Come on folks, say it in unison with us: "Finally!" At long last, a company with a little clout has stood up and questioned the necessity of those ridiculous
hard plastic containers that hold
minuscule flash cards and the like (along with plastic twist-ties), and better still, it's already doing something about it. Beginning today, consumers who are tired of borrowing the fire department's Jaws of Life to rescue their new USB drive can opt for products in Amazon's "Frustration-Free Packaging," which utilizes streamlined packaging that often includes recyclable cardboard. 19 products from the likes of Fisher-Price, Mattel, Microsoft and Transcend are currently available in the new containers, and the firm's CEO has a vision of offering its "entire catalog of products in Frustration-Free Packaging" within a few years. Hey, everyone else in the gadget world -- care to hop on a meaningful bandwagon for once?
Read - Frustration-Free Packaging initiative
Read - Frustration-Free Packaging storefront
posted Nov 3rd 2008 8:47AM
Agree 100% with Amazon on this. Boy this could be a really historic week, no hard to open gadgets, black guy becoming a President.
and on top of that I found $5 in one of my coat pockets, truly these are extraordinary times.
:high fives jake, Nice!
It's gonna be historic either way, non white male as President or VP. I'm excited about it regardless of if my candidate wins. The packaging would be icing on the cake.
uh. it's not that hard to open these packages.
maybe if some of you people calmed down and didn't act like ravenous lunatics while opening your precious little gadgets you wouldn't experience this frustration.
see what you did there? I was about to mod you up for supporting a smart idea, but then you decided to use your comments for talking politics in a non-political blog, so I modded you down because you're either begging for flames or you're just a dense div who's off topic.
DVD's with no security labels??? wouldn't that be nice
I want all mine from amazon then.
@Windzilla: you are putting too much value on your presidential election (obviously, so are they, spent 2.4B for it; I think from now on, each $ spend on future election, should be match by a $ to fund either VA or charity).
But, I think amazon should exam its own practice first. I once ordered 4 pair of 1 foot long skews, weight 1 lb and in flat packaging. The dimension is 12x4x0.5 inches approximately. The box that they use to send it is ... 24x12x8 inches. Stuffed with brown paper to pad the box.
@uo:
Actually, for Amazon to have fewer box sizes is far more economical and less wasteful. To have a custom sized box for nearly every eventuality, they'd need to have hundreds of different sizes and have enough stock to keep them going for so many months between production runs. This would waste far more money than the few extra cents paid to UPS for a slightly bigger box to be shipped. Plus, each production run has both fixed and variable consumptions, and fewer production runs reduces the fixed costs.
Sure the box my take up more space in shipping, but it reduces the overall load density that the truck, plane or train has to carry which will reduce fuel usage. And as far as the brown paper, that's far, far more recyclable than the [insert expletive here] plastic foam packing peanuts Newegg uses. For the love of god, Newegg, either switch to paper or use the corn-based peanuts! At least with the corn peanuts, when I get my order, I can throw them in the laundry room sink and spend 5 minutes in glee as they get washed down.
You know what's funny about people saying, "I agree with Amazon" is that manufacturers put product in the plastic cases because the retail resellers request it that way to discourage shoplifting. It's difficult to get it open at home but it's even worse if you're trying to do it in a store so you can pocket the memory card (Seriously, I haven't done this but that's why they have that packaging).
All Amazon is REALLY doing is letting some of the manufacturers off the hook for that packaging and they're probably asking for a lower price as the packaging costs money, too. Now the only issue is any product shipped back will have to be assumed to have been used as the hard plastic packaging is an indicator today. If it wasn't opened, it wasn't used. This is nice from a consumers standpoint but it actually complicates things a little for manufacturers (need to be direct with Amazon, less money (possibly), and acceptance all returns are used, unless they put some other seal on the little plastic case?).
And just in case anyone says that packaging doesn't cost that much, I remind them that neither do memory cards so every little savings is a little more margin...
"Those ridiculous hard plastic containers that hold minuscule flash cards". I think those containers are quite good as they have protected some of my cards when dropped quite a few times. Also what about heat and dust protection when you are not using them.
Engadget, your picture for this article is misleading. We're not talking about the little plastic box your card comes in, we're talking about the bulky packaging that bigger than my hand that the whole shebang gets sealed into. Your links match your statement, but your picture does not. The comments in this little session of replies is proof of confusion.
@adrian click the part where it says "hard plastic containers". You will see what they mean. You can only use this "hard plastic containers". They are not talking about the case.
You know what's funny about your comment...
How do you suppose people can shoplift from Amazon if it has no physical stores? Seeing as how they are completely internet-based, your comment makes no sense.
@kzrice
"manufacturers put product in the plastic cases because the retail resellers request it that way to discourage shoplifting" - You know, the non-online resellers. The Wal-Marts, Targets and Best Buys of the world request the hard plastic to prevent shoplifting. Think about your comment for a while and you might recognize you actually are grasping why Amazon can do this but nobody else can...
Here, I'll try to explain it again... Imagine you make a product and the vast majority of resellers have physical stores so you bend to their will of preventing shoplifting by making the product difficult to get into. This gets you into Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart... You'd rather use easier package to get into because it's cheaper and gives a better experience to consumers but if you don't have those big guys on board because they are sure your stuff will constantly disappear, you've got no business so you put it in a plastic case. Now, rather than manage your inventory with custom packaging for these guys and those guys, you just go across the board with one package even for the online guys. Now this one says, "Hey, we don't have shoplifting concerns! Sell us your product in an easier to open package so we can say we're spearheading this initiative for eliminating waste and difficult packaging!" See, you had it but you kind of didn't... Now, the real catch is if Amazon also said, "Since you don't put our stuff in that expensive plastic packaging, we also want you to pass those savings on to us and not charge us for that part of it." Oh, and you also now have to have another product just for them in your manufacturing process... But that's for ops to screw with so you don't care.
BigD145, you're correct!
I was mad when I saw the article and the picture. "No! I love those little plastic cases! They're not wasteful at all, they're really small and useful!". But I went to Amazon's page for "Transcend TS4GSDHC6E 4 GB SDHC Card (SD 2.0 SPD Class 6) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]" and saw the picture that they had there and realized they are using the tiny plastic case still, just no blister pack or whatever.
Engadget, add a good caption or something or risk confusing more people!
BigD145, you're correct!
I was mad when I saw the article and the picture. "No! I love those little plastic cases! They're not wasteful at all, they're really small and useful!". But I went to Amazon's page for "Transcend TS4GSDHC6E 4 GB SDHC Card (SD 2.0 SPD Class 6) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]" and saw the picture that they had there and realized they are using the tiny plastic case still, just no blister pack or whatever.
Engadget, add a good caption or something or risk confusing more people!
So basically your whole point is that the people who said "I agree with Amazon" don't realize that it's actually not the manufacturer's fault, but the big retailers (i.e. Best Buy, Walmart, etc). Most people I think realize that some of these ridiculously hard to open packages are a result of retailer pressure placed on manufacturers due to shoplifting concerns.
Or they should realize that at least.
The question of cost-benefit obviously is one for the manufacturer. If a company makes enough money from Amazon sales to outweigh the added cost associated with specifically tailoring their packaging for Amazon-only sales, then they will do it.. If not, then they won't obviously. I don't see a problem with this business model at all. Amazon may even lose money over this, but it's a step in the right direction, environmentally, and for the consumer.
Also, your comment about returns -- there is no way Amazon is going to sign up manufacturers to this program and not have an adequate process and means for determining whether a product has been opened, used, etc. How they will do that remains to be seen..
@ kzrice
This packaging is less expensive for a manufacturer. They would have ALWAYS preferred to use less but the brick and mortar retailers required secure packaging. This has LESS cost associated. Imagine you've got your card in your plastic with a paper insert. Now you remove the plastic and the sealing process so all you're left with is the paper and the card. Less expensive. The question then becomes if Amazon points out you pay less for packaging so they want that money in the form of a slightly lower acquisition cost. I can't say that it does happen but if you're selling direct to Amazon (dedicated packaging so I would think you are) then there was a chance for a renegotiation of cost. The manufacturer probably makes the same, when all is said and done. Amazon is, if anything, making more money..but probably not a whole lot. Got some good press here though!
Okay, as for returns, you say Amazon will have a means of knowing whether a product has been opened, used, etc. If they cared, they probably could put something in place but they don't have the time to care. It's not in their best interest to screw around with trying to figure out if product has been used when they'll surely have a contract that allows them to return anything for credit. They'll just ship it back to the manufacturer and get more product they are certain is new. And then the manufacturer has the responsibility of determining if a product was used or not because they cannot resell used product as brand new so, to them, this is important. If the manufacturer is unsure if something is used, they'll mark it as used to be on the safe side. This is what the hard plastic case provided. If the seal is broken, it was used. If it was not, it's still brand-new. That's how they tell the difference.
Hmm, how do I know my product is new VS. used?
All I know is that part of the joy in opening a new Apple product is the unboxing, and knowing that no one has touched it.
Do you know of an Apple product that requires the jaws of life? They have had a big "green" push over there, and I don't find the packaging over-the-top at all.
Don't forget the "new Mac" smell, although that could be anthrax...
Seriously, though, I can't see Apple's products being subjected to this given that the packaging is minimal already. I would, however, like to see this for lots of other products like the HDMI cable I bought a few weeks ago that came in a plastic case that needed dynamite to open. Oddly, the image was fuzzier than I expected...
Does this include the twisty-ties on toys? It takes about 30 minutes to open toys nowadays.
True true, On Christmas it takes about 2 hours for my sister to play with a set of dolls.
1% of price per saved frustration point.
Oops wrong place sorry sorry
Yes, it does. From their front page (since links are now removed even though it says that we can include up to three...)
"Amazon is working with leading manufacturers to deliver products inside smaller, easier-to-open, recyclable cardboard boxes with less packaging material (and no frustrating plastic clamshells or wire ties.)"
As a parent of 5 kids, I feel your pain. Next Christmas, have a small set of wire clippers on hand. It will take the time to open a toy from several minutes, down to about 15 seconds, and your fingers won't get sore.
Thank god! I remember when I bought a MS Pro Duo and it came in an 8"x6" plastic container thing that I had to cut open with a knife. +1 for Amazon.
Amazon FTW!!!!! :D
How much extra do I have to pay to be less frustrated though?
That's exactly what I was thinking.
You people must be reading my mind. Convenience usually comes for a price. One would also think this would cost less since less material is used to package it. This will be interesting to see which side wins. Less stuff, less cost or more convenience, more price.
Considering that this is Amazon, I'm thinking that the price will probably stay the same on our end.
All I can say is, the sooner those plastic "blister packs" go away, the better. I am about to wear out yet another penknife on those things, and I don't know how I would get them open by hand, so I couldn't gift something to a child contained in that, or they couldn't get it open without a knife... just dumb all around.
Give the knife as a second gift xD and teach the kid to use it and then hide it away from the kid
ok
Finally!
OMG! Its about freaking time. it's bad enough waiting for the goodies to get here in the mail only practically destroy it while trying to get it open.
+1 on that. I always am afraid I'm gonna snap the USB stick or stick of RAM in half getting it out of that packaging.
I always thought those plastic forcefields were more for security, i.e. impossible to discretely open and place said flash card on you pocket. Also, for the old switcheroo trick (put a 16GB card in a 512MB box and checkout), it would be impossible. For an online retailer, this would be pointless.
I'm probably way off base, and it has more to do with economics than anything. Money will beat out logic any day of the week.
"impossible to discretely open"
No, just use a box cutter. Oh wait, buying one of those will get you put on a watch list...
Actually, there is a handy dual razor (but safe to use) blister pack opener out there. I got it at thinkgeek, but I am sure others have the thing too. It also makes a great letter opener.
Sandisk has been doing this for about a month. Paper, recyclable packages instead of plastic blisters.
I just hate the term 'green' - Its like a trend. I just prefer, less wasteful or such%tage recyclable.
I agree the "green" moniker might be overused, but if using a buzz word is what it takes, then I say so be it.
It's not a trend, I've been following green movements pretty much since I was bord (79). It may be more mainstream now.. but not a trend at all.
I had gotten in the habit of taking a pair of wire cutters, a hunting knife and trauma shears with me to the family birthday parties and at Christmas. After using the stuff on the food, used it on the presents. Just hope its all recycle friendly.
R
Aren't Amazon the ones who use excessive packaging? Memory card holders are hardly a problem, at least not the ones in the picture. I'm more annoyed with Amazon sending me those memory cards in a huge box.
Yeah, rather ironic that this initiative is from the same company that decided that they needed a gigantic 3 foot long box to put outside of the other box that they put outside of the brita filters I ordered. Seriously. I always find it hilarious that I've never once received one of their "ready to ship" boxes without a gigantic outer box.
That said, I think they might be getting better since I finally received a book from Amazon where they actually were smart enough to use an envelope instead.
You're still getting the little memory card holder/case. Just not the blister pack THAT case came in. Or the Amazon box that blister pack came in - the "frustration-free packaging" box/envelope is the actual box that's shipped to you. Instead of buying a Microsoft mouse and getting it inside of a blister pack inside of a Microsoft box inside of an Amazon shipping box, you now get just the mouse held inside a specially-designed Amazon shipping box.
I repeat: The frustration-free packaging doesn't just replace the annoying brick-and-mortar-friendly boxes with more eco-friendly brown cardboard boxes, those boxes also replace the Amazon shipping box entirely.
It's a good move, I think.
yes!!!!
can they mail the thing in an envelope instead of a big box too?
The purpose of the "blister packs" were so retailers can put expensive stuff on the shelf without having to put those big ass security boxes on them... Rumor back in the early summer was that best buy was going to try a new packaging system this xmas... But i Best Buy management was always full of shit when it comes to good ideas...
I hope they really do some type of redesign... Theres billions of lbs of plastic going stright to the dump... plus it takes a lot of gas and petroleum to cook those up... meaning, higher gas prices = higher cost of production...
Call me cynical, this sounds like an easy way to sell open box items as new.
As long as it works as it should and looks like new and has a full warranty I don't care how many people used it before me. If it smells funny, I'll just return it to the shop xD
@Shingami - Theres a "just like your mom" joke lying somewhere in that comment lol
Oh, yes please!
How about we get rid of all that hard plastic bubble display packaging (usually at 4x the size of the actual product) that is so hard to get into, impossible not to destroy in doing so (so there goes the 'return in original packaging in original condition' demand by retailers/manufacturers) and so impossibly NOT Green? And, while we're add it, let's add retail software packaging that consists of a textbook-sized box containing a single CD and advertising.
usually companies say they are trying to help the environment and consumers with things like this, but it usually just reverts back to saving them money... marketing marketing marketing
This is definitely about saving money, but that doesn't mean it's incompatible with other goals. The ideal would be making these interests align. I'll stop before this gets political.
Actually its a good thing, right? They save a few millions here, a few more there and in the end we get greener products :)
As long as they really make stuff greener at the same price simply ignore the rest.
In all my life I have never, I mean NEVER had any problem opening packages. Someone a long long time ago invented something called sissors. And a genius improved on them and invented something called Kitchen Shears. They make short work of even the worst blister packaging. I laugh at all those fools on youtube and their "wrap rage" videos.
OH and BTW. This isn't "NEW" or "GREEN". All they are doing is reverting back to the cheaper packaging that was used about 15 years ago before blister packs were invented to try and put a stop to theft. Retail blister pasks are not needed in online sales where there is no chance of theft. So they are selling you goods with a lower cost at the same price. It's a way of making more money in a slower global economy, NOT making you happier or the world "greener." That's the scam they are pulling to keep you from realizing it's cost cutting w/o price lowering... and nothing more.
You mean to say that Amazon actually wants me to be able to use that RAM/USB hub/cable/random electronic that I purchased AND have all of my digits left intact?
Heresy.
Yes. As well as the plastic caps, or what ever they called them, they sometimes use instead of twist ties.
Good job Amazon!! 'Bout time someone did this.
Its a good thing. Thanks, amazon!
I bought my PSP-2000 while travelling last year and nearly broke the console trying to get it out of the plastic shell packaging. It was the most pissed if I had been to that point in 2007.
Same company that did this... They've come quite a ways in 2 years!
http://www.boingboing.net/2006/09/08/nine-towels-gets-you.html
im under the impression that the hard to open packaging is somehow a seal of assurance that the item you are buying is original, sometimes you can tell that the item is fake by how clumsy the packaging is, like someone tampered with the item and replaced it with a fake one.
Permanent scar on my arm from one of those packages, jagged edge cut me. I was too lazy to get the scissors.
AMEN!!!! It's about F-ing time!!!! The packaging on most products is ridiculous, I know it's usually for theft prevention, but still use cheaper packaging, less of it , etc and save the planet all the Way, besides, try to get out of a Frys without a receipt LMAO!!! very hard to do if at all.....Just Saying
They should totally do one of those ads showing people decapitating themselves, dismembering themselves, boxcutter flying across the room killing the cat, your new gadget flying out the window as the packaging finally gives way in a burst of potential energy and smacks a car in the windshield causing an ensuing 50 car pileup... Are you tired of all this... click now!
About 6 months ago, Sandisk changed their packaging on their Sansa MP3 players from blister wrap to cardboard packaging with a plastic (non-sealed) insert. Guess what happened? Astronomical theft on their MP3 players. So high even, that iPod theft didn't even come close.
It took them almost 5 months, but they realized their error, and switched back to blister wrap. Stores weren't selling any Sansas because they were all getting stolen, so the stores wouldn't order anymore/as many.
Moral of the story: This may work on Amazon, but not in B&M stores.
This only proves that brick and mortar stores are amongst the dumbest things ever. That customers must be walking around amongst the stock is simply a preposterous waste of time.
I love walking amongst the gadgets. Makes me all tingly inside.
there's really only one thing wrong with this...
all the brands that have cheap electronics aren't included in the "Frustration-Free Packaging" so they won't charge you more, but if you want easy to open your gonna need to shell out more for a higher name brand.
personally i don't mind the packaging. i'd prefer not having it, but i could save money and have to deal with it, then i know where i'm leaning towards
I don't know about this. I actually get excited when trying to wrestle with my hard-to-open packages. It makes when I actually get to use the product even more sweeter.
Uhmm...I love my boxes...
Finally!
I was away on business and needed a knife (Thanks TSA)
New knife came in a blister pack.
Discovered my teeth are stronger than I thought...
This is such an obvious idea. We need Newegg to hop on board. The only reason for that excessive packaging is for products is for display and loss prevention in a brick and mortar retail establishment. As more and more shopping goes online, there is no reason to keep this packaging. We can save everyone a lot of money and hassle by getting rid of it.
That's great. But are they still going to sendmy microSD card in a shipping box large enough to hold a blender?
No. Do you see that Amazon envelope in the picture? That's what it's mailed to you in.
All you get is that envelope, the memory card and keep case, and that the Transcend instruction card. You don't get anything that's not shown in that picture at all.
Last week, I bought a generic two-billion-in-one card reader and, as has become customary, used a pair of scissors to cut the entire package in half, inadvertently slicing through the driver disc in the process. I completely support this change.
About a year ago, I invested in the best pair of shears, they are spring loaded, have rubber grips, and can cut through anything! So the plastic packaging is not as annoying as it used to be, but it will be nice to have to deal with less of it! Go Amazon!
Now we will get used items. instead of new
here is a memory card package i saw at Walmart a couple of years ago (yes, when a 256MB SD card was $39.99).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/harish/2999205157/
Thanks amazon.
Oh... my... god, YES!
No more plastic cuts I hope.
nice move amazon!!
i would rather pay a little bid more for less frustration and less time consuming packing.
its time for greenpeace to do something on it, right?
This is a pretty cool notion. I know that Sennheiser's already gone forward with this, because for my birthday I got my CX 300s in a tidy cardboard package. There was one problem though: being completely cardboard, there were something like six cardboard sheets inside the box, with the rest of the tips precariously held through all of those layers. They were practically falling out of the box. :/
Having said that, it isn't really an issue for people with common sense with control over their hands.
I just hope that costco will also change or get rid those things that the
video games have after seeing this.
Finally, the day I'll finally stop cutting myself with those packaging is coming!
BigD145, you're correct!
I was mad when I saw the article and the picture. "No! I love those little plastic cases! They're not wasteful at all, they're really small and useful!". But I went to Amazon's page for "Transcend TS4GSDHC6E 4 GB SDHC Card (SD 2.0 SPD Class 6) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]" and saw the picture that they had there and realized they are using the tiny plastic case still, just no blister pack or whatever.
Engadget, add a good caption or something or risk confusing more people!
I was out driving around dusk, and a headlamp blew. I went into Wal-Mart and bought a replacement pair. I didn't have any tools with me, and it took 15 minutes in an ever-darkening parking lot, to get the packet open. I hope I didn't teach too many kids too many bad words.
It's really idiotic though, and why we generate so much more crap for the landfill that we did years ago, when most everything came in a paper bag.
LOL I had that same situation a few years ago with a pair of Silverstars I bought for my car. I think now I see that they have the "pop open" blister packs, but back then I had to open the bubble pack with a friggin' dull screwdriver. A few cuts here and there. I'm just glad there'll be more options to waste less with this.
I'm torn about the issue.. I dislike the packaging, but I like knowing all the cuts and scraps I get opening it up are proof that my product was truly brand new, sealed and untampered with.
So basically your whole point is that the people who said "I agree with Amazon" don't realize that it's actually not the manufacturer's fault, but the big retailers (i.e. Best Buy, Walmart, etc). Most people I think realize that some of these ridiculously hard to open packages are a result of retailer pressure placed on manufacturers due to shoplifting concerns.
Or they should realize that at least.
The question of cost-benefit obviously is one for the manufacturer. If a company makes enough money from Amazon sales to outweigh the added cost associated with specifically tailoring their packaging for Amazon-only sales, then they will do it.. If not, then they won't obviously. I don't see a problem with this business model at all. Amazon may even lose money over this, but it's a step in the right direction, environmentally, and for the consumer.
Also, your comment about returns -- there is no way Amazon is going to sign up manufacturers to this program and not have an adequate process and means for determining whether a product has been opened, used, etc. How they will do that remains to be seen..
My company's products are from Japan, not a big shoplifiting problem over there, and it is very easy to get into the packaging. Our theft rate from one retailer was 20%. We did $5 million in actual sales with that one retailer. Over $1.2 million in product was stolen from the stores. That is huge, nearly half our profit.
We had to change to a blister pack. We've been getting complaints but our old packaging was putting us out of business. The problem is even with security checks in most stores they have a policy not to chase shoplifters. They have to call the police and wait.
Little products have huge cardboard backing because all you need is a magnet to disable the security tags. It is hard to put a big cardboard package in your pocket.
Wow - this is brilliant and inspiring from Amazon. We are about to start selling there and we are SO joining in!
They've finally heard enough complaints of bloody fingers from the sharp edges of the clear plastic packages. I don't know what to do with my utility knife now.
Well, it does make common sense to put things in packaging that can be opened easy. Have you ever bought an item that comes in a sealed hard plastic cover. They are a nightmare to open, and you need a knife to cut it open.
http://www.mrgtb.com
Yippee, this is an historic day. As for the comments about that packaging being used to deter shoplifting...well, maybe in the beginning, but these days everything is packaged in those ridiculous hard to open plastic shells, even items much to large to shove into a purse or backpack. It takes an utility knife to get your product and then you've totally destroyed the packaging. I had become to believe that the true use was to deter returns. I am already a frequent customer of Amazon, but this just cements the relationship. I hope more companies follow suit.
you ask, "Hey, everyone else in the gadget world -- care to hop on a meaningful bandwagon for once?"
to borrow from the next president of the united states, i reply, "Yes we can."
Whenever I buy something that come in this kind of packaging, I just ask the emo kid next door to open it for me.
He gets to rip his hands to shreds, I get my gadget and keep my fingernails in one piece.
Win Win scenario!
@Mark. I know what you mean now thanks. The article picture is a bit misleading though.