Retailers like Best Buy, Circuit City, and TigerDirect (CompUSA) may be different on deals and external appearance, but when it comes to the manufacturer products they stock, they're all the same and they all feature virtually the same bulky, environmentally-unfriendly, hard-to-open packaging.  From hard plastic clamshells that would turn away even relatively strong scissors, to plastic ties and tape, opening your purchase can be a painful experience.

It is unclear whether this packaging provides any benefit.  It may provide some additional protection or security, but if it does, both the retailer and the manufacturer typically have not stated this justification for the hassle.

Now one of the internet's largest retailers is taking a stand against bothersome packaging.  Amazon.com is launching its "Frustration-Free Packaging" initiative (JPEG), which aims to ditch the bothersome plastic packaging and replace it with an easy to open recyclable cardboard container.

So far Fisher-Price, Mattel, Microsoft and Transcend, have all committed products (various toys and electronics) to the initiative.  Amazon is pressuring more manufacturers to jump aboard as well.  The initiative currently has 19 products, but Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos believes the potential is much bigger.  He envisions an "entire catalog of products in Frustration-Free Packaging".

The new shipping packages come in a variety of form factors, but generally can be either classed as a cardboard box with inserts to hold the product in position or a cardboard envelope for items such as flash memory cards (the smaller easy to open plastic storage case is still included).  All the shipping containers are easy to open and equally easy to recycle.

Will brick-and-mortar retailers and manufacturers team up to follow Amazon's lead?  Only time and customer enthusiasm will tell.