Wrap rage

Wrap rage (or wrapping rage or package rage) is the common name for heightened levels of anger, frustration and violence resulting from the inability to open hard-to-remove packaging.

In 2006, Consumer Reports magazine officially recognized the "wrap rage" phenomenon when it created the Oyster Awards for the products with the hardest-to-open packaging. A story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about "wrap rage" was featured on The Colbert Report when host Stephen Colbert (character)|Stephen Colbert tried to use a knife to remove a new calculator from its packaging, to no avail.

Tools and implements used in attempts to open packages while under the influence of wrap rage are typically applied in a reckless and unsafe manner, and with the use of excessive force.

Wrap rage may result in minor injuries, such as cuts, sprains and bruises to the fingers and hands or strains to the shoulder muscle caused by exerting excessive efforts in attempting to open packages. In addition to personal injuries, wrap rage can result in damages to the goods (e.g. to instruction manuals, CDs or warranty cards) or other items nearby at the product’s eventual opening. Merely opening some blister packs will render the contents un-returnable as stores insist on receiving returned goods in a packaged condition - impossible if the blister pack has to be opened by force.