Help me solve a Christmas mystery

Why on earth must children's toys be screwed and/or wire tied to the packaging they come in? Is it a child safety thing, or anti theft?

Growing up with five brothers, my father still whines about stamped metal gas stations with the stupid Tab A Slot B metal tabs that break off.

I always keep the swiss army knife near the tree, Sachilles.

Dan

I always carry a wire-cutters, a #1 Phillips, and a pocket knife to anything that involves children and presents.

I've learned

Niether a Swiss army knife, nor a gerber multi tool, could take of all of them. Some were recessed too far, for the short stubs on the screwdrivers to reach. Still not sure why the toy industry does it. I mean seriously, screw the damn tow truck to it's cardboard packaging...hardly seems worth the effort.

I figure its so the toys make there way across the Pacific Ocean in those giant steel containers and arrive not broken in the packages.

Yeah...I think that the toy companies have created another industry by using xx amount of wire ties for an 8 dollar toy.

Plus...some even use reverse threaded screws...

Anti-theft devices. The harder it is to get out of the package the harder it is to say your child came into the store with it.

Anti-Theft.

The power wheels jeep I put together last night wasn't bad at all. One bag of screws, some stickers, and some extra plastic. I'm already looking for another battery to wire in an up the voltage, the grass can be rough ya know. She's only two years old. lol

Hey, kids toys aren't nearly as bad as CD packaging.

It's only my opinion, but what has "killed" the sales of music in stores is disgruntled customers tired of trying to get their new CDs out of the packaging.

DoctorBlade wrote: Anti-Theft.

Anti-buy.

I look at the packaging before I buy. I'm not looking at it like Greenpeace would I look at it like is it worth the effort to get it out of the package. Some of the worst offenders are batteries.

It's not anti-theft, it's pro-screw.

sachilles wrote: Why on earth must children's toys be screwed and/or wire tied to the packaging they come in? Is it a child safety thing, or anti theft?

Elf labor has ties to the fastener industry.

I got books.

I'm now pro fisher-price. Instead of screws, they use something like a dzuz fastener. One quarter turn, and the toy is free from the packaging. No tool required.

sachilles wrote: I'm now pro fisher-price. Instead of screws, they use something like a dzuz fastener. One quarter turn, and the toy is free from the packaging. No tool required.

Carrera slot cars use a similar system. It's basically a really coarse thread wing bolt. One quarter turn by hand and it's out.

EastCoastMojo wrote: It's not anti-theft, it's pro-screw.

I am pro screw.

Duh.

elves have very small hands

Experienced elves prepare for Christmas Eve, with all sorts of tools, cutters, and batteries. And a goal involving something tasty. Having read the boxes beforehand and knowing what requires which and how many cells and/or overnight charging helps tremendously.

So do hammers large and small.

My oldest son, who is now an elf with a 15-month old boy, was not prepared this weekend. Kids do not have much patience.

sachilles wrote: I'm now pro fisher-price. Instead of screws, they use something like a dzuz fastener. One quarter turn, and the toy is free from the packaging. No tool required.

LeapFrog does that, too.

mad_machine wrote: elves have very small hands

And smell like cabbage

The twist/duetz fasteners are new for this holiday season I believe. All but 4? toys my kids got used them.

I got a nerf gun from a friend of mine for Xmas, and it took me 20 freakin minutes to free that thing from its prison. Took me half that time to mod it and make it shoot way farther.

Amazon had a brown box special last year. Manufacturers made special plain packaging for mail orders. Most of that crap is so the toy stays in place in the nice pretty display boxes.

Anybody else feel the urge to invest in battery company stock each year befrore the Holidays?