Zibra ZPCOPEN-OR Open It Universal Package Opener

Ok so I purchased this thing thinking great now I have the best thing ever to open packages. I was pretty dissapointed to the point sometimes I just rather go to my room to get the scissor.

This seemed like something every household should have, so I bought several - one for my own household, and gifts for others. The thing has something for every one of those annoying tricks used to package things... it will definitely be used. Sturdy scissors for plastic and straps, a sharp knife, and screwdriver (both flat and phillips-head)are contained in one unit and the knife and screwdriver fold back for safety when not in use. A lock keeps the handles together when not in use. However, the manufacturers had a bizarre sense of humor when they packaged it... it came in one of those sealed plastic shells that (almost) defied opening.

I'm sorry to give the Zibra package opener a bad review since it was brought to market to help people with a task no one wants to do in the first place. However, as a product designer myself, I couldn't believe that this company allowed the final product to be sold and marketed.

I take issue with one feature in particular. The razor blade at the end of the handle. The trigger for using this razor looks just like a handle lock on other handheld tools, so users first using this product have a high likelihood of stabbing themselves with a razor blade right in the palm of their hand. Try it.

It looks like during a design review meeting, the marketing deptartment decieded they wanted to add some "value-added features," too bad it turned out to be a really bad decision.

Be careful!

This is a great product, I just wish it would either eliminate the extra features or improve them. For opening blister packs, it is fantastic. However, the safety lock broke very quickly and never really worked well in the first place...the t hing woud pop open by itself. The screwdriver has fallen off, and I never even used it.

Until Amazon manages to get everything packaged in frustration-free packaging, this little toy is a great thing. My favorite part is the bent scissors that let you cut the plastic close to the edge without getting your hand scratched up. This is a wonderful thing.