Must Read: Sorry, but bringing back the Start menu won't help Windows 8

Topic: Apple

Apple's earth-friendly packaging of a paper clip (aka: iPhone tool)?

Summary: I've seen a lot of strange and wasteful things in my day. But here's one that got my attention today.

David Berlind

By David Berlind for Berlind's Testbed |

I've seen a lot of strange and wasteful things in my day. But here's one that got my attention today. Via Digg, not only does Apple provide a paper clip to recipients of warranty replacement iPhones (his earpiece went dead on him), it's clearly using packaging that costs more than the paper clip itself to make sure buyers don't lose track of it. How green is that? Thanks to Keith Muth for permission to use the photo (here's another good picture of the complete package).

paperclip.png

Topics: Apple, iPhone, Mobility

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Talkback

17 comments
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  • Just one question?

    Where can we mere mortals get our own iClip?

    :)
    Real World
    Reply Vote

  • Message has been deleted.

    YinToYourYang-22527499
    Reply Vote

    • Stop Global warming!

      Gag journalists and politicians!

      I like it.
      frgough
      Reply Vote

  • Not a bad idea, actually.

    Not only does it save some people fro searching their house for a
    paper clip, but it provides a reinforcement of the basic instructions
    on the use of the paper clip. Some people will need both!
    Ken_z
    Reply Vote

    • exercise?

      Yeah we woudlnt want people actually getting off their lazy butt's to look for a paperclip.
      webstalkers@...
      Reply Vote

  • Not just any ole iPhone tool

    That is THE Mac tool from days long gone, or so I thought...

    guard it with your life, they don't make them by the dozen. ;)

    Yes, quite a waste of packaging materials for something that costs next to nothing...but then again there are worse things in life.
    Kid Icarus-21097050858087920245213802267493
    Reply Vote

  • Hey that is customer service!

    While you see a negative David, I see the opposite. What I see is a company doing what they do best, providing the best customer service to their customers.

    Would you rather they say run down to your local office supply store and buy some paper clip, then once you've done that give us a call back?
    dave95.
    Reply Vote

    • Wait for a mailer ?!?

      But now instead of getting a paper clip from your desk / junk drawer while on the support call, you need to wait to Apple to send you one first & then call back. I don't think you dare use a non Apple one as that may void your warranty for using an un-authorized 3rd party hardware to "hack" into your iphone. I am sure this paper clip was specially engineered for this purpose and meets a much higher tolerance then your run of the mill paper clip.

      But then again this is for a $500+ product that has the battery soldered inside.
      jhimes
      Reply Vote

  • This clip now has a purpose...

    above and beyond the sum of it's...part. It has a place to be stored and used again.

    Did you draw the short straw today on writing the Apple bashing article?

    Give it a rest for Pete's sake!
    CowLauncher
    Reply Vote

    • Apple bashing as sport

      I've just started receiving and viewing ZDNet Talkback and not having any familiarity
      with the publication had no preconceived notion about it. But I have to agree with
      CowLauncher that is a steady undercurrent of Apple bashing by quite a few of the
      columnists who may not even realize it. Raising the issue of impartiality when they're
      writing reviews. Just my two cents.
      nestorph@...
      Reply Vote

  • Third Party?

    Would a third-party tool void my warranty? How much would the Best Buy extended
    warranty cost if I buy one there?
    bryhal@...
    Reply Vote

  • historically appropriate tool

    after all, the first macintosh required a paper clip if you ran afoul of the OS and it wouldn't eject your floppy. but those were the wild days of 1984 and you were expected to supply your own clip. It would have been cooler if apple had shaped the clip to save the user the burden of bending it on his own. the resulting tool would become a collector's item. I hope apple put this in with tongue in cheek, I'd hate to think they have pointy headed managers who were serious when they made the decision to put the packaged paper clip in the box. I would be relieved to know they fell down on the floor paralyzed with laughter when they made the decision to include it.
    TheGaff
    Reply Vote

  • iPhone tool

    How did you determine the packaging is more expensive than the contents? If this type of thing interests you, try looking at cosmetics packaging or even beverage packaging (water, for instance).
    It's Monday, this must be Goofyville.
    uppy
    Reply Vote

  • What's not green and why is it wasteful?

    the paper is recyclable, so is the box it came in, the plastic gets burnt and turned
    into carbon which tree and plant leaves "breathe" and convert into oxygen so you
    can breathe.

    I don't mind the accusation but what is the environmental problem?

    What this is, really, is a bash on making sure nothing is left to chance for the
    customer. Maybe the customer would have "driven a car" to buy a bunch of paper
    clips he didn't need and eventually throw away! Maybe, maybe, maybe.

    Slow news day today.
    mlindl
    Reply Vote

    • Pathetic

      So now the whole global warming idea is turned on its head so that we need more carbon in the air?? I didn't think that even Jobs was that powerful.

      You people are pathetic. Learn to look at an article for what it is! Sometimes even your beloved products need to be laughed at.
      Harrim
      Reply Vote

  • As it it weren't enough...

    ... that I have to write this on a lowly PC, and use my Motorola phone for calls... now I look into my desk drawer and feel so woefully inadequate with my Staples brand paperclips.
    I wish I were cool like "them".
    shraven
    Reply Vote

    • I couldn't take it any longer!

      I rushed out to get an iPhone so I too could own this classic piece of tech history.
      Guess what? I got one!
      It was paper-clipped to the instructions for use.
      shraven
      Reply Vote
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