Quinn Socket Packaging...WTF?

[Jbear]

I'm not a huge Harbor Freight fan, but they do have some decent stuff IMO. Picked up a couple of sets of Quinns and Icons when they were having the 40% off all sockets. I just figured it'd be convenient to have another set and they didn't have to be top-shelf. Decent enough pieces and a great price, but what is the deal with the packaging on the Quinns? It's possible that I'm a total *****, but I needed a video and tools to get these things off the plastic rails! Took me 20 minutes, a razor knife, bolt cutter, screwdriver, and a needle nose to take them apart. I'm sure there's something ridiculously simple that I just didn't figure out, but damn...just damn. The more costly Icon sets were just in a box.
Okay...thanks for listening.

 

[CoogarXR]

No experience with the Quinn line specifically, but it sounds like the regular HF black plastic retail socket rail. Yep, they can be a huge pain in the ***, especially on sockets with no through-hole (torx, etc).

 

[four.cycle]

^ The packaging is engineered to reduce shoplifting. I recall dragging out a box cutter, two pairs of pliers, and a screwdriver to open a clamshell package one afternoon. Then I had to go find Band-Aids.

 

[whateg01]

I have no idea what the quinn packaging is like but if it's the Pittsburgh ones, I can usually stick the rail in the vise loosely and use a punch to knock them through the sockets.

 

[zendriver]

I shop there a lot

Most (all) socket stuff is a ***** to deal with removing from the holders. regardless of "brand".

I thought it was me not figuring it out. The packaging is designed to prevent theft, maybe use as well.

 

[four.cycle]

^ it's not you.

buy ANYTHING in one of those clamshell packages at Costco - you need Kevlar gloves to get the damn things opened!

 

[bwringer]

Yup, this is just a general packaging/antitheft/inconvenience thing that covers all sorts of goods from all sorts of brands.

The Icon stuff at HF has easier packaging, but the sockets and ratchets are also generally locked up so you have to go a-begging for a key holder to release your stuff, which is another kind of annoyance.

 

[whateg01]

^ it's not you.

buy ANYTHING in one of those clamshell packages at Costco - you need Kevlar gloves to get the damn things opened!

Bandsaw works wonders

 

[Tundra1]

I have found shop scissors to be a good plan of attack with that style packaging. I love my Japanese ph-57 Engineer brand scissors!!

 

[four.cycle]

I am pretty sure last one I opened I used a pair of 10-inch tin snips. Much easier. Less painful. No bloodshed.

 

[Jbear]

We have to buy buy tools to buy other tools...if we want to use them.

 

[WWheeler]

Couple short vids showing how

 

[jayemm]

After sliding the sockets off of the rail (on the HF sockets I bought), I drove the plastic pieces out of the sockets with a pin punch. PITA packaging.

 

[Jbear]

Saw that. If we need a video and tools...it's not a great packaging design...in my opinion. Mine, incidentally, had no notch in the rails so...no sliding for me. If you need more tools to open the package than are in the package...???

 

[Drunkonunleaded]

For packaging like this, I've found it easiest to cut the sockets off of the tree and thread a small sheet metal screw into the plastic that's still in the drive end. Use pliers to rip the screw and remaining plastic out of the socket.

 

[four.cycle]

Okay... I got it... before watching the YouTube video on how to actually perform the task at hand, you have to first watch the video on how to open the package so you can get at the tools to do the job.

Got it.

 

[PCustoms]

Okay... I got it... before watching the YouTube video on how to actually perform the task at hand, you have to first watch the video on how to open the package so you can get at the tools to do the job.

Got it.

Unboxing videos actually have a purpose?

 

[whateg01]

Unboxing videos actually have a purpose?

I think if a group of tool junkies can't figure out how to get a socket out of a package, all hope is lost.

 

[PCustoms]

I think if a group of tool junkies can't figure out how to get a socket out of a package, all hope is lost.

I find using a snap on mini prybar or punch is the best way to get to HF sockets off those rails

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

I'd like to see an over the top video of opening those. Hydraulic press, Stihl saw, gas torch, whatever...

 

[WWheeler]

I'd like to see an over the top video of opening those. Hydraulic press, Stihl saw, gas torch, whatever...

This would be my overkill method suggestion.
Apologies for the janky photoshop job. It took me 10 minutes to whip it up. I probably could have asked some AI program to do it in seconds.

 

[whateg01]

View attachment 2395054

I find it easier just to open the jaws just a little wider than the thickness of the plastic and set the socket on top. But you got me thinking, I bet my hydraulic press would be able to remove the whole plastic piece from all of the sockets at once.

Of course, another method has to be devised to remove the torx sockets from the rail!

 

[WWheeler]

I find it easier just to open the jaws just a little wider than the thickness of the plastic and set the socket on top. But you got me thinking, I bet my hydraulic press would be able to remove the whole plastic piece from all of the sockets at once.

Of course, another method has to be devised to remove the torx sockets from the rail!

I'd like to see that. Having a hard time picturing how you'd set that up.
If it works a video of that would no doubt be a big hit over at the r/harborfreight subreddit.

 

[whateg01]

I'd like to see that. Having a hard time picturing how you'd set that up.
If it works a video of that would no doubt be a big hit over at the r/harborfreight subreddit.

I'm trying to decide if I need any sockets right now. I really don't. But, for science...

 

[Beerhippie]

^ it's not you.

buy ANYTHING in one of those clamshell packages at Costco - you need Kevlar gloves to get the damn things opened!

Oxy-fuel torch works just fine.

 

[Jbear]

I'd like to see an over the top video of opening those. Hydraulic press, Stihl saw, gas torch, whatever...

Project Farm. "And the plasma cutter only took 4 hours and 27 minutes to move into second place behind the 105mm armor-piercing round."

 

[Fixr]

The shoplifters have been keeping ahead of the people who try to make sure that all of the items you are paying for are actually in the package when you buy it. I'm pretty sure that the shoplifting thing is now a full-on professional industry, possibly with a stock exchange three-letter designation.

 

[Meursault74]

Larry David going ******* trying to open up a clamshell package

 

[PCustoms]

I don't think this is new, or necessarily anti-theft.

Years ago (15?) I bought a set of 3/8 drive Allen bits, they came on the same plastic rail.

I still haven't taken all sizes off..

 

[zendriver]

The shoplifters have been keeping ahead of the people who try to make sure that all of the items you are paying for are actually in the package when you buy it. I'm pretty sure that the shoplifting thing is now a full-on professional industry, possibly with a stock exchange three-letter designation.

And the fact they are stealing harbor freight merch, makes it even more pathetic

American prosperity at its finest

 

[liliysdad]

Ive never had to fight these stupid packaging solutions when buy decent quality tools. Not once have I had to hack, cut, rip, or pry Snap On or Williams sockets from a rail or tree. Even the few Icons I have floating around are packaged in a sensible manner.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Ive never had to fight these stupid packaging solutions when buy decent quality tools. Not once have I had to hack, cut, rip, or pry Snap On or Williams sockets from a rail or tree. Even the few Icons I have floating around are packaged in a sensible manner.

I bought some socket adapters that were Quinn and I returned them because I could not remove them from the plastic without extreme measures so I just went back and bought the icon that didn't have the problem.

 

[Callelle]

I bought some socket adapters that were Quinn and I returned them because I could not remove them from the plastic without extreme measures so I just went back and bought the icon that didn't have the problem.

seems like extreme first world problems.

 

[driftpin]

A vibrating multi-tool w/the proper blade should open things up and allow you to cut-off a piece of the rail so you can slide it off, and then use a punch to knock the plastic 1/4" 3/8"/1/2" piece out. I use a vise (not a 'vice,' that's something you did in an earlier time) with the jaws set apart far enough to hold the socket and then the punch and a ball pein hammer to knock out from the top, that pesky square stud.

 

[Jbear]

The idea that it requires YouTube videos, internet advice, and hand and power tools to open a package of low-end sockets is positively hysterical.

 

[Ohio Andy]

The idea that it requires YouTube videos, internet advice, and hand and power tools to open a package of low-end sockets is positively hysterical.

I just went back to the store and said something like "I can't get this off" and they did not know how to do it so I just returned it.

 

[whateg01]

I just went back to the store and said something like "I can't get this off" and they did not know how to do it so I just returned it.

Pathetic

 

[liliysdad]

Pathetic

I don’t know…is it pathetic to refuse to fight some cheap plastic packaging for some low rent sockets, when you can get decent tools in packaging that requires no drama?

I would argue that it is not.

 

[Callelle]

I don’t know…is it pathetic to refuse to fight some cheap plastic packaging for some low rent sockets, when you can get decent tools in packaging that requires no drama?

Yes.

 

[zendriver]

This is Garage journal - everything requires drama.

Even their icon sockets, you have to have the surgical precision of “Hawkeye Pierce” to cut away the plastic covering without harming the fancy socket holder

Personally, I think it’s a conspiracy. I have a lot of their old sockets and I still use the original holder they came with. Now you gotta rip the new ones apart, forcing you to buy an extra socket holder.m

Genius!