Product with a frustrating design flaw

Jazzy1

Jazzy1

Member
Location
Adirondack Region NY
What widely used product has a frustrating design flaw that the manufacturer has never addressed?

For me it would be Food packages that are resealable but the glue they use is to adhere the seal zip to the bag is weaker than the seal. So when you go to re-open the seal, the seal zip pulls away from the bag and there goes the resealable feature.

Which product frustrates you?
 

As someone who spent many years in the engineering and manufacturing field I constantly notice design flaws. Many flaws aren't necessarily engineering oversights but conscious cost saving decisions, save a penny on each of a billion products you manufacture and you have 10 million dollars. That's some powerful incentive to skrimp on quality.

My most resent example. I just purchased an expensive Zero turn mower, top of the line from a respected manufacturer.

As soon as I started the machine I heard a rattle, so I searched out the cause. The foot plate lifts up so pivots on two pins with bushings, the pins/washers/bushings assemplies were the source of the rattle. All that's necessary to eliminate the rattle is to put a bit of tension on the pivot pins/washers/bushings, several different ways to do that. My fast and easy approach was to find a couple of rubber o-rings, roll them onto the bushings and that stops all the parts from rattling. Not the fix I would use if I designed the part but a good farmers fix.

The manufacturer could fix the rattle for a couple of pennies, but someone made the decision not to.

Anyway...now I can mow without listening to that infernal rattle.
 
Jazzy1 said:
What widely used product has a frustrating design flaw that the manufacturer has never addressed?

For me it would be Food packages that are resealable but the glue they use is to adhere the seal zip to the bag is weaker than the seal. So when you go to re-open the seal, the seal zip pulls away from the bag and there goes the resealable feature.
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That happens to me a lot. I just have to put the content (or the whole bag) in a container.
 
WE use and love the resealable silicone bags. No plastic and if we can open and close you can to. I by them on Amazon and they are reusable. The best ones out of the 3 brands we have in order are

SPLF simple life bags- excellent for opening or closing
Gorilla Grip - very good on open and close
Ideatech, these um okay
come I different sizes also
 
I do wish other dog food mfg used packaging like Science Diet- the Velcro open and close bags are good
Um inhaler is a pain -literally to set up, with bad hands and arms. Stiolto Respimat. First used in 2017 and insurance at the time would not pay for the brand doctor wanted me to use. I just fight with it, as doctors are far from here and cheaper that another doctor and visit.
 
Bottles of prescription pills with caps that won't unscrew. You have to ask for "regular caps, not childproof,": which goes on your record, and from then on the bottles can be opened. Also, many food bottle caps are put on so tight that you have to use a tool to break the vacuum before you can open them.
 
I think this qualifies. A healthy female cat, playing with the mouse like it is her friend. It comes right up to her and she sniffs it ans let's it run about. Definitely a flawed kitty Kat! :)
 
RedAlert76 said:
we use scissors and small knives for that
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Actually, you saved me! I remembered reading you on a thread talking about useful things. You mentioned those special scissors. The next day, I bought a pair on Amazon for those special occasions. It worked! Prior of that, it hurt!
Thank you for making my life easier!❤️
 
Rossana said:
Actually, you saved me! I remembered reading you on a thread talking about useful things. You mentioned those special scissors. The next day, I bought a pair on Amazon for those special occasions. It worked! Prior of that, it hurt!
Thank you for making my life easier!❤️
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Awe thank you... there is all kinds of help and ideas for those of us who can not always mange on our own .. we have scissors in every room with magnifying glasses
 
Sunny said:
Bottles of prescription pills with caps that won't unscrew. You have to ask for "regular caps, not childproof,": which goes on your record, and from then on the bottles can be opened. Also, many food bottle caps are put on so tight that you have to use a tool to break the vacuum before you can open them.
Click to expand...
you need a under counter jar opener on Amazon... it opens everything !
 
Sunny said:
Bottles of prescription pills with caps that won't unscrew. You have to ask for "regular caps, not childproof,": which goes on your record, and from then on the bottles can be opened. Also, many food bottle caps are put on so tight that you have to use a tool to break the vacuum before you can open them.
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did you know if you turn the cap upside and then screw on - it is much easier to open? Provided you are talking about the regular pharmacy bottles our med come in.
 
jujube said:
Water bottles made of very flimsy plastic with tiny little caps that are hard to get a good grasp on to open.

You're holding the bottle firmly and when the cap does finally turn and open, the water splooshes out all over you.

An excellent reason to avoid disposable bottles, but sometimes you don't have a choice.
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That has happened to me several times! The tops are so thin that they can't be gripped properly.
 
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