Shrink wrap!

[altivo]

Gaahrrrr! I hate shrink wrap. I've been cataloging CDs and DVDs all morning, and of course each one arrives in one or even two layers of shrink wrap, plus those awful sticky tapes they put around the edge to keep you from opening it and then returning it, plus various antitheft gadgets that have to be removed from each so they don't interfere with library system detector gates (even though we don't have them in our building, others in our consortium do.) The stuff sticks to you and won't let go. Those obnoxious sealing tapes shatter and have to be removed in twenty seven or more separate tiny bits, each of which then sticks to my fingers and won't go into the trash...

Light rain all night turned to dense fog this morning, so dense I couldn't tell the sun had risen. Still raining now and I guess worse is to come, though it's hard to imagine freezing rain and sleet when the temperature outside is in the mid-40s. Someone was here in the library saying she was planning to drive down to the St. Louis area for a horse show, but the whole show was cancelled because of the weather forecast. I was expecting snow and ice on Sunday, but not tonight. Guess I'd better check again.

Gary called about 12:30 to say he'd had a flat tire while running around picking up animal feed and supplies, and was going to take his car to the dealer here in Harvard to have the tire fixed. He thought there was a steering problem, but I suspect it was just the tire going soft. Anyway, he wanted me to meet him for lunch, and it took some finagling to arrange a time. We have a staff member suddenly out because her daughter had a baby. Grandmother's madness strikes again. I'm surrounded by them, and pictures of babies seem to reduce late middle-aged women to blithering idiots or something. Anyway, with one out all day, then another called to say she was going to the doctor for her cold but would be in afterward. Fortunately we were able to call in a part-time staffer to help cover things, but it's been hectic until now.

Comments

[dakhun.livejournal.com]

What I don't understand is why don't online stores sell CD's and DVD's *without* all the extra bits of security tape. In many cases, they come from a warehouse, probably with computerised forklifts running around, not from a store in a mall with a bunch of teenagers trying to sneak items out under their jackets, so the security issue is a lot less. With all the ways manufacturers try to build merchandise more cheaply, you'd think that skipping the infernal security tape when it isn't needed would be an obvious way to do that without affecting the product quality.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, you'd think that wouldn't you? I do too. ;p

However, the rationale behind all this is over the edge anyway. The RIAA and MPAA are now convinced that everyone is a thief. EVERYONE. Therefore, they apparently don't allow these things to be shipped from factory to warehouse without already having shrink-wrap and those obnoxious sticky antitheft things hidden in the case. With CDs I often have to pry the case apart to get them out because they are hidden under the black plastic piece that holds the disc.

I'm sure the industry would prefer that libraries not be permitted to lend their wares. After all, we're just stealing sales from them. Not to mention the fact that people can borrow things from us and copy them.

[tinbender.livejournal.com]

Actually, I would think that it's because it's cheaper to keep them on the line and have them run through the machines that stick all that crap on them as opposed to pulling out the few the libraries purchase. Libraries probably make up a pretty small percentage of what they sell overall so it's not really cost effective to change the process.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

If shoplifting were the concern, they could let the retailers deal with it however they choose. No, the stupid RIAA is worried that you will buy the thing, take it home and copy it, and then return it for a refund. That's why all those sticky, goopy seals are applied around the edge. Simple shrink wrap by itself would be all right, though obnoxious. The seal is designed to be unremovable without destroying it, in order to show tampering. You'd think a stupid CD was worth hundreds of dollars.

[calydor.livejournal.com]

Oh, but it is. A CD averages 10 tracks, at 750,000 dollars each, making a CD worth 7.5 million dollars. Didn't you know?

If you haven't heard, look up RIAA's lawsuit against AllofMP3.com for a cheap ... laugh or cry, you decide. 1.61 TRILLION dollars in damages for four months of downloads.

...

Then look up the US Gross Domestic Product.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Let's put it another way. THESE particular CDs weren't worth even worth 750 pennies. They were re-re-re-releases of stuff from the 1950s.

[calydor.livejournal.com]

And incidentally, THAT is why CD sales are down, not piracy. ;-)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Nice icon, by the way. I don't think I've seen this one, and I like it.

[dakhun.livejournal.com]

Thanks, it is part of a drawing with me in it, by jedd_marten.

[octatonic.livejournal.com]

Shrink wrap? I agree. GAH! I know people steal, and
cds and dvds are just the right size for a down the
pants five finger, but isn't the rfid enough?

And I comiserate with you about scheduling times
for a simple lunch. It seems the older I get the
more my nose is poked in my PDA.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

The RFID should be enough for shoplifting control. The goopy stickers are supposed to keep you from copying the thing and returning it.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

*humming he puts out his claws then shreds the shinkwrap away*

Don't ye know you have a wet cotton rag to stick the bits of sticky to :)

You sound a bit peeved *hand you an apple pie* Here Horsey, cheer up a bit. :3

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*splits the pie and shares it*

Thanks, I'm better now. It's the weekend. ;D

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Hooray the weekend and pie :)

Who could ask for more.

[baphnedia.livejournal.com]

When it comes to CDs, the only proof that it's unopened (at least coming from the manufacturer) is the shrinkwrap. But that's it.

As for the weather, Wisconsin was compared to Northern California this morning by another dragon living in the same cave. She was living in that region about fifteen years ago and notes that the weather is about the same.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I think your fellow dragon hasn't been in Wisconsin very long then. About the only thing Northern California and Wisconsin have in common when it comes to climate is that they both get rain. ;D