# How are impenetrable clamshell packages SUPPOSED to be opened? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 19, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997 "2009-01-19T16:02:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997/41 "2009-01-20T02:34:03Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > The Great ‘We Can’t Be Bothered to Use Scissors’ Movement of 2009. > > Join together to break the clamshells apart. I find it hard to understand how people can be so hopelessly clumsy and incompetent with tools. It makes me wonder for the future of humanity and how these people manage to wipe their butts. Then, of course, I’ll find a thread discussing this very issue and find out that half the people do not know how to wipe their own butts. America: “we conquered the West and beat Hitler but now we can’t open this darned clamshell”. I think I am beginning to understand why the Chinese are taking over. We need them to show us how to open packages and wipe our butts. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997/42 "2009-01-20T04:14:26Z")
> [@sailor](#): > > I think I am beginning to understand why the Chinese are taking over. We need them to show us how to open packages and wipe our butts. [Here ya’ go.](http://www.harrietcarter.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/categoryID/EFB56D77-0A79-4EFA-A7A0-3BADD82E350C/productID/87AD7B44-C514-4052-A4D4-7F1163BA6B27) I don’t know if it’s made in China or not. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997/43 "2009-01-20T04:35:16Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > ETA: It’s none of those things on the Amazon link. And Amazon can ask for special packaging because it doesn’t have to worry about shoplifters. But that means two sets of packaging and production and materials and workers for the companies, so it’s not a universal solution. I’ve seen Garmin handlheld GPS units sold in clamshells that just wrap the complete normal box. When you buy it online, you just get the box, not the clamshell. Crazy waste. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997/44 "2009-01-20T04:48:44Z")
I prefer small explosive rigs to open them. It’s not strictly a necessity, but it adds a bit of flair to the process. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997/45 "2009-01-20T05:05:53Z")
I can’t ever recall my choice to buy a product or not much less one over the other based on clam shell or not. I must not be one of the cool kids… ---
**Author:** ![Jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997/46 "2009-01-20T05:23:27Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I used scissors. Didn’t you? Scissors or a pocket knife or a box cutter. Inventing a container opener? The vaunted intelligence of the SDMB reveals itself yet again! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997/47 "2009-01-20T05:38:54Z")
And as I posted in a recent thread about this, clamshell packaging doesn’t stop the shoplifters anyway. On more than one occasion in my former retail experience they would steal scissors and use said scissors to open other stolen merchandise, if they forgot to bring their own or something. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997/48 "2009-01-20T05:58:14Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > It isn’t the unavailability of the tool that’s annoying - kitchen shears generally seem to work, as do a number of other things. It’s requiring a tool in the first place that’s annoying. I wouldn’t waste money buying a special tool for this - I wouldn’t like having to go find my special clamshell opener any more than I like having to fetch the kitchen shears. > > As for shoplifting, one of the touted solutions is RFID, which comes with its own range of problems, customer acceptance being one of them. Nevertheless, it’s still being explored. Maybe they can make a deal with us - go ahead and stick RFID transponders on everything we buy, but get rid of the surplus packaging. That latter point might allow the manufacturers and retailers to recover the costs of the RFID tagging, which is another of the sticking points. The way I’d go around it would be to have anti-tampering RFID devices on the products. You know those stickers that have a metal coil inside? those have a circuit that is powered up when you walk out the door without having deactivated them. One way of deactivating them is to simply cut the coil traces. Reversing that you could have a package crisscrossed with conductive threads, as long as this are intact the RFID chip on the package does nothing, but if the circuit is interrupted, i.e. someone tries to open the package in the store, it sends out an alarm. A light cardboard box with embedded threads and RFID chip would be enough. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997/49 "2009-01-20T06:41:28Z")
> [@Rodd\_Hill](#): > > You Honor, may I bring your attention to [Coyote vs. Acme](http://www.jamesfuqua.com/lawyers/jokes/coyote-acme.shtml)? I should google it ,but did anyone ever do a rebuttal for ACME. Paging scylla Declan ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997/50 "2009-01-20T07:02:05Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > And even if you DO find a good way to open them easily, you still have mangled packaging that the store can’t restock. So wait… these clamshells effective curtail all return policies? That’s… curious. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997/51 "2009-01-20T08:02:22Z")
I use scissors. To get enough cutting power, I cut near the scissor joint and only cut a little at a time. I would advise against using box cutters as while they have great cutting power, they are harder to control. The plastic material tends to make the box cutter stick, and then suddenly unstick, making the box cutter fly towards you or random body parts. And if not that, then it’s easy to accidently cut into the product itself or instructional material. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997/52 "2009-01-20T08:15:39Z")
> [@sailor](#): > > I find it hard to understand how people can be so hopelessly clumsy and incompetent with tools. It makes me wonder for the future of humanity and how these people manage to wipe their butts. Then, of course, I’ll find a thread discussing this very issue and find out that half the people do not know how to wipe their own butts. America: “we conquered the West and beat Hitler but now we can’t open this darned clamshell”. > > I think I am beginning to understand why the Chinese are taking over. We need them to show us how to open packages and wipe our butts. The thing is, I’m usually the one who gets handed stuff and told to figure it out, because I’m generally the best at it. I am legendary in my family because I used to do things like take machines apart and re-assemble them…when I was a pre-schooler. I suspect that I get particularly frustrated with this packaging because I am accustomed to picking something up, figuring it out, and easily doing it. Today I opened a clamshell package quickly and easily, with a pair of utility scissors. The reason I was able to do this was because the plastic was not made of adamantine, but was a somewhat firm plastic that still easily yielded to the blades of the scissors. I do, in fact, cut around three edges of a package in the normal course of opening it, but sometimes the clamshell is molded so tightly to the merchandise that it’s damn near impossible to do this, without damaging or threatening to damage the merchandise. ---
**Author:** ![firstname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ab992/32.png) [@firstname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/firstname)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997/53 "2009-01-20T12:07:37Z")
Usually slice a few sides off with my pocket knife. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997/54 "2009-01-20T12:38:08Z")
> [@CC](#): > > This evokes the issue of personal responsibilty and the litigious nature of our citizens. If you don’t know which tool to use safely in that situation (a pair of scissors works fine) and if you use a more dangerous tool (e.g. razor blade) unsafely and you cut yourself, it is not the fault of the company that sold you the package. Suppose you decided to open the package with dynamite, and you injured yourself. Lawsuit against the company? Experience, a degree of common sense, education and intelligence, not law, should be our protectors. If you’re looking for some degree of corporate responsibility, manufacturers would probably be helpful to those who clearly need it, by suggesting the use of scissors to open their packages. Although I can see the liablity-crazed lawyers of some company authoring a cautionary label: “Caution, do not use dynamite or other explosives to open this package, as that can be hazardous. If using a box cutter, do not hold box cutter on lap and carve toward self. If using a shotgun to open package, point shotgun away from self to avoid harm. Not responsible for unwise use of opening devices.” Sheesh I’m totally with you on this, to a point. Nobody deserves five million bucks because they nicked their pinky finger. But… the manufacturers shouldn’t get a free pass. If they were manufacturing these for a targeted group workers to open, then it might be a different story (for example, if they were packaging an industrial tool kind of thing). But these are targeted at _everyone_, including children, old folks, people with all kinds of physical and mental limitations, etc. Once you sell a product to the entire world, every “one-in-a-million” event happens several times a day and there should be a higher standard of responsibility on the part of the manufacturer (IMO). ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997/55 "2009-01-20T14:58:31Z")
Laser Super hero Dremel or by hand is your on the above drug. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-impenetrable-clamshell-packages-supposed-to-be-opened/481997.md?page=2)