How do I open the box?

[David Walker]

I recently bought Office Outlook 2007 from Circuit City. Part number X12-
11790-01.

How do I open the box?

The lower right corner of the box (as viewed from the front) has a white
plastic "column" thing, about an inch long, that goes from the front of the
box to the back. The right side has (or had) some security tape around it.

The top of the box has a round clear sticker that I am having a hard time
getting rid of without destroying the COA.

After all of that, I can't tell if the front is supposed to separate from
the right side, or if the back is supposed to separate from the right side,
or what.

I got it opened once, nearly breaking it in the process, and now it is
closed again -- and I'm trying to study the box to figure out how it's
SUPPOSED to open.

Once the stickers have been cut with a knife, can the box be opened with
bare hands, or are special tools required?

I have been a programmer using Microsoft software since 1995. I have never
run across anything that was so hard to open.

I'm not joking, right now I have removed the white "column" thing from the
lower right corner of the box, and I can't open the front cover again
(without applying enough force that I'm afraid I will break the plastic).

Is the front or back cover supposed to swing open?

Thanks for any tips, pointers, videos, KB articles on how to open the box,
etc.

David Walker

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Remove the tape from that wraps around the side. Then pull the tab on the top to the side.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, David Walker asked:

| I recently bought Office Outlook 2007 from Circuit City. Part number
| X12- 11790-01.
|
| How do I open the box?
|
| The lower right corner of the box (as viewed from the front) has a
| white plastic "column" thing, about an inch long, that goes from the
| front of the box to the back. The right side has (or had) some
| security tape around it.
|
| The top of the box has a round clear sticker that I am having a hard
| time getting rid of without destroying the COA.
|
| After all of that, I can't tell if the front is supposed to separate
| from the right side, or if the back is supposed to separate from the
| right side, or what.
|
| I got it opened once, nearly breaking it in the process, and now it is
| closed again -- and I'm trying to study the box to figure out how it's
| SUPPOSED to open.
|
| Once the stickers have been cut with a knife, can the box be opened
| with bare hands, or are special tools required?
|
| I have been a programmer using Microsoft software since 1995. I have
| never run across anything that was so hard to open.
|
| I'm not joking, right now I have removed the white "column" thing
| from the lower right corner of the box, and I can't open the front
| cover again (without applying enough force that I'm afraid I will
| break the plastic).
|
| Is the front or back cover supposed to swing open?
|
| Thanks for any tips, pointers, videos, KB articles on how to open the
| box, etc.
|
| David Walker

 

[David Walker]

Remove the tape from that wraps around the side. Then pull the tab on
the top to the side.

Ah! So THAT'S what that tab on the top is for! I was trying to pull the
tab before I un-did all the other stuff.

The box NEEDS to have a couple of sentences on "how to open" somewhere on
it.

Please pass that on, if you know of anyone in the "packaging" group.

Thanks.

David Walker

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

The only people I know at Microsoft are the OUtlook PMs. Packaging is not done at Microsoft - it is done by a packaging company and I know of no one there.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, David Walker asked:

| "Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]"
| |
|| Remove the tape from that wraps around the side. Then pull the tab
|| on the top to the side.
||
|| --
|| Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]
|
| Ah! So THAT'S what that tab on the top is for! I was trying to pull
| the tab before I un-did all the other stuff.
|
| The box NEEDS to have a couple of sentences on "how to open"
| somewhere on it.
|
| Please pass that on, if you know of anyone in the "packaging" group.
|
| Thanks.
|
| David Walker

 

[AMD]

Ah! So THAT'S what that tab on the top is for! I was trying to pull the
tab before I un-did all the other stuff.

The box NEEDS to have a couple of sentences on "how to open" somewhere on
it.

Please pass that on, if you know of anyone in the "packaging" group.

Thanks.

David Walker

Whoever came up with these new vista and office boxes should be fired.
idiotic. the boxes are cool, but they hosed the opening process. it's a joke
how it opens and everything can fall out so easy.

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

And I am of the opposite opinion - everyone has a *insert appropriate _____ here* and they use it when required.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, AMD asked:

| || "Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]"
|| ||
||| Remove the tape from that wraps around the side. Then pull the tab
||| on the top to the side.
|||
||| --
||| Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]
||
|| Ah! So THAT'S what that tab on the top is for! I was trying to
|| pull the tab before I un-did all the other stuff.
||
|| The box NEEDS to have a couple of sentences on "how to open"
|| somewhere on it.
||
|| Please pass that on, if you know of anyone in the "packaging" group.
||
|| Thanks.
||
|| David Walker
|
|
| Whoever came up with these new vista and office boxes should be fired.
| idiotic. the boxes are cool, but they hosed the opening process. it's
| a joke how it opens and everything can fall out so easy.

 

[Chuck]

I spent over 30 minutes trying to figure out how it was supposed to open by
pulling the top tab, and finally discovered the tape at the side, but thought
that had to come off AFTER pulling open the top Tab which I thought was kind
of like those plastice strips used to open sealed bags.

I Tried to get help at the Microsoft Website, but it needed to have a PID
just to send an email, and that is not available unless you install the
software which requires opening the box. Quite frustrating.

Fortunately I found this posting and Milly's directions. Thats great. I
also support the suggestion about improving the packaging, but then I am just
a customer.

While some businesses might appreciate unsolicited suggetsions for
improvement, Microsoft says that they do...Note the terms of use on this
discussion board...but as you can see from Milly's response, that may not be
the case...."For suggestion submissions, we can't guarantee we will use your
suggestions. Due to the volume and variety of suggestions, we can't provide
compensation or attribution. We appreciate your input"....
I think Milly's not seeing the whole picture of the problem however
regarding quality and customer perception regarding the packaging suggestion;
She's Kwick on the trigger too, hope that her pistol isn't loaded.

Remove the tape from that wraps around the side. Then pull the tab on
the top to the side.

--Â
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Ah! So THAT'S what that tab on the top is for! I was trying to pull the
tab before I un-did all the other stuff.

The box NEEDS to have a couple of sentences on "how to open" somewhere on
it.

Please pass that on, if you know of anyone in the "packaging" group.

Thanks.

David Walker

 

[XS11E]

I spent over 30 minutes trying to figure out how it was supposed
to open

Dang, another person heard from who doesn't own a chain saw..... ;-)

 

[David Walker]

Remove the tape from that wraps around the side. Then pull the tab on
the top to the side.

You forgot about the round clear thing that goes across the top of the
front and partially covers the COA. Removing this destroys the COA.
Cutting it would have left the COA (but it's too late now).

Pulling the tab doesn't do anything unless you first remove the tape that
wraps around the side *AND* the circular tape that wraps around the front
at the top center.

David