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Community => Watto's Junk Yard => Topic started by: dustrho on July 10, 2003, 07:53 PM

Title: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: dustrho on July 10, 2003, 07:53 PM
(http://www.chrisrhoads.com/images/113_1380.jpg)

How many people here hate those stupid twist ties that are in Star Wars packaging?  Why in the world do they have to be used?  I understand that sometimes they're used to keep the figures in a specific pose, but do they really have to be used so extensively?  I mean, the Saga X-Wing Fighter had anywhere between 10-15 of those twist ties... that's just way too many if you ask me.

So, what's your take on twist ties that are used in Star Wars packaging (and any other toy lines if they're used)?
Title: Re: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: MisterPL on July 10, 2003, 08:38 PM
I'm building a woman out of mine. So far I have a sturdy femur.
Title: Re: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: Darby on July 10, 2003, 08:39 PM
I hate them as well.  I got a Droid Army 3 pack today at TRU and was dismayed to see that these guys were sealed in there with two twisties each.  Why?  Oh, and those little clear rubber bands, too.
Title: Re: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: dustrho on July 10, 2003, 09:04 PM
I hate them as well.  I got a Droid Army 3 pack today at TRU and was dismayed to see that these guys were sealed in there with two twisties each.  Why?  Oh, and those little clear rubber bands, too.

That's where I got the twist ties in the picture from.   :-*  I couldn't understand why they used twist ties on that Droid Army 3-pack either.
Title: Re: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: jadesfire on July 10, 2003, 09:30 PM
Worst twisty tie Star Wars item:  Portrait Edition Queen Amidala. I think that is where MisterPL got a good base for his women ;).

As of late, the 12" two pack of the Ewoks.  Geesh...some of the ties were twisted to the end, I swear it was 12 turns before I got one off!!
Title: Re: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: Morgbug on July 10, 2003, 10:55 PM
Yep, hate em.  I bought a pair of angle pliers just to cut the darn things.  Marvel Legends are pretty bad, as are the new Hulk figures (my wife bought me a smash and crash Hulk).  Probably the worst things though are little playsets for little girls and Barbies :-[  They're for my daughter.   ;)
Title: Re: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: dustrho on July 10, 2003, 10:58 PM
They're for my daughter.   ;)

Sure they are... (http://burns.thefinaldimension.org/otn/ez/ezpi_wink1.gif)
Title: Re: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: Vator on July 10, 2003, 11:45 PM
I actually like them.:runs for cover:They're better than tape,and can (most of the time)be undone.However I hate the big ones,ohh and the white things you have to cut.
Title: Re: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: proudfather2 on July 10, 2003, 11:54 PM
I just finished getting my new Alien Queen out of the box... and I bought it three days ago! >:( This thing not only had tons of those twisty little nightmares but also had the longest ones I'd seen in quite some time. Twisty ties suck hard!!!

About the use of twisty ties in everything toy these days. Those little buggers seriously deter shoplifters. Don't laugh, it's true. Back in the late 70's I knew a boy that could, and did many times, steal Star Wars figs, and any other loosely sealed toys he could get his hands on, by the dozens. He would simply yank that small blister off the card, toss the empties behind or under the shelfs and put said figure/toy into his very deep pockets and keep going till he was fully loaded. That little phase of his lasted a few years but he ultimately gave it up and reformed himself as best he could. Anyway, as I stated above, since the advent of the twisty tie I dare say that a great many a toy have been spared from the once almighty shoplifter as they simply take too damn long to get anything untangled from them! And that is a good thing from the perspective of the retailer, manufacturer and consumer.
Title: Re: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: Mikey D on July 11, 2003, 07:01 AM
I hate them too.

On a slightly related note, how do they originally twist the ties?  Is there a machine or is some poor soul over in Taiwan making $0.50 an hour doing it by hand?  
Title: Re: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: MisterPL on July 11, 2003, 10:38 AM
Helpful Hint on twist ties: Nail clippers. (Martha Stewart should do a book on this kind of stuph.)

I recently bought some Marvel Minimates. These things come in 2-packs, they're 2" tall, and are encapsulated in the standard form-fitting double blister. And of course, each one is bound with TWO twist ties and a rubber band. Can I get a "WTF?!"

Worst twisty tie Star Wars item:  Portrait Edition Queen Amidala. I think that is where MisterPL got a good base for his women ;).

Woman. Singular. She'll be life-sized. And most of my twist ties are coming from McFarlane's Alien & Predator figures lately. That Queen is in there TIGHT.

Is there a machine or is some poor soul over in Taiwan making $0.50 an hour doing it by hand?  

Twist ties are a hand operation. And workers overseas aren't generally paid by the hour, they're paid by the unit. Imagine getting paid 50˘ for every Alien Box you put together. Faster, Chow Ling, faster.
Title: Re: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: Boba Binks on July 11, 2003, 01:39 PM
The Alien Queen was a nightmare to get all the twistys off.  >:(

Yes, Twist Ties suck.  ;D
Title: Re: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: Darth Broem on July 11, 2003, 02:51 PM
Yes, the twist ties are a pain.  You know what though?    I would trade in the pain and agony of twist ties just to find a new figure.  
Title: Re: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: BushiFox on July 12, 2003, 01:21 PM
Hmmm.  Hard to say really.  I don't think I mind the twisty ties as much as the little plastic rubber things on star wars figures.  I remember almost pulling one figure's arm off...and, then the new way of sticking figure's legs or arms through that plastic backing material stuff...Icky.

I have a pair of wire snippers I can normally use with much success on cutting the twisties.  I don't think you could pay me enough to untwist all of those...The only problem I had was I cut off half of one of the cantina cinema scene aliens feet on one of those foot twisty ties.  

What about Marvel Legends packing?  I remember when I opened my spiderman classics, I must have spent 10 minutes trying to get him out.  You have to use a knife.
Title: Re: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: dustrho on July 12, 2003, 02:31 PM
I remember almost pulling one figure's arm off...and, then the new way of sticking figure's legs or arms through that plastic backing material stuff...Icky.

That's another pet peeve of mine.  Well, the only other thing I can think of that they'll do to prevent people from stealing the figures, are to shrink wrap several layers of plastic around the figure, and then put it in the packaging.  If people are stealing all these figures why don't they just luck them up behind glass?!   :P
Title: Re: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: DSJ™ on July 12, 2003, 02:40 PM
Twist Ties are in everything. From toys to electronics. They come in various colors & can be a pain in the censored.
Hey, it could be worse, they could tape everything down.  :o
Or use a power stapler.  ;)
Title: Re: Twist Ties... I Hate 'Em!
Post by: Morgbug on July 13, 2003, 12:04 AM
I remember almost pulling one figure's arm off...and, then the new way of sticking figure's legs or arms through that plastic backing material stuff...Icky.

That's another pet peeve of mine.  Well, the only other thing I can think of that they'll do to prevent people from stealing the figures, are to shrink wrap several layers of plastic around the figure, and then put it in the packaging.  If people are stealing all these figures why don't they just luck them up behind glass?!   :P

Yep, that plastic around the figures is a pain in the butt.  It is responsible (and my lack of patience) for busting the light saber of my Ki-Adi-Mundi Saga version.  Grrrrrr. >:(