Lately, I’ve been noticing increased difficulty with the way products are packaged. For decades now, most of us have struggled with the dilemma of hot dogs and hot dog buns. Unless you are preparing franks for forty friends, the manufacturers of these products have tormented us for years by packing ten dogs per container and eight buns. So no matter what you do, someone’s either going to have a hot dog by itself, or on bread. Honestly, you’d think they’d figure this out – it’s second-grade math!!
But until recently that was my main gripe about packaging. That, and of course, the childproof tops that are put on most medications. Apparently, adults are simply too dumb to put medications up high or in a locked cabinet. So they invented these lids that kids can’t get off. As it turns out, neither can anyone with arthritic fingers, carpel tunnel, or a sprained wrist – all things that typically require the need for medication in these bottles. I’ve taken to hammering them open and then putting the pills (the ones still intact) in another container.
Then I started noticing other packaging problems. Maybe it’s because I’m older and need these products now or because I have more time to consider such weighty problems, but here’s an annoying fact. A couple of cold medicine manufacturers have helpfully begun packing daytime and nighttime medications in one convenient package. These medications are to be taken six times a day. Again, a little second-grade math would make a reasonable person think, “Oh we should give them half as much nighttime, or 50% more daytime meds.” But no, they give us equal amounts. I have at least five packages or bottles, all half full, of nighttime medication. Let me get a head cold, and there won’t be a drop of daytime in the house.
I’ve also encountered a challenge in opening any toy that is for a toddler. First, they put the toys in plastic (so you can see them) and mount them to a cardboard back or base. To do this, they apparently use the glue that holds rocket ships together. Just in case that’s not sufficient, they then zip-tie them to the cardboard – and so tightly that you can’t get scissors or a knife blade in between the tie and the board. It’s always fun to surprise a toddler with such a gift – that age group being known for its’ patience and tolerance while waiting for anything, especially a toy they can see.
Yesterday I went to the store to purchase some shampoo. Unless you buy a trial/travel-sized bottle, you typically get some ginormous thing that holds about 45 ounces (or more)! These are so big that no one with normally-sized hands can actually hold it in one hand and squeeze a little bit into the other hand, especially not in a shower during which you are typically wet. I suppose if you’re in the tub, you can hold it between your knees, but it’s hardly convenient.
The bottle actually slipped this morning and had I been standing just a half inch to the left, I’m sure it would have broken my toe. So I’m reduced to squeezing some out into one of the travel-sized containers every week or so, just to be safe.
And let me just end by saying the bacon people aren’t fooling anyone! Prices of bacon have stayed strangely and relatively the same as years ago. But the amount of bacon has NOT! For the price I used to buy a pound of bacon, I can now get about six strips. That’s almost a whole day’s worth!
Argh. I need to find out when and where these packaging gurus meet. I’m sure they’d love to have me as a keynote speaker at their next conference!
Too great for words – packaging is now a science project for sure – especially the size and amount of things and how we are to USE them, makes you wonder if they even planned on having us buy stuff on a regular basis later!! I buy bacon from our local IGA foodstore – and I get the Sugardale brand, simply because – with my denture problems, I can cook and easily chew their Thin Sliced version – when I can find it – also, I like the fact that I get about 4-6 more slices per package for the same money!!! Saves me in two ways – spending and chewing!! Love the post – keep it up! Gotta go viral with this!!
Oh, you are right on it with the packaging products! I have bought several different brands of eye drops! Gel, lubricant and plain. Just tried a new one today. After getting it out of the box, I had to cut off the plastic around the lid, but for the life of me, I couldn’t unscrew the cap. I squeezed it in and turned — didn’t work. I pushed it down and turned. No success. I gave it to hubby and he finally got it off. I asked him just now how he got the lid off this morning. He didn’t remember. He tried again and finally got it off. He said, “Don’t screw that stupid lid down all the way. It’s too hard to figure out!
I totally agree with the huge, clumsy, odd-shaped shampoo bottles! I’ve also been putting mine in trial-size for years. I wish you could be a keynote speaker at the next conference!
Nice to have you back with comments Bets – you are as big a treat to read as the original Snippett lady!! Thanks for that!! Getting older is no fun, sometimes!
And it’s so good to be back, John! You and your sister are such kind, warmly courteous and caring people! I thank you both for your concern. No, growing older is not a ton of fun. We have to take one day at a time – sometimes one moment at a time. But we know where we’re headed and it’s a much better, happier, joyful eternal place. No aches, pains, or tears – maybe happy tears!
I have to temporarily and politely disagree with you on cats in Susie’s Snippets, The Older I Get. Now years ago I would have agreed wholeheartedly. Whenever I saw a dead cat on the road I would say, “Good kitty!” Or… “Cats! The other white meat!” Other than catching mice on the farm, what were they good for? We had cats when I was a child and I never once petted them.
However, after being married for several years, one night there was several inches of snow on the ground. Actually it was blizzard-like conditions. A stray cat came to our patio door. I just caught a glimpse of it as it ran away. Who couldn’t feel sorry for an animal who was hungry in such bad weather. I warmed some leftover chicken and set it outside. I watched. Soon that cat grabbed the chicken and disappeared. I have no idea why, but I fed that cat until spring. It took a long time, but I finally coaxed the animal inside. She was scared to death. To make a long story short, I finally had the chance to hold her and discovered she had been so mistreated by someone cruel. She had a huge lump on her head. My husband built a little door for her to come and go inside our garage. She learned very quickly how to use it.
To me, that was the smartest cat ever! She never took a bite of food until she came and rubbed her head on my foot. You only had to tell her once to not do something. If we wanted her to come home, all we had to do was whistle for her. One night we went out and whistled for her and she didn’t come home. She didn’t come home the second night. On the third night we whistled and whistled. Finally at midnight she came to the same patio door and meowed. It was such a heart-breaking sight. We had no idea there were coyotes in our area at that time. One had caught her and she was in terrible condition. Evidently she put up one hell of a fight. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. We called the emergency number for the veterinarian. He kept her overnight but was not able to save her. She is buried in our back yard in her favorite blanket in a nice coffin my husband built for her.
I decided much later to try a second cat. Big mistake. She was very young and loved loud noises. My husband was taking out a wall and he couldn’t keep her away from the hammer as he pounded nails. One day we looked and looked for her and found her sleeping in a bird’s nest. She loved running up our huge maple trees. But… she loved running DOWN those trees too. My husband said, “That cat is going to kill herself by doing that! I’ve never seen a cat run down a tree!” Sure enough. One day she started down and fell. She was so injured we had to put her to sleep. We told the friend who gave us the cat what happened. He said, “I have no idea what was wrong with that litter. The ones I kept liked to sleep in the middle of the road, so I lost them. Suicide, I guess.” So I decided I was blessed to have a very exceptional cat.
Take care, John. Love reading your comments!
Susie, here’s another bad packaging idea. Canned vegetables with flip-tops! I bought several of those thinking they would be great. While trying to open the first one, the flip-top broke off right in my hand! So did the second one! How many more will not cooperate?! Plus, I had to open the can from the bottom with my manual Kitchenaid can opener. But… so thankful I have both hands and can still use a manual opener!