Inconvenient packaging (I'm looking at you, Domino Sugar)

[Malienation]

I do a fair share of baking, so I ran out of sugar. Off to the store. While I was there, I noticed Domino Sugar has sugar packaged in a convenient plastic container (short and squat, low center of gravity to avoid spilling). :)

A 4 lb. container of sugar! What's wrong with this picture? :mad:

Now, the next time I buy a 5 lb. bag of sugar in the usual paper bag, the fucking sugar won't fit in the container.

But wait! I have foiled the evil overlords at Domino Sugar! :D See, I've got a large container that I keep confectioner's sugar in, and which is large enough for a 5 lb. bag of sugar. So, I put the granulated sugar in the larger container and the confectioner's sugar in the Domino's container. Confectioner's sugar is normally sold in quantities of 1 or 2 lbs., so there's no problem. But what about other people not blessed with such a container? Why oh why must they torment them so... :(

[percussion]

I do a fair share of baking, so I ran out of sugar. Off to the store. While I was there, I noticed Domino Sugar has sugar packaged in a convenient plastic container (short and squat, low center of gravity to avoid spilling). :)

A 4 lb. container of sugar! What's wrong with this picture? :mad:

Now, the next time I buy a 5 lb. bag of sugar in the usual paper bag, the fucking sugar won't fit in the container.

But wait! I have foiled the evil overlords at Domino Sugar! :D See, I've got a large container that I keep confectioner's sugar in, and which is large enough for a 5 lb. bag of sugar. So, I put the granulated sugar in the larger container and the confectioner's sugar in the Domino's container. Confectioner's sugar is normally sold in quantities of 1 or 2 lbs., so there's no problem. But what about other people not blessed with such a container? Why oh why must they torment them so... :(


http : // www . 80stvthemes . com/ra/TPIRLOSE.ra

thats what went off in my mind after reading this..

[Sarahfeena]

It's weird, but I have noticed a lot of sugar is now packaged in 4-pound bags instead of 5-pound...even in the traditional paper-bag style packages. I think it's a way of jacking up the price without people realizing it (how many people are really going to notice that the bag is now 4 pounds instead of 5? When you eyeball it, it looks about the same.)

[Ruby]

I noticed this in the mid 80's when I was the Coupon Queen. A local grocer was advertising an insanely good price on sugar. I get to the store only to find it was a 4 lb. bag. Annoyance ensued.

Now I use that phrase to describe anything that falls short of the mark. "Oh, your case of pop is only 20 cans now...well that's just a 4 lb. bag of sugar."

[eleanorigby]

We've only had 4 lb bags available for some time. I suppose you can get 5 lb bags, if you hunt for them.

it's called downsizing (or something); I call it corporate rip off-candy bars, tampons, and now flour and sugar.


Can't wait until a "pound" of butter isn't...

[Sean Factotum]

http : // www . 80stvthemes . com/ra/TPIRLOSE.ra

thats what went off in my mind after reading this..
Hey, thanks for the link that automatically downloads something to the harddrive without even asking if it's okay. Appreciate it, pal.

[eleanorigby]

lordy-and I almost clicked on it. Thanks (and sorry, Sean).

[cckerberos]

Hey, thanks for the link that automatically downloads something to the harddrive without even asking if it's okay. Appreciate it, pal.
The link didn't do that; your browser did.

[Zsofia]

Tupperware, man. You get a canister set. The flour goes in the big one, then the sugar, and the smaller ones take confectioner's sugar or brown sugar or cornmeal or whatever.

[percussion]

that link is clean, its just a RA file....mabye you guys really do fuss over sugar!!

[Cartooniverse]

Why oh why must they torment them so... :(

1. Because it's fun !

2. Because they believe that most folks will have that container, buy a 5 lb bag, pour out some of that five pounds to bake something with and then need to store the rest in their moisture-proof container.

It isn't made to hold five pounds because it rarely is used to hold a full five pounds. The sugar ( and flour as well ) starts to cake up from moisture only after the bag is torn open.

I just walked over and checked, since it's the season to be buying more of this stuff. Both my Shop Rite bags of flour and sugar are 5 pounds.

Cartooniverse

[Tikki]

We've only had 4 lb bags available for some time. I suppose you can get 5 lb bags, if you hunt for them.

it's called downsizing (or something); I call it corporate rip off-candy bars, tampons, and now flour and sugar.


Can't wait until a "pound" of butter isn't...

Hrumph! What burns me is ice cream. What looks like a half gallon usually isn't anymore.

[Patty O'Furniture]

I call it corporate rip off-candy bars, tampons, and now flour and sugar.

Rip off tampons? That sounds ungodly painful.

[danceswithcats]

Labatts screws you out of a bottle of beer with every case-instead of 12 oz. they're only 11.5. Thievin' bastids!

[Captain Carrot]

that link is clean, its just a RA file....mabye you guys really do fuss over sugar!!

That's not the issue, bub. People object to having stuff automatically put on their computer without their permission no matter what it is, because it's their bloody computer. I don't care if it's a video of puppies and kittens playing with babies, I want to choose whether or not I watch it personally.

[Cat Whisperer]

I thought you were going to rant about that incredibly tough plastic that all electronics stuff come in these days. I got a nice cut on my thumb from opening the package that our new USB printer cable came in, once I wrestled with the scissors to hack my way in. There's no good method to get these packages open, either - just get the scissors and start cutting. And if the package is large enough, you'll reach a point where the scissors are getting stuck inside the tough plastic that won't bend enough for you to continue moving the handles of the scissors...

[Max Torque]

Now, the next time I buy a 5 lb. bag of sugar in the usual paper bag, the fucking sugar won't fit in the container.
I think you've hit upon the reason behind their four-pound container. They're hoping that you'll be forced to buy their brand in the future, since their brand is sold in a quantity that will fit in their container. You'll be locked in.

[MacTech]

I thought you were going to rant about that incredibly tough plastic that all electronics stuff come in these days. I got a nice cut on my thumb from opening the package that our new USB printer cable came in, once I wrestled with the scissors to hack my way in. There's no good method to get these packages open

I disagree (http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=17), a hawkbill knife (http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=3) makes short work (http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=215) of those insipid clamshell and ultrasonicly welded packages, hook the tip into the packaging and just unzip, the point of the knife faces away from the product inside the packaging and away from you when you cut away from yourself....

[cckerberos]

I don't care if it's a video of puppies and kittens playing with babies, I want to choose whether or not I watch it personally.
Then tell your browser not to automatically download RA files.

[Cleophus]

That's not the issue, bub. People object to having stuff automatically put on their computer without their permission no matter what it is, because it's their bloody computer. I don't care if it's a video of puppies and kittens playing with babies, I want to choose whether or not I watch it personally.
It's a direct link to the movie. You "give permission" and "personally" choose to watch by clicking on the link. It's just like a link to a PDF or an image.

Anyway, I second the vote for electronics packaging. Just do what thieves do (you don't think the packaging actually stops them, do you?) and keep a razor handy to slice open the front of the packaging.

I also argue that memory cards (packaging for data, as it were) are fiendishly inconvenient. There are at least five types in general use, with a number of variants for several, and no sign of unification. Dominos is doing to dry goods what the computer industry has been doing with its products since the beginning.

[Cartooniverse]

And if the package is large enough, you'll reach a point where the scissors are getting stuck inside the tough plastic that won't bend enough for you to continue moving the handles of the scissors...

I would pay good money to see you in a zip-up sleeping bag. :p

I detest those blister packs as well. I tend to use a matte knife, veerrry slowly- or I cut with scissors just inside the seal line but all the way around three sides. Otherwise yeah, one can be injured.

[Sarahfeena]

I would pay good money to see you in a zip-up sleeping bag. :p

I detest those blister packs as well. I tend to use a matte knife, veerrry slowly- or I cut with scissors just inside the seal line but all the way around three sides. Otherwise yeah, one can be injured. I saw an ad on TV the other day for a device that is specifically designed to open those things. Bet they will sell a million of them.

[Biffy the Elephant Shrew]

A 4 lb. container of sugar! What's wrong with this picture? :mad:

Now, the next time I buy a 5 lb. bag of sugar in the usual paper bag, the fucking sugar won't fit in the container.
It's like the ten hot dogs/eight buns conundrum. You're supposed to buy five of the plastic containers and four bags of sugar.

[lizardling]

I disagree (http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=17), a hawkbill knife (http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=3) makes short work (http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=215) of those insipid clamshell and ultrasonicly welded packages, hook the tip into the packaging and just unzip, the point of the knife faces away from the product inside the packaging and away from you when you cut away from yourself....

...As opposed as toward one's crotch. :D

That said, I agree -- that's the only reason I have a 4" lockback knife around -- to SYSTEMATICALLY EVISCERATE, BUTTERFLY, AND DISMEMBER those ungodly packages.

[Anastasaeon]

Hrumph! What burns me is ice cream. What looks like a half gallon usually isn't anymore.

And it has turnips in it.

[kaylasdad99]

Hrumph! What burns me is ice cream. What looks like a half gallon usually isn't anymore.Preach it. (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7108674&postcount=58)

[kaylasdad99]

Anybody else notice that a quart of Best Foods (Hellman's east of the Rockies) mayonnaise is thirty ounces these days?

[Mayo Speaks!]

We've only had 4 lb bags available for some time. I suppose you can get 5 lb bags, if you hunt for them.

it's called downsizing (or something); I call it corporate rip off-candy bars, tampons, and now flour and sugar.


Can't wait until a "pound" of butter isn't...(Emphasis added)

The Kit-Kat candy bar has the words "Kit-Kat" imprinted in it. That robs you of chocolate! That's a clever chocolate-saving technique. I'm gonna go to the factory and tell them, "You owe me some letters!" [/Mitch Hedburg]

[Cartooniverse]

Anybody else notice that a quart of Best Foods (Hellman's east of the Rockies) mayonnaise is thirty ounces these days?

I live east of the Rockies. I have two jars of Hellman's Mayonnaise in the fridge.

Do I live too far east???

[Cat Whisperer]

I would pay good money to see you in a zip-up sleeping bag. :p
<snip>
Yeah, that's what they all say.

:D

I dunno; razor blades, hawksbill knives; some of us just can't handle sharp stuff without blood loss, you know? "Great - I got the package open; now, if they can just re-attach my finger..."
Maybe I'll just get my husband to open them. He doesn't seem to hurt himself nearly as much.

[silenus]

Packaging should not need explosives to open, nor a certain skill with sharp objects. No matter what I use to open clamshell plastic packages, I usually end up cutting myself...on the plastic!

[Sarahfeena]

I live east of the Rockies. I have two jars of Hellman's Mayonnaise in the fridge.

Do I live too far east??? I think he means that it's Hellman's east of the Rockies, and Best Foods west of the Rockies.

[MacTech]

Well, that's the beauty of the hawkbill, used *properly* (cut with the blade facing *away* from you), it's actually *safer* than a conventional drop-point/spear-point/clip-point/leaf/wharncliffe blade style, as the point is facing *away* from the user, and the curve of the blade keeps the point away from the device in the package

the only safer knife design is the blunt-tipped "Sheepsfoot" (http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=172) blade, but the lack of a point makes it more difficult to open packaging needing a "piercing" maneuver to initiate the cut

it's also a lot safer than stabbing with scissors, which are basically two knives joined by a pivot anyway...

[Velma]

My husband just started a new job this week for a company that designs packaging, mostly plastics. The first thing I told him when I found out what the company did was to find out what the deal is with that clamshell packaging. If he finds out why they do it that way, and how to open it, I will let you all know.

[Lynn Bodoni]

Let us know who came up with that clamshell idea, too. We want to...discusss...it with them. Or at least I do.

[Lute Skywatcher]

I do a fair share of baking, so I ran out of sugar. Off to the store. While I was there, I noticed Domino Sugar has sugar packaged in a convenient plastic container (short and squat, low center of gravity to avoid spilling). :)

A 4 lb. container of sugar! What's wrong with this picture? :mad: At least you know it's sugar, not pasta sauce (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2006-11-27-pasta-camcorder_x.htm).

[Cat Whisperer]

Let us know who came up with that clamshell idea, too. We want to...discusss...it with them. Or at least I do.
Oh, yeah, I want in on that...discussion too.

How about packing the inventor of these plastic clamshells in his own product, with a limited supply of air - he needs to get out or have someone cut him out before his air's gone?

[flodnak]

A 4 lb. container of sugar! What's wrong with this picture? :mad:

Now, the next time I buy a 5 lb. bag of sugar in the usual paper bag, the fucking sugar won't fit in the container. Fella bilong missus flodnak likes Nesquik (a particular brand of chocolate milk mix). We have a 700g container. Every store I've looked in sells the 700g containers of Nesquik, and most sell only that size. So we can assume that 700g is their standard size, right?

So why do the "convenient refill packages!" only come in 500g or 1000g sizes? :dubious:

(Personally, I prefer O'Boy. Tastes better and the refills actually match the size of the reusable container. But the fella likes his Nesquik. Separate but equal chocolate milk mixes are a small price to pay for family harmony.)

[Cartooniverse]

I suppose it's as hard to find a coupla bottles of Fox's U-Bet syrup (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00032FS02.01-A3CDPEGSIQM61V._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg) in Norway as it is to find a jar of Marmite (http://www.metagame.com/uploads/Vs/2006/july/Marmite-1max.jpg) in the local deli here.

[According to Pliny]

I'm surprised they didn't just go metric. That worked when 2 quart bottles of soda went to 2 liter. Which amounted to a hidden 8% shrinkage.

[Frank]

I'm surprised they didn't just go metric. That worked when 2 quart bottles of soda went to 2 liter. Which amounted to a hidden 8% shrinkage.
Actually, a liter is bigger than a quart - it's 33 ounces and change.

[Cheez_Whia]

I live west (just barely) of the Rockies, and I can buy either Hellman's or Best Foods Mayonnaise. Stocked on the same shelf, even!