So you get home from the store with a brand new CD, or the CD you ordered finally arrives in the mail. That would make you happy.
Then comes the BIG dissappointment. The plastic wrap on the CD refuses to come off! You don't really want to take a razor blade to cut it because it would probably ruin the jewel case, the case that the CD comes in. Finally, when you finally get a rip in that plastic wrap, & carefully start making headway, the piece you are holding onto just tears away. Finally, you're struggling, carefully clawing at the plastic wrap & have it come off in pieces. Then just when you get half of it off, you start trying to pull out the CD & casing from the rest of the stubborn wrapper. After more struggling, you finally get the wrapper off.
Just when you think you're done, you find another obstacle, that being that sticky scotch-tape-like thingie on the top of the jewel case that won't let you open it. You find that tab that says "PULL" stuck to the case also. Then you struggle to get that off, one sliver or small piece at a time.
By the time it's all done, you may find yourself too pooped out to listen to the CD that you were looking forwards to listening to. That seems to be an advantage of brand new.
[question posted by KrazyKlingon]
responses and comments:
I have found this with most packaging these days, I often wonder how little old ladies who live on their own get along in opening some things these days. [lilaclady]
I think I am one of those little old ladies. But this little old lady has a really sharp pocket knife. I use it a lot to open things. I love my pocket knife. It is so handy. [royal52gens]
ha ha this was fun to read.to see it from a funny side it is really funny but i do know what you mean and yeah i think you are absolutely right about it. [dbeast]
I know just what you mean. I really hate buying a lot of these new things for this reason. Usually when I buy things like this I take them home and hand them to one of my kids. They can get them out of the package. I'll take them once they are out! [kelly60]
There you go if you can't open it then a child surely can LOL they can do more then they are given credit for I like your answer it is very good. [funnysis]
I cut the shrinkwrap off using a pen, down the slit on the front (next to the spine) where the case opens, that usually works ok. Fortunatly UK cds don't have that extra strip of tape, it's only occasionally on imported albums, that is fiddley and annoying. Another thing that's annoying, trying to peel off cds that are stuck to the front of magazines with strong glue, without ripping the magazine or leaving the glue on it. The best way is to try and cut the cd out of the shrink wrap with out damaging the case, then gently pull the plastic off the magazine, so hopefully the glue omes off with it, but this doesn't always work. [jend80]
ill just destroy the case if i have to. Thats not the part that I want, its whats inside!! [06sport]
hmm this makes me think on how long t's been since I opened a cd like that. I bought one yesterday but it had no wrapping. [Lunerian]
Sorry, I gotta forgo the stress of all that and use a tiny box cutter to cut the cellophane and tape carefully along the side of the case between the cracks. [visitorinvasion]
Yes that crap is very annoying. I have fought with them CD wrappings more than i care to tell. It is one very upsetting nerve wrecking thing lol. [lisa101]
I just go for the nice. I do not like to struggle with things [liperoterachel]
I guess I am lucky I have never had that problem first to get the plastic wrap off easy you take a tooth pick and get under theedge on the end and poke the hole there that allows it to come off easy and as for the sticky tape once you found the tab pull up one side then pull the other side off in less the 60 seconds I am listening to my new cd sorry that you had a hard one its like a puzzle you just have to put the pieces together right. [funnysis]
I'm sorry you had to go through that exasperating experience. It was a kill-joy and made you not want to play the cd. I hope you had fun listening to the cd the next day. I had the same problem a few years ago. It was really frustrating. It could be that the shrink-wrap was heated a little longer than normal. [petspets]
i gave you a big + for this one. i hate hate HATE the wrappings on them.i have taken my knife to the edges to get them open. some of them are like those cube mazes to get all of it off. there's a store near me that adds the hard plastic boxes on the outside also in addition to all the inner wrappings..ARGH!! [scarlet_woman]
Sorry K.K. I don´t really understand your problems here maybe they are different pack up in our country which I can´t believe but I normaly don´t have those problems in geting ride of the plastic wraping. I just hate those stickers on the CD but if you heat them up just a little with a lighter then they come of quite easly. Still I´m not a fan of CD´s i love music listening from a record. [Lewah69]
That's hysterically funny..oh, yes, those delightful plastic wrapping on CD's are the pits..and the scotch tape stuff all around...even worse is all the wrapping on DVDs [pyewacket]
I think you have finally figured out that it's not just getting to the CD that's tough as soon as you get home with your new item. [KrazyKlingon]
PMSL - oh how very, very true. Your post had me laughing so much hun, simply because it is all true and fighting to get a cd out of the wrapper could qualify as an Olympic sport sometimes. [recycledgoth]
While in the process of trying to get to that CD, it is no laughing matter. However, the uncontrollable laughter sets in when talking & whining about how tough it is. [KrazyKlingon]
My son Ross bought a CD last week i ASDA he noticed when he came home that they had left the plastic security tag thingy on it , Ross has CP and tried to get the box open but it burst a bit but the stupid tag was still on lot , WE took it back a couple of days ago , the girl asked him if the CD were oh , DUHH! he had just explained he couldn't get it open , he said I can't tell you BECAUSE I couldn't get it out of the case , . How stupid can some people be and this was a supervisor , They were OK though and he got a replacement . I have a nail file I use to open CD's its much easier and no scratched cases xx [weemam]
If it had been me I would have needed toilet roll if you get my drift lol xx [weemam]
Despite all this, and I do agree with you about the frustrations of packaging, there's something about owning a proper cd or dvd with all the correct jewel case inserts etc., and the correct printing, rather than the soullessness of a ripped off copy or download onto an anonymous blank disc. I used to enjoy the same sensation with vinyl lp's in their pristine sleeves. Happy days, long gone! [Noot54]
With the vinyl lp's (I at times get people laughing when I call them VD's for vinyl disks.) all I did was slit the opening carefully, & slide out the record. Wasn't it funny that the recrod was nice & scratchy, & we enjoyed the music & never noticed the scratches, & then when CD's first came out, & it was mentioned about the CD's cleaner sound, that's when we've heard the snap, crackle & pop? [KrazyKlingon]
LMAO... and this my dear is the main reason I download music from the internet now. That and I hate buying CD's just to have like 3 songs on the whole thing that are worth listening to. I figure If I'm gonna pay $19 for something I'm gonna get something I want. I love the internet its the only way to do music right. [devilsangel]
That happens to me all the time. I went out and bought myself a razor blade that I use just for my cds and dvds. I have a stock pile of spare jewel cases for both. I have only had to replace one cd case and that is only because my brother stepped on the bag getting out of the van. LOL I just run the razor across the top, digging deep enough to cut the plastic and then once more to slice the tape thingy. The only thing worse than opening a cd is opening a cassette tape. I don't know if they still do it because I haven't seen a cassette in awhile but they used to come in these hard to cut plastic containers that were a pain right in the rump to get open. LOL Here is one for you. I bought the movie bambi for my nieces for christmas. They opened it up and were getting ready to watch it and what do you know the case was empty. The mass producing machinge managed to tape and seal in plastic an empty dvd case. LOL Needless to say we were very upset because we wanted to watch bambi together (yes i was going to watch with them, that is my all time favorite disney movie). I ended up going home and getting my copy for them. A couple of months ago (probably longer) I went and bought a new copy for myself. :) [mahmah]
All this is good because you can be sure that you are the first to listen to or use the CD. This extra protection ensures that you are getting a good product. [takkea]
Well I don't know if this was the reaction you intended but I sat here and started reading the post, then thought get to the point already but as the description went on I began to smile and finally chuckle. Can't help it but been there done that. Though I have found that if you take the tip of a nail file, or something with a slightly pointed edge to the top where the plastic is folded over, you know the thin side of the cd package, and stick it in there you and sometimes get the tearing started before the major frustration starts. Unless of course the major frustration already started because you order this thing by mail and before you struggled to get the plastic off the cd, you had to struggle to get the cd out of the mailer. And yes by time you are done, you just don't want to listen any more, and this is not only true for cd's but also for DVD's. thanks for the smile and laugh. [nowment]
I do agree with you, but then that is the case with anything in life is to not be so impatient that you do more harm trying to rush to get what you want. [nowment]
I have found a real smooth way to eliminate the problem entirely...I go to ITunes and download the music. I get it immediately, no wrapping and nothing goes into a landfill. The way I see it everyone wins when I do this. [Debs_place]
There used to be a few used CD stores in my area, but it seems that all of the ones I knew of have closed. The CD's were almost always in great condition, half the price compared to buying new, & no wrapping to have to go insane about. [KrazyKlingon]
LOL that was very descriptive! I have no patience so I just tear it off with my teeth rather than pick away at it. If you can get the little fold at the corner between your teeth to start it off it's pretty easy. I've swallowed a few bits of cellophane but it hasn't done me any harm ... yet! [Stiletto]
What bugs me about downloading stuff (apart from the fact you miss out on all the little bits and pieces that come with the "real thing") is I end up with just this tatty looking pile of discs with music all jumbled up on them - no labels, no idea what's on them. Of course I could be more organised but the fact is I know that won't happen! I do download but I still buy a LOT of CD's and Records. I sell second-hand vinyl and CD's so I regularly attend Music Fairs where I pick up a lot of bargains. I'm trying to cut down on what I buy though as I'm supposed to be making money at these things - not spending it! [Stiletto]
Actually you use a tooth pick to poke a hole in the plastic and then you don't have the worry of scratching on the cd cover.Now also take into account that your cd is new and hope there are no scratches on the cd it self.I had that happen once and another time wal mart run it over there sesurity thing and it blanked out the cd.Hope this will help you.Good Luck in the future. [funnysis]
I'm not much for buying cd's but I do buy a lot of dvd's and herein we have the same problem! I have found the easiest way to unwrap them is to take a pen knife and run it along the opening between the two halves. Then the outer plastic falls right off with little help and the sticky security tapes are split so when you open the case you can get at the edge and slowly peel them off. This is no guarantee of ease though as I have ruined the clear plastic label covers several times in my efforts to remove all the security tape! [SKSOUTH]
Yeah - quite a few things nowadays is tough to open. Not just the wrappings on the CD & DVD cases. Quite a few things come in this strange plastic casing that is very tough to get open unless you can carefully cut it open with a razorblade or a very sharp pen knife. [KrazyKlingon]
I know two helpful tricks for opening new CDs. The first is really odd, and the second is a little more normal. The best way to get a CD out of the plastic wrap is to roll down the car window about halfway, and then quickly rub the bottom of the CD back and forth across the top of the window glass. It doesn't scratch up the CD case, but it will shred the bottom of the plastic wrap, usually enough to remove it more easily. As for the sticker across the top of the case, if you pop the front and the back of the CD apart at the hinges (gently, of course), you can open the case with the sticker as the hinge, and it's much easier to peel off when you get a grip on that middle portion. I really hate opening new CDs, but this makes it a bit easier. :) [scarywhitegirl]
They used to make/sell a special cutter that was supposed to make it easier to get that wrapping off CD's. However, that seemed to have actually made it even tougher. I never bought one of those, so I cannot speak from my own experience. [KrazyKlingon]
I am sorry but I have to tell you that I am laughing at that situation. I can not say that I have had to deal wit that problem in a long time. OK, so it is because I have only bought about 5 CDs in the past few years. It is also because the ones I have bought I haded to my oldest nephew and he "does daddy's trick." Which means that he sticks one end of the CD case in his mouth and bites at the plastic until he has it ripped open throwing the bits of plastic at me all the while. [razcal2267]
Male ... meets female Then go out for to gulp some ale ... [KrazyKlingon]
My problem is with quick-eze antacid chews, If I need one then I need it real quick as the reflux from my hiatius hernia is most discomforting yet they wrap them up so they can go into space and are waterproof to a 1000 metres. Useually I get frustrated and use my teeth to try bust in and when it lets go I end up with these chews flying into the air going everywhere. [spasticseagulls]
Problem with child-proof bottles is that they are the only ones that can open them. [Eskimo]
hehhe this is funny..I find this when I get parcels in the post..it is an on goiong unwrapping frustration thing. I always have trouble unwrapping the tea parcels my beloved sends me from the U.S lol. Can feel the anxiety already hitting me just reading this hahaha.. [yanjiaren]
At times, it does seem that it's wrapped up so much to protect it during shipping & handling that it does get frustrating to open. I would not be surprised if the packaging was more expensive than the parcels & the shipping costs. [KrazyKlingon]
There is too much packaging these days anyway, which causes massive pollution and fills up rubbish bins as well. Its time everything had the minimum of packaging to protect it. It also seems that the packaging is designed not to be easily removed or to cause damage when removing it. [Eskimo]
About the minimum packaging, that does bring up another point. It is true that overdoing it with the packaging seems to be a problem. [KrazyKlingon]
LOL Yes I hate the way they package CD's these days. I run my lighter across the plastic to melt a bit of it, then try to rip it off. And have you bought a Barbie doll lately!? The youngster is just wanting to play with her new toy and while you are trying to untwist 10 twist ties and un-sew her hair from the box, and... well the child will be a squalling mess or have completely for gotten the doll my the time you get it out! [tammyr]
It seems that the packaging of a lot of things is done in such a way that it's at least difficult to get at the item itself. I purchased a Western Digital Paasport hard drive, but probably from getting it out of the plastic packaging, I probably damaged it. Being that I had just bought it, & I was able to get it replaced for free, it still costed in time & gas to go to the place I purchased it from, & get an exchange. The way things are packaged today, it can be hard to not cause damage to the specific item while trying to get it out of the package. [KrazyKlingon]
ROFLMAO Sounds like you've been watching me when I unwrap a CD. I've had that experience more times than I care to count. [ycanteye]
Yeah - not just CD's. Quite a few DVD's are just as bad also. Someone else also mentioned that plastic that things now come in, something I didn't think of at the time I started the discussion. Only way to open up those things is with a pair of shears, or ruin a pair of scissors. [KrazyKlingon]
Take the CD and scrape it hard against your kitchen counter's corner. The jagged edge of the plastic CD jewel case plus the edge of the kitchen counter will tear both the plastic wrap and the little sticker thing across the front of the CD wrapper. Works every time. Or there is a plastic gizmo I see on infomercials every now and again that cuts through that. Forget what it's called. [MooPile]
It would work, if the kitchen counter had corners. Mine are rounded off. Also, that gizmo doesn't work very well, unless you actually know how to use it. I would not be surprised if what they show on the infomercials is something like "Take 10,000" with the other 9,000 usable for episodes of "Bloopers & Practical Jokes." [KrazyKlingon]
Run it along a sharp edge of your counter or a table. The jagged part of the top of the jewel case plus the edge of the table or cabinet will rip both the cellophane wrap plus the plastic sticky pull tab on the inside of the wrapping. Or you could go out and spend a lot of money on one of those gadgets that rip both layers off. It's basically a glorified box cutter. [MooPile]
Oopsie ... you sure did. I guess it was important enough that it had to be said twice? lol Solved that problem somewhat by buying CD's from a used CD store. There's noo wrapper to worry about, no stickly-strip on the top of the CD case, AND ... the big bonus is that it's half the price compared to buying a brand new CD. [KrazyKlingon]
Yes, if that kind of thing happens you just feel so frustrating. The worse thing happen to me with CD every now and then is with the CD I get from Netflix in mail. I will be waiting for a movie and when I open the envelop there will be a broken CD. I just feel terrible at that time. [sweetlady10]
Well - I don't hink Netflix would be sending it out like that. It sounds to me like the mail carrier (assuming that it is the US Postal Service that delivers the CD's from their place to you) that keeps breaking them, probably by mishandling. Either way, it can add to the frustration when after being careful & patient when opening the package, the CD is broken anyway. [KrazyKlingon]
Actually I think it's kind of fun, although I hardly ever buy cd's anymore, but I do buy DVD's/BluRays, it's like a puzzle sometimes, I do get frustrated, but I still enjoy myself, that may sound weird...but maybe I just like tearing into stuff... I don't really know. [CallieWVU2]
Now that's a great spirit, nice, positive attitude. happy Next time I find myself needing to open a brand new CD or DVD, I got to try to remember this. [KrazyKlingon]
I don't have that trouble as much anymore since I got into illegal music downloads... [myklj999]
I hate opening the DVDs, CDs, and even Toys at Christmas. I swear they want us to spend more time at Christmas getting the dang toys out of the package for the kids than, the kids spend playing with it. I hate bringing home a brand new DVD and wanting to watch the movie just to be so wore out by the time I get it open that I cant even put the popcorn in the microwave. Its bad when your to pooped to pop just from the package. [angreme]
Nowadays, it seems that it's not just CD's & DVD's that give us a hard time at getting to the desired product. Quite a few things come in this strange plastic packaging that was probably thought of by some sadistic pig. [KrazyKlingon]
Dear shoplifters, thanks for making things such that manufacturers felt they had to put all this wrapping crap on there. The environment thanks you too. Yeah, it's a flat out pain you know where, what what are you going to do? [dawnald]
LOL...So true with the CD cases.I hate all the plastic and tape.By the time I get the thing opened I am not much in the mood for the music. [TheMist]
Yes its fun to laugh until he happens to you.Then its time to pout.lol [TheMist]
Having some issues there, Krazy. lol I've stopped buying CDs soon after getting my first computer and finding out I can download individual songs. I hated having to buy the whole CD just for one or 2 songs I liked on it. Rather just download what I like and burn to CD to listen in my car while working. [blackbriar]
You're as bad as I am - hardly watching TV, but on the computer a lot instead. [KrazyKlingon]