Are any other parents' fingers raw from opening toy packages?

[cokemeyer]

My hands are already so dry from constant hand washing from cleaning, changing diapers, etc, that while spending the entire day yesterday opening all their cool amazon toys, I just nearly shredded my hands raw from all the dang wires, etc inside the boxes. WHY do they have to do that?? When I was a kid, everything was just in one big box with a pic on the outside. I did notice some toys had a new type of attachment this year - some sort of plastic disc that you twist off - much easier than wires but still a pain...and they left gaping holes on the one

F-P barnyard toy! :)

[misnzoe]

http://www.amazon.com/As-Seen-On-TV-OX104/dp/B0006ACWEQ

[tjredsox4]

I had the same problem with the tools from my ds My First Craftsman Tools. Then the toy wagon (to carry dolls, stuffies or in my son's case his baseball, glove and cars) had bolts that were too small for the screws. Daddy couldn't put it together so Mommy had to do it. In order to tighten you had to hold bolt and use screwdriver since bolts were so small, but finally done and he loves it. It is well worth it to see their faces when they can use the toy or toys.

[cokemeyer]

I imagine the packaging is all due to marketing, but you'd think that the warehouses and stores would much rather lots of square boxes that would stack easily...plus, it's just so wasteful - all that junk to throw away or attempt to recycle!

[tjredsox4]

I agree. I ran out of trash bags and had to go buy some yesterday.

[fairydustcrissy]

I have bandaids on 3 fingers from getting cut opening toys, lol. Makes it very hard to type! LOL.

[DramaQueenLucy]

I am thankful that those days are over...video games are very easy to open! We only had one that came in a package like that this year and DS15 opened it with his new hunting knife.

[Sacha]

I HATE toy packaging! With 2 boys (3 & 6) we opened a LOT of toys this year. I do appreciate those new twist off ones I am starting to see...much better than the million wires holding each toy in place.

[fluffkin79]

We got the FP Barnuard, too. I am not happy with the holes in the carosel part either. I would have rather fought with more stupid twist ties.

[mom2monkiesx3]

YES! And of course I have blisters from holding the drumsticks to ROCKBAND so tightly while rocking out!! SO MUCH FUN!!

 

Cardboard cuts are the WORST!

[Stowasser]

Wirecutters is what I use to cut the wire twist ties, who has time to undo every tie. Barbies are one of the worst, they tie them down, stitch their hair to the cardboard and than do the heat shrink plastic thing, god, where do they think these things are going in the package. LOL I also hate the new heat plastic thing where its like shrink wrapped but with the heavy plastic, how the heck are you suppose to get that off without cutting your hands up.

[cokemeyer]

I have bandaids on 3 fingers from getting cut opening toys, lol. Makes it very hard to type! LOL.

me too!! at least my boys had fun putting the Cars and Little Einsteins bandaids that Santa put in their stockings on Mommy! :)

[shop2it]

I just about took my eye out with a Bratz Baby package I was opening for a friend's kid. My girls have outgrown those and I forgot how horrible they are to open!

[elena_398]

If anyone could steal the toys I opened, my hats off to them. LOL. It took me 5-10 minutes to try and open some of the toy packing. Ridiculous all the straps, ties, and security wrappings these things have on them.

[wendygraham]

http://www.christmastoytoolkit.com/

 

this is what we picked up this year--all you need to do is bag up a pair of scissors, a screwdriver, wire cutters, and put them into a stocking and hang by your tree waiting on santa to arrive. sure came in handy this year!!

 

hope it was ok to post the link ---

[tazolover]

I found a pair of Power Scissors from Black and Decker at Target today for $13.48. No more untwisting the wires, etc for me!

[AlwayzShopping]

LOL Gotta luv you guys. I'm glad I'm not alone on this one. So are DH's fingers. Too funny.

[debbieshops2003]

lol....I have had the traveling "open box kit" with me going through the house. I have a box cutter, scissors, and wire cutters. Its almost a parents survival kit. I couldn't believe they now sew barbies hair in the box. And they go CRAZY with the tape and the twist ties.

 

And I'm sure it will be at least a few weeks before I get all these boxes out of my house. I think my kids have played with every toy they got on Christmas...even if it was for just a few minutes. Just so I could open up the boxes.

[No1Slacker]

Not to mention trying to wrap these things and keep the paper from ripping. I put these things in a box before I wrap them, DD (21) is a snoop. I hate blister wrap. And what the heck do you need nuts and bolts for to hold down a toy. Dishes aren't even packed that well.

[Sugar&Spice]

It took me forever to get a Barbie out of the box. Good grief. It was ridiculous. Kills me that they put all those twists and ties. Some things were even bolted in. Does anyone else think it is hysterical to compare all that packaging to the flimsy little cardboard things they stick light bulbs in?

[fairydustcrissy]

LOL, I agree! A $5 toy is secured 56569 ways, light bulbs come in a piece of cardboard And I have seen more toys that are screwed into a piece...ugh. Now thats just a total PITA...you get through all the twist ties, tape, and plastic only to find screws???

[mom2monkiesx3]

Did anyone else get a bunch that had those neat plastic tabs that you just turn to unlock? I LOVE THOSE!!

[wendygraham]

Did anyone else get a bunch that had those neat plastic tabs that you just turn to unlock? I LOVE THOSE!!

 

YES!! loved those Ü ~~ only had one like that though.....the mega rig shark attack ship of my son's--but how easy was that to open??

[afrey66]

Did anyone else get a bunch that had those neat plastic tabs that you just turn to unlock? I LOVE THOSE!!

I'm hoping that is a trend in toys. Those things rock.

[amyers12345]

Of course, I hate the packaging. It's all done for sales. The better the product is displayed, the better it sells. I've often wondered why they don't make one display package for the store, and the rest in easy to use packaging.

 

I look at it a different way. I feel horrible for the people that have to package them. It's much easier for me to snip them off than it is for a 3rd world person to twist each of those ties.

[scourt333]

ok forget boxes what about the toys that the plastic is molded together its so silly ok i could see the theft thing but like you say for a 25 dollar toy come on i almost cut myself several times

[cokemeyer]

glad this thread has given a few of you some smiles. :) Now that I've gone through round two of package opening with the in-laws and have more sore fingers, I have another random question: how do the workers in warehouses, delivery trucks and storerooms stand it when all the singing toys start "going off?" Or do they all come set to "off" and then the store employees have the "fun" job of locating the "try me" switch amidst all the packaging to turn them on before putting them out on the shelf? My Santa surprise was nearly spoiled this year when an Amazon box arrived shouting "To Infinity and Beyond!" :) :)

 

just wondering!