CD Packaging and the dumb hostilitity of inanimate objects.

[vandermolen]

I often snap off the hinges of the jewel case in my enthusiasm to get at the CD inside.  I Increasingly like the newer cardboard packaging which opens up like a booklet and dispenses with the Perspex altogether. The worst or should I say most frustrating CD packaging comes from the USA (sorry guys) and incorporates an impossible-to-remove incredibly sticky safety seal which disintegrates into a million different segments as soon as you try to peel it off. At this point I usually go and make myself a cup of tea or something stronger to calm myself down. I guess that this superglued seal is to ensure that no one puts polonium in the CD but it is still very infuriating. I am sure that my responses are quite normal and that you all agree but I would still be interested to hear your thoughts on CD packaging.

[SonicMan46]

Yep, these issues have plagued the plastic jewel box from the beginning - now, I'm careful in opening the wrapping enclosing the CD case but not infrequently, the hinges are broken, a crack or two is in the top or bottom, or the most annoying to me are broken tabs that hold the disc - I bought a pile of replacement parts years ago and simply exchange the broken ones.

The wallet cardboard containers and its many variations are a 'mixed' blessing for me - the sides of the insert containers tear easily & the size may not match a jewel box and fit in the desired storage site; also, if the tabs mentioned above are broken (and I've had a half dozen so arrive), then there is no replacement options.  Dave

[vandermolen]

Yep, these issues have plagued the plastic jewel box from the beginning - now, I'm careful in opening the wrapping enclosing the CD case but not infrequently, the hinges are broken, a crack or two is in the top or bottom, or the most annoying to me are broken tabs that hold the disc - I bought a pile of replacement parts years ago and simply exchange the broken ones.

The wallet cardboard containers and its many variations are a 'mixed' blessing for me - the sides of the insert containers tear easily & the size may not match a jewel box and fit in the desired storage site; also, if the tabs mentioned above are broken (and I've had a half dozen so arrive), then there is no replacement options.  Dave

Very good point and I totally forgot about the 'teeth' which hold the CD in place rolling around loose as soon as you open the CD. There has to be a better way surely?

[Jo498]

A newer design has the "teeth" connected together in the middle, so breaking is less likely. The older design often keeps the CD in place even after a few have broken off.

Because I frequently repackage CDs to save space (e.g. I very often replace thick double cases by narrow ones, unless the booklet is to thick), I usually have more than enough replacement parts both for the inner tray as well as the outer parts of a Jewelcase. But it has to be admitted that they are not very sturdy.

Replacement might be a problem with the combined cardboard/plastic covers but I have not needed any; actually I am fairly fond of those.

[Mirror Image]

If something gets broken or busted when dealing with CD jewel cases, it's because, in my own experience, it was done during shipping. I don't tear into a CD like a maniac. I'm very careful, but I DO HATE those seals that come on US releases. I don't see what the purpose of this is, especially if the CD is sealed in plastic wrap. Anyway, even with these, which thankfully I don't run into too often nowadays, I'm careful to remove them and cut into them with my razor knife. Sometimes if they leave a residue, I just change out the jewel case altogether. If something is cracked or whatever, I'll also change out with a new jewel case. It helps, especially if you buy as many CDs as I do, to have back-up jewel cases. I bought 300 of them online about two months ago or so. I'm good now. I also have a box of the SACD jewel cases.

[Mirror Image]

Oh Jeffrey, you have opened up a can of worms, my friend.

I'll also say something about the cardboard type of packaging, there are two negatives that come to mind: 1. if the spindle that holds the CD in place (usually plastic or a plastic material) is broken or busted in anyway, you can't replace the CD tray because it is glued to the cardboard --- this is a horrible design flaw and 2. if the cardboard case gets any kind of damage to it (i. e. tears, marks to the cardboard), you're stuck with it unless you buy a whole other copy altogether and, even then, you don't know what kind of damage will be on the other copy you just bought. At least with a jewel case, I can replace it if it's busted or something is defective about it.

[Brian]

1. Decca, DG, and other Universal labels have those stupid, irritating stickers across the top, designed for CD bins in stores so you can see from the top side what the CD is. I hate peeling those off, and I hate that they always leave a bunch of glue on the front and back.

2. I've been buying a lot of jazz jewel cases recently and about 50% of them arrive with the little CD-holder "teeth" snapped off and rattling around.


Cardboard sleeves are infinitely better.

[Mirror Image]

1. Decca, DG, and other Universal labels have those stupid, irritating stickers across the top, designed for CD bins in stores so you can see from the top side what the CD is. I hate peeling those off, and I hate that they always leave a bunch of glue on the front and back.

2. I've been buying a lot of jazz jewel cases recently and about 50% of them arrive with the little CD-holder "teeth" snapped off and rattling around.


Cardboard sleeves are infinitely better.

Jewel cases and CD trays can be replaced. If a cardboard sleeve is damaged, then you're stuck with a damaged product unless you can get another copy from the same seller, but this is just an inconvenience all the way around.

[Brian]

Jewel cases and CD trays can be replaced. If a cardboard sleeve is damaged, then you're stuck with a damaged product unless you can get another copy from the same seller, but this is just an inconvenience all the way around.

Very true, but the worst I've ever had a cardboard sleeve show up with is a line of being gouged across the front, which I can live with.

[Jo498]

I hate stickers of all kinds on CD boxes with a vengeance. Unfortunately, the best strategy is often to leave them in place. DG put stickers on some of their cardboard Original Masters boxes of ca. 10 years ago and I made the mistake trying to peel of the sticker on one which damaged the cardboard (so I left it on, now I have a loose edge of the sticker and some fingernail scratches but better than the first layer of the cardboard off on the whole are of the bloody sticker). Even on plastic boxes or jewel cases, stickers are very annoying and usually leave something of the sticky stuff behind (which then collects dusts...)

[Gurn Blanston]

1. Decca, DG, and other Universal labels have those stupid, irritating stickers across the top, designed for CD bins in stores so you can see from the top side what the CD is. I hate peeling those off, and I hate that they always leave a bunch of glue on the front and back.

2. I've been buying a lot of jazz jewel cases recently and about 50% of them arrive with the little CD-holder "teeth" snapped off and rattling around.


Cardboard sleeves are infinitely better.

Brian, your #1 is easy to work around. I don't see those much any more so it hasn't come up lately. Here's how to do it:

After removing the shrinkwrap, hold the disk flat with the hinge side away from you. Using your index fingers, gently pry back slightly on the tabs which form the hinge pins, enough to allow you to remove the cover. NOW, the offending piece of label becomes the hinge. Open the cover on the new hinge, and you can easily lift one edge of the cover and peel the 'hinge' off with the leverage provided by the cover itself. Once it it off the case side, it is intact, you can peel it off from the cover in one piece and throw it away. Voilá! 

This drove me crazy for years until I worked out how to solve it. Immediately after, they quit using it because it is intended for retail outlets, and where are those today?

[Gurn Blanston]

Oh Jeffrey, you have opened up a can of worms, my friend.

I'll also say something about the cardboard type of packaging, there are two negatives that come to mind: 1. if the spindle that holds the CD in place (usually plastic or a plastic material) is broken or busted in anyway, you can't replace the CD tray because it is glued to the cardboard --- this is a horrible design flaw and 2. if the cardboard case gets any kind of damage to it (i. e. tears, marks to the cardboard), you're stuck with it unless you buy a whole other copy altogether and, even then, you don't know what kind of damage will be on the other copy you just bought. At least with a jewel case, I can replace it if it's busted or something is defective about it.

A couple other things with "Digipak" packages. When the booklet is held by a little slit opening, I have had even the most careful attempt at removing it cause the paper to tear on the edges and the bottom part of the slit now becomes merely a flap which not only looks ugly with tears on each side, but also doen't hold the book worth a damn.

The second one probably began life as a brain-dead attepmt to solve the one above. They glue the f*&%^$# book in place! So if the package is damaged and you want to replace it, or even if you just want to put it in new packaging, you have to tear it out of the package!   Assholes! 

[Gurn Blanston]

I hate stickers of all kinds on CD boxes with a vengeance. Unfortunately, the best strategy is often to leave them in place. DG put stickers on some of their cardboard Original Masters boxes of ca. 10 years ago and I made the mistake trying to peel of the sticker on one which damaged the cardboard (so I left it on, now I have a loose edge of the sticker and some fingernail scratches but better than the first layer of the cardboard off on the whole are of the bloody sticker). Even on plastic boxes or jewel cases, stickers are very annoying and usually leave something of the sticky stuff behind (which then collects dusts...)

Nothing to add to this, it is true true true!

A respectful publishers puts his silly-ass stickers on the shrinwrap and you can peel and toss. Why not? They are there to sell the product, mission accomplished.

[Sergeant Rock]

The second one probably began life as a brain-dead attepmt to solve the one above. They glue the f*&%^$# book in place! So if the package is damaged and you want to replace it, or even if you just want to put it in new packaging, you have to tear it out of the package!   Assholes! 

The first two volumes of Haydn2032 arrived today, and that's how they're packaged. Hate it.

Sarge

[vandermolen]

A newer design has the "teeth" connected together in the middle, so breaking is less likely. The older design often keeps the CD in place even after a few have broken off.

Because I frequently repackage CDs to save space (e.g. I very often replace thick double cases by narrow ones, unless the booklet is to thick), I usually have more than enough replacement parts both for the inner tray as well as the outer parts of a Jewelcase. But it has to be admitted that they are not very sturdy.

Replacement might be a problem with the combined cardboard/plastic covers but I have not needed any; actually I am fairly fond of those.

It sounds like you are all much better organised and logical about this that I am. 

[vandermolen]

Oh Jeffrey, you have opened up a can of worms, my friend.

I'll also say something about the cardboard type of packaging, there are two negatives that come to mind: 1. if the spindle that holds the CD in place (usually plastic or a plastic material) is broken or busted in anyway, you can't replace the CD tray because it is glued to the cardboard --- this is a horrible design flaw and 2. if the cardboard case gets any kind of damage to it (i. e. tears, marks to the cardboard), you're stuck with it unless you buy a whole other copy altogether and, even then, you don't know what kind of damage will be on the other copy you just bought. At least with a jewel case, I can replace it if it's busted or something is defective about it.

Yes, clearly Pandora's Box John! I must say that everyone else here seems much more rational about this issue. 

[Todd]

Brian, your #1 is easy to work around

Another easy solution is to get a small knife and insert into the opening and cut through to the other end. 

I love these types of first world problems.

[Gurn Blanston]

Another easy solution is to get a small knife and insert into the opening and cut through to the other end. 

I love these types of first world problems.

Yes, but then the label is still there. No one wants that. Opening it is easy. Even I figured that part out!   

[Gurn Blanston]

The first two volumes of Haydn2032 arrived today, and that's how they're packaged. Hate it.

Sarge

Volume 2 is delayed stateside, but I hated it about Vol 1 for sure. That's what I had in mind when I wrote the gripe.

[Pat B]

Oh Jeffrey, you have opened up a can of worms, my friend.

I'll also say something about the cardboard type of packaging, there are two negatives that come to mind: 1. if the spindle that holds the CD in place (usually plastic or a plastic material) is broken or busted in anyway, you can't replace the CD tray because it is glued to the cardboard --- this is a horrible design flaw and 2. if the cardboard case gets any kind of damage to it (i. e. tears, marks to the cardboard), you're stuck with it unless you buy a whole other copy altogether and, even then, you don't know what kind of damage will be on the other copy you just bought. At least with a jewel case, I can replace it if it's busted or something is defective about it.

3. The contents of a standard jewel case can be moved into a space-saving sleeve. A digipak will always take up 1/4" or more -- not a big deal when it's 1 or 2, but larger quantities can waste a lot of space.