21:58:12 UTC 4 I agree but it is still useful to prevent theft and 'box opening'. I believe this is a good idea but really haven't understood the purpose of these 'hard to open' boxes. 1080 AWWang 2009-09-03 21:43:07 UTC 2 false 934 41 2009-09-04 00:00:11 UTC 4 My wife just purchased a set of the Rocketfish earbuds as a replacement for her i-Pod Shuffle. In looking for the availability for some replacement pads, I stumbled across this post. About 5 minutes too late. While I have to applaude the easy opening package, you really need to let it be known that it is there.After she had cut it open as usual, I examined the packaging and found the pull tab. A customer friendly bonus like this needs to be prominent on the package. Personally, I would purchase this product over a similarly priced product simply because the company had taken the customer's experience in to account starting with the package that it is contained in. Not to mention that the plastic seems as if it has been slimmed down a bit to be a little more environmentally friendly. These little bits of information would be nice to have plastered across the package. More than the fact that I can open it without needing stitches, it shows tat the company cares about its customers. Again thanks guys, keep up the good work! 1096 unklfester 2009-09-04 00:00:10 UTC 0 false 935 41 2009-09-04 00:00:56 UTC 7 My wife just purchased a set of the Rocketfish earbuds as a replacement for her i-Pod Shuffle. In looking for the availability for some replacement pads, I stumbled across this post. About 5 minutes too late. While I have to applaude the easy opening package, you really need to let it be known that it is there.After she had cut it open as usual, I examined the packaging and found the pull tab. A customer friendly bonus like this needs to be prominent on the package. Personally, I would purchase this product over a similarly priced product simply because the company had taken the customer's experience in to account starting with the package that it is contained in. Not to mention that the plastic seems as if it has been slimmed down a bit to be a little more environmentally friendly. These little bits of information would be nice to have plastered across the package. More than the fact that I can open it without needing stitches, it shows tat the company cares about its customers. Again thanks guys, keep up the good work! 1096 unklfester 2009-09-04 00:00:10 UTC 0 false 965 41 2009-09-04 19:01:56 UTC 6 this will help out a lot 849 AlexX_Undead 2009-08-13 21:19:15 UTC 68 false 978 41 2009-09-06 15:16:06 UTC 9 You do realize that the manufacture of the product decides that packaging and not Best Buy right? Also, in store theft is not the only theft you need to worry about. I have seen cases of theft that has occured on loading docks when merchandise is being divided and prepared for shipment to different stores. I agree the plastic is a pain in the butt, however, I think it is a necessary evil to try and combat theft and therefor keep prices from skyrocketing. 994 tuttifruty23 2009-09-02 21:24:27 UTC 1 false 1002 41 2009-09-10 14:52:53 UTC 7 Go ahead and keep making them but make them where it's easy to open. Now when returning an item we don't have to bring it back in a ripped box and Best Buy can re use this box without having to seal it in a new one. How easy would that be... 1136 bthrifty 2009-09-10 14:50:06 UTC 1 false 1049 41 2009-09-16 06:55:57 UTC 4 What about this, use the same plastic anti-theft device but also use the easy pull tab built in. they could have it designed so that you only need to cut a corner of the plastic to expose the easy open pull tab. Thus you would maintain the anti-theft part and still be fairly customer friendly. 1169 robert13 2009-09-16 06:55:56 UTC 0 false 1069 41 2009-09-20 14:54:38 UTC 4 Definitely agree with this idea -- there is very little reason not to gradually try to roll easier to use packaging out albeit slowly. 1187 jdcoffman 2009-09-20 14:53:30 UTC 13 false 1128 41 2009-09-22 21:31:44 UTC 6 I have no clue what those are 1196 bsarules 2009-09-22 21:30:46 UTC 3 false 1223 41 2009-10-04 01:48:23 UTC 19 Totally agree. Apple has this one solved for every product the sell. You can open and repackage easily. We should do this on all products we control such as private label products 216 barbo 2009-06-02 18:55:07 UTC 0 false 1229 41 2009-10-04 17:48:41 UTC 16 Then again, barbo, Apple doesn't seem to worry about people walking out of their store with a product without a bag (you can choose not to) or a receipt (you can have it emailed to you). Course there are ways to catch you, but same for any other store. But yes, I love the Apple packaging. It just keeps getting better and better too. Just look at Final Cut and Logic Studio which both have like five discs and manuals for each program in the package all in the little box (big step from the huge box before). Really, the only problems in packaging I've found were the Dynex and the Bose. Dynex has a perforated circle in the back which doesn't do anything cause not only is the cable in the mold itself so you can't take it out, there's a piece of paper blocking the cable and the fact that most of the cables themselves are larger than the hole. And Bose just fails (have to spend like 15 minutes to get it open without mutilating it). 1232 niiro13 2009-10-02 17:05:27 UTC 2 false 1477 41 2009-10-16 15:22:19 UTC 13 No matter what type of packaging or how strong of packaging you use on products, stuff will get stolen. Also, if you're concerned about destroying hands/nails/other body parts to open a product (once you've purchased it), ask an associate at the service desk or on the floor (they might know a secret). 1299 mjr2k 2009-10-16 14:28:37 UTC 24 false 1874 41 2009-11-08 01:32:50 UTC 0 i read people cut their toungs and mouth trying to open them and many people have to go to the emerengcy room because of them 1396 dman4357 2009-11-08 01:32:47 UTC 0 false 1907 41 2009-11-12 21:33:37 UTC 10 Yes, one needs surgical instruments to open these packages! 1412 Rapid Innovation 2009-11-12 21:31:23 UTC 1 false 2015 41 2009-11-19 16:42:45 UTC 0 hahaha... I Hate those things! I have probly destroyed products opening the package more than once!!! Specially when I'm so excited to get into the new item! 1461 TwotallTonio 2009-11-19 16:39:40 UTC 0 false 2119 41 2009-11-26 21:51:55 UTC 6 Is this seriously that big of a concern for people? The plastic packaging? Complain to the manufacturers. Its cheaper for them to use this kind of packaging rather than one that is reusable. If you're trying to open these packages with a pair of scissors or a cutting knife, it will be a PITA. Use a box cutter, snippers, or can opener. 1520 funkpnut 2009-11-25 22:28:01 UTC 2 false 2120 41 2009-11-26 22:01:14 UTC 1 and end up cutting your self, cutting you rself so deep.... no thanks 1219 .Chris 2009-09-29 23:04:43 UTC 235 false 2387 41 2009-12-06 16:46:18 UTC 4 Truly a great idea. I've even been injured quite severely by one of those ridiculous plastic packages. They are a danger! 1613 loker 2009-12-06 16:23:15 UTC 3 false 2478 41 2009-12-15 04:39:42 UTC 0 open it with a blade. simple. your day goes on. 1661 VestalBestBuyJose 2009-12-15 04:33:23 UTC 2 false 2572 41 2009-12-28 05:38:13 UTC 3 I saw a special tool made specifically for opening these kinds of packages at another store and ironically enough could you guess what kind of packaging it came in...? 1741 HB_Dad 2009-12-28 05:24:50 UTC 20 false 2613 41 2010-01-10 05:12:44 UTC 3 come on, i know we can think of a cost-effective re-usable package that is theft resistant... 1806 WilliamX 2010-01-10 05:12:38 UTC 1 false 2614 41 2010-01-10 05:14:41 UTC 3 I know we can think of a cost-effective reusable container method of selling retail items...maybe you pick out the actual item when you leave rather than having everything on the shelves....?? 1806 WilliamX 2010-01-10 05:12:38 UTC 1 false 2654 41 2010-01-25 12:24:23 UTC 3 They use this plastic boxes so nobody steals the small items. I guess that they will not change anyrthing unless they figure out another way of avoiding the stealing. 1877 MaxTD 2010-01-25 12:03:24 UTC 6 false 2723 41 2010-02-04 19:17:13 UTC 4 If the plastic "blister packaging" you guys are speaking of goes away, in store theft will sky rocket, which will drive up prices, and cause you all to say prices are too high ;-) 1981 ThomasGemkow 2010-02-04 19:09:55 UTC 2 false 2738 41 2010-02-07 06:40:05 UTC 2 get the easy open clamshell packaging instead of the old school the new kind tears easily without saws 2009 University of Pi 2010-02-07 06:19:34 UTC 62 false 2803 41 2010-02-18 22:04:36 UTC 0 or at the very least, make them recyclable. do you know how much of that plastic we all throw away each year? 2090 storstygg 2010-02-18 22:03:43 UTC 13 false 2860 41 2010-02-27 17:22:25 UTC 1 They make packaging harder to open because it reduces theft. If we made it easier to steal then the prices on product go up. 2141 twilliam 2010-02-27 17:22:17 UTC 2 false 2861 41 2010-02-28 04:13:45 UTC 0 that is why you use scissors to open the box. durrrr. 2144 thesimplemind 2010-02-28 04:08:12 UTC 10 false 2897 41 2010-03-10 05:09:39 UTC 1 Your completely right. Whenever I buy a product I don't want to have a workout trying to open the plastic. 2215 TheGamer 2010-03-10 04:58:45 UTC 17 false