Who hates shrink-wrap on CDs and jewel cases?
Question by del_icious_manager: Who hates shrink-wrap on CDs and jewel cases?
A CD I ordered yesterday arrived this morning (excellent service!). Several CDs have arrived in the last week or so. All of them have been encased in this inpenetrable shrink-wrap. I can’t get the damn stuff off the CD. It has no tag to ease removal (in common with MOST such wrappings) and no way to remove it (without the danger of damaging the jewel case or booklet inside) other that desperately picking away at the edges of the shrink wrap in the vain hope that some of it might eventually come away. I know there is a special little ‘gizmo’ to cut it off, but that’s not the point – this is a case of ‘principal’.
I remember just a few years ago when (in the UK at least) CDs came unblemished by this plastic pestilence. Why is it there? CDs don’t ‘go off’ if not vacuum packed. The nasty jewel cases can still be marked and broken THROUGH the shrink wrap. And it doesn’t ensure it’s new either – shrink-wrap machines are cheap and easy to acquire.
So, I’ve given up on working out why it’s there at all. Help me on this.
And then there’s the jewel case itself. Don’t you just loathe them? The hinges snap if you look at them harshly and the CD-retaining splines on clear models break as if it were their job to do so. What is wrong with the (comparitively) sturdy, appropriately laminated Digipack?
Am I the only music lover driven insane by these things?
Best answer:
Answer by Switch ??
actually, what I find awful, is when the shrink wrap on CD and DVDs gets stuck to the cases. I must be obsessive compulsive because this stuff drives me absolutely insane.
not only that, those stupid security seals…they get “sticky” all over the cases. again obsessive, I could just cut them open, but I have to take them entirely off.
What do you think? Answer below!
Tagged with: cases • hates • jewel • shrinkwrap
Filed under: Pouch Laminator
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They drive me insane too – the plastic cases are too weak and break too easily. About 50% of mine have broken, simply by them dropping to the floor. They need to be made of tougher plastic defninately. A petition made the manufacturer may be a good idea, claiming that they are just not good enough and its putting people off buying them. It certainly annoys me that they keep breaking and I have a five CD set that just broke and now I have nowhere to keep my five CDs. The plastic wrap is too difficult to remove and you need a tool just to get it open – definatley not good enough.
I usually have a pair of very small (manicure) scissors on hand to use for snipping a corner of the plastic wrap and can then peel off the rest from a CD or DVD, so it’s no real problem to me. What I do find annoying is the printed title sticker across the CD’s side edge which peels away and is left hanging out. I usually keep pressing it down and it usually keeps coming undone, can’t win!
Ah Del your comments made me smile so.
It is infuriating but the worst examples I’ve ever found were imported CD’s from Russia,
the shrink wrap around those things was unbelievable it was some sort of reinforced stretched plastic that would not tear – a complete horror show.
Apart from those though I usually find a small incision to the underneath corner edge of the jewel case with a bowie knife or some sort will open it up easy enough.
Jewel case box sets of three or more discs are a nightmare,
I’m always loathe to order them,certainly from abroad in case they get damaged in transit.
I’ve noticed slimline double cases always break as well.
I think everything should be in replica vinyl cardboard sleeves like the SONY Original Jacket collection series or as you suggest a laminated Digipack.
take it easy buddy
So what you’re saying is I’m not the only one?
I’ve got a hobby knife that I use to open them. Depending on how harsh the plastic is, I’ll run it along the opening edge (top side, right as you face the CD’s front cover) or the gap between the front cover and the spine (what’s that supposed to be, a finger hold?). Then I’ll poke underneath the shrink wrap to tear it open.
… usually to find out that the hinges are already broken.
… Seriously, why can’t jewel cases be made of polycarbonate instead of whatever cheap plastic they use.
They don’t drive me insane – there is no point in getting mad at inanimate objects! Over many years, I have worked out the easiest way to deal with the shrink wrap is to run a thumb nail done the crack between the lid and the main part. It works in 9 cases out of 10, allowing the wrap to be pulled away, or torn away in two sections. If that doesn’t work, the a sharp knife or penknife under the folds at the top rips the shrink wrap off.
Why this stuff? I assume it is for the retail trade. Cases can be tagged electronically, setting off an alarm if stolen. Presumably, shrink wrap is thought to deter the opportunistic thief. It’s pretty pointless, however, in the case of classical CDs (in the UK, at least) as there are so few retail stores that sell a decent range of classical CDs. And those that do almost invariably remove the disc from the cases on display anyway. So, I agree, it’s totally pointless and, no doubt, some marketing ‘genius’ has retired comfortably on the proceeds of this wizard idea.
As to the cases, I have yet to discover how the splines can break so easily between packaging and receipt by the customer. Is it something to do with machine packing, i wonder. Why cannot the three way system used in DVD cases (and, if I recollect aright without checking) in SACD cases be used?
I find that the cases are fairly sturdy and last until the are dropped.
ok after reading the whole post what is the CRAP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
all this time I thought this was a classical music area NOT a DANG C-D bitch and moan area
the computer catagorized it as classical itself…my bad.
I actually prefer buying/receiving CDs in there shrinkwrap. There usually new copies and the jewel cases don’t have the scratches/scuffs that the non-shrinkwrap ones do. It’s not too much hassle to get the plastic off.