Why is Trek DVD packaging so awkward?

[Mr. Laser Beam]

For the various TV series, I mean. It seems that every time a Trek series comes out on DVD, Paramount goes out of its way to make the packaging more elaborate, clumsy, and all around pain in the ass to use. Is there any particular reason why this happens? I mean, for pete's sake, is it really necessary to have to open a box, take out a smaller box, remove the sleeve from that box, open about 100 folds (the TNG packaging is especially irritating in this regard), open ANOTHER box, etc.?

This is why I have thrown away the packaging from every series and bought those 'sleeves' from Case Logic to put them in. At least there, you only have to do one thing - undo one zipper - to get the discs out!

(Only one I haven't yet done this for, is TOS-R, but that's because only the first season has been released and I don't know how many discs will be in the other two sets and thus what kind of 'sleeve' to buy yet.)

And speaking of TOS-R: Whoever thought of leaving the episode titles off of the disc labels, and printing those stupid little cards (which can individually fall out and get lost), should be beaten like a rented mule.

 

[Skywalker]

Yeah, it's pretty moronic. I wish every company released their TV shows in the same format as Fox does, with three or four slim plastic cases holding two discs apiece, then put in a nice, slim cardboard box, and on the back of each case has episode titles and summaries for every episode contained within. So much simpler, neater, and nicer, and it takes up much less room.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I just wish I had enough hard drive space (and that it was legal) to rip all the DVDs I own to a HD for viewing with an AppleTV. Then it wouldn't matter what kind of packaging they used.

 

[Michael]

I know there are many who hate the package for the "TNG 20th Anniversary Edition". But the experience I had with it the last few weeks showed that it really is practical. Every disc gives the episodes on it. And the discs themself reside in three useful book-like DVD holders.

But aside from that it really does look unlovely.

 

[archeryguy1701]

The only series DVD I have is DS9 season 7, and I hate that packaging. It's hard to handle and it's falling apart pretty rapidly. I would have no issue if they started packaging their DVD's like everyone else. Who knows, maybe if they did that, they could lower prices because they aren't using as much packaging materials!

 

[sbk1234]

It's not just the tv shows. The movie DVDs are put together in such a way that the discs overlap each other in the box. THey're also a bitch to get out. I'm always worried that I'll snap the disc when trying to take it out.

 

[nx1701g]

archeryguy1701 said:
The only series DVD I have is DS9 season 7, and I hate that packaging. It's hard to handle and it's falling apart pretty rapidly.

I have to agree it drives me nuts how fast it breaks apart. My season 7 dvd case was destroyed in days.

 

[donners22]

I'm just writing a review of the Voyager Borg Cube set. From the opening paragraph:

While a more interesting design than TNG's simple case, it is rather impractical. The first five seasons are lined up across the middle, with the final two flanking them and the corners padded. Since the identification of each season is on the spine, and they are tightly packed, standing up, it is impossible to tell which one is which – so be sure to keep them in order! The indivdual discs in each season also lack identification on the spine. Though a minor inconvenience, it could be so easily avoided.

 

[erastus25]

And let's not forget that the cheaper, simpler and overall better slimcase packages aren't available in most DVD regions. gggrrr...

 

[2of1million]

I know what you mean! I agree completely. Why Paramount why?!

 

[Arlo]

Because marketing (shelf presence) is more important than usability.

 

[Ziz]

boxes:
www.sleevecity.com
www.genesysdtp.com
www.effectuality.com
www.usplastic.com


covers:
www.rixgrafix.com/index_015.htm

 

[PKTrekGirl]

I think the R2 boxes are alot better. Not only are they more attractive and sturdier, but they are also easier to use, I believe.

I don't know what they were thinking with the R1 sets.

The worst is Voyager's packaging - the horrible glow-in-the-dark colored outer box is flimsy, the trays are cheap and easily crushed (and easily separated from each other), there is no disc art at all, and the episode names are in microscopic print going round and round in a circle next to the spindle hole. The shiny plain disks look terrible in a matter of seconds, all full of fingerprints. It doesn't get any worse than this.

DS9's boxes are more attractive, but just as flimsy - I know lots of people who have had a hard time keeping the covers attached. The disk art is good though (except for the gaffe of the Jem'Hadar fighters flying backwards in one set )...and the trays are a bit sturdier too - made with a bit heavier plastic. And you can read the names of the episodes without the use of an electron microscope.

TNG's boxes are too thick and too tall. They take up too much space - on the shelf *and* when you are unfolding them, trying to get a disk out. And the inner folder is impossible to get out of the outer box sometimes - they made it too tight and the suction keeps the box in there, even if you turn it over and shake it over a sofa. I have actually had to pry the things out with a knife on occasion.

TOS's full season set boxes and ENT's boxes are very similar to each other. ENT, ironically, has the most attractive presentation of any Trek show's packaging...but those big plastic cases, while nice to look at, are a pain in the ass to store as they are too tall for a standard DVD shelving unit. The TOS boxes have the same trouble - too tall for the shelves. And of course, both are also quite thick and take up alot of space. Although I do like the clamshell box itself and it *is* sturdy. Of course, the little square disk trays inside the outer boxes are kinda flimsy...but at least they are protected from crushing by the hard plastic outer box.

The box for TAS is smaller and easier to store...and is hard plastic so as to avoid crushing. It is quite possibly the best all-round box of the lot.

My feelings, from best to worst:

TAS
ENT
TOS (season sets)
DS9
TNG
VOY

 

[doubleohfive]

PKTrekGirl said:
I think the R2 boxes are alot better. Not only are they more attractive and sturdier, but they are also easier to use, I believe.

I don't know what they were thinking with the R1 sets.

The worst is Voyager's packaging - the horrible glow-in-the-dark colored outer box is flimsy, the trays are cheap and easily crushed (and easily separated from each other), there is no disc art at all, and the episode names are in microscopic print going round and round in a circle next to the spindle hole. The shiny plain disks look terrible in a matter of seconds, all full of fingerprints. It doesn't get any worse than this.

DS9's boxes are more attractive, but just as flimsy - I know lots of people who have had a hard time keeping the covers attached. The disk art is good though (except for the gaffe of the Jem'Hadar fighters flying backwards in one set )...and the trays are a bit sturdier too - made with a bit heavier plastic. And you can read the names of the episodes without the use of an electron microscope.

TNG's boxes are too thick and too tall.

ENT, ironically, has the most attractive presentation of any Trek show's packaging...but those big plastic cases, while nice to look at, are a pain in the ass to store as they are too tall for a standard DVD shelving unit. The TOS boxes have the same trouble - too tall for the shelves.

I don't know what kind of shelves you're using as "standard" for DVD storage, but I've never had problems of this kind with those sets -- they fit on my shelves just fine:

 

[Squiggy]

All hail the King of Nerds' DVD collection!

Nice cap too.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

005 - my DVD shelves do not have nearly the gaps that yours do.

Mine are just high enough for a standard DVD to slide in there.

I can adjust them upward, but that would make the next 'level' up unusable...or if I adjusted those upward, the next one after that. I don't shelve my CDs in the same place or in the same way like you do...so I can't afford to move one shelf upward and lose the use of another shelf completely as a result.

Plus, space is at a premium. I have about 1,300 titles in my DVD collection (and yes, season sets and boxed sets of movies each count as ONE title, even if 6 movies are included)...and so I cannot afford to waste any space, if at all possible.

The TOS, TNG and ENT sets do take up more space than is optimal - at least in my collection.

 

[doubleohfive]

^
I see.

The shelves I didnt' post previously (because none of the Trek DVDs were on them when those pics were taken in 2005) are the BILLY shelves from IKEA -- also perfectly suited for regular AND Trek DVD sets. This shelf is marketed as "standard" for CDs and DVDs and as such was why I disputed your claim that the Trek DVD packaging doesn't fit on "standard" DVD shelves.

Here's the rest of my collection back then:

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

PKTrekGirl said:
The worst is Voyager's packaging

You haven't seen the TOS-R box, have you? You won't think VOY's is worst after you do.

Not only are the episode titles NOT printed on the TOS-R discs at all, the only place they ARE printed on is these lameass little pieces of plastic which are left inside the packaging and not attached to anything, thus they can fall out and get lost in an instant.

 

[doubleohfive]

Simple solution: Write up a list of all the episodes and which disk they're on. Better yet, copy'n'paste it from someplace online. Keep said list near your TV in case you ever lose said "lameass little pieces of plastic."

 

[Smiley]

Since I can't change the packaging, apart from buying new cases and printing custom covers, I prefer to look on the bright side. The Trek DVD cases are distinct from everything else on the shelf, and taking out the discs makes watching the DVDs more of an event.