The Buttoneer is basically a cheap, flimsy version of the device clothing stores use to attach those little plastic tags that hold on price tags and hold pairs of socks together, with a few differences. While that sounds like a great idea, the Buttoneer uses tags that are so tiny and flimsy they are practically useless. The tiny tags are so weak they pull out with the slightest effort, making them inadequate for holding a button on. They might be useful for attaching buttons to doll clothing, or perhaps shirt collars or some other place that doesn't require the button to actually hold anything in place. For buttons that actually have to hold something closed, the Buttoneer is completely useless, as the buttons pull out with the slightest force. Its hard to see how the designers even thought this device could work, since the plastic tabs are so tiny and weak. Anyone who has tried the Buttoneer can see its completely useless, so either the people selling it have never even tried the thing, or they're intentionally selling a useless product.
The sad thing is, that using plastic tabs to hold on buttons is actually a pretty good idea, and the Buttoneer could probably hold buttons on securely if the device were not so poorly designed. If they just made the plastic tabs as strong as the ones used in clothing stores this would probably be a great product. Unfortunately, they used cheap, tiny, ineffective plastic tabs instead, making this product totally useless for anything except ripping off unsuspecting consumers lured in by those late-night TV commercials
2 comments:
The original buttoneer and buttoneer 2 (which I bought in the late 1970's) were great products, even though they were made by Ronco. If only I could get refills for mine! More like a store version, it was a single fastener shooter, with refills available in clear, off white, or black and in different lengths.
I suspect that people were using the long fasteners to voodoo price tags in dressing rooms - that's the only reason I can think of for why the original isn't made anymore.
It was incredibly versatile what with the different lengths from short for a button to 1 1/2 inch for keeping a lining or slip comfortably but flexibly in place.
The fasteners themselves finally weakened, just like a plastic bag left in the sun for a season or two, after about 10 years. But until then, they were strong like the ones in stores.
Why oh why can't I use my original buttoneer anymore? Why no refills? Why do they sell that ridiculous double barrelled joke? The current buttoneer is a purposefully emasculated version of what was once a great product -- emasculated by stores who fear taglifters.
I was looking for refills for my buttoneer, and I found this at the Avery site. Do you think they are going to bring back a decent buttoneer?
http://www.fastener.averydennison.com/product.aspx?id=3396
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