Eh, I always try and find something sharp to tear the plastic off with, as I never have long fingernails. It works for me.
I freaking love tearing the wrappers off of CDs. Even more, I love peeling off the security sticker thingys. It's an art you either learn to mater or you don't, I think.
thumbnail pierces the pastic in the groove on the far side frome the edge. after wraping is removed, I remove case lid from lower hinge first. after lid is off I remove security sticker whole.
I always open them with my fingernails, not with scissors or any other tool. Gently and carefully, I pull the fold in the wrapping on the top edge of the case and tear it off. Doing so usually leaves at least half of the wrapping still on the case, and I just start pulling it all off. I am always so careful with my cds and treat them as though they are royal.
find a nice 90 degree edge, run the edge with the little ridges against the sharp angle fast, tends to tear it up well enough to get an edge to start. ahrd to explain
there is a little fold on the plastic in the edges of the cd's. U have to stick something( i use finger nails) underneath that and pull it loose. It is still difficult but thats how i do it.
Getting the outer wrapper off is never the problem for me. Figernail or teeth at the corner is usually enough. Once the outer wrapper is off, you have to worry about the sticker with the CD and Artist name on it. I'm not sure I'm going to explain this well, but I'll try: The top part of the CD case is only barely hinged on there. Slide a fingernail gently under one of the tabs that hinge the case together. The top part of the CD case will come off. Pull the top PLUS the sticker off of bottom part of CD case. Then you gently pull off sticker from the top part of the CD case. Re-hinge the CD case, and voila!
I have over 600 cds coming next week , a insurance settlement I lost all my cd's in a fire , it broke my heart , I would like to thank everyone for their input.
I sell merch at shows and people always want the plastic and sticker off for autographs, so we have a few widgets like this: http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/xipper-cddvd-jewel-case-opener-177411.php http://www.4imprint.com/EXEC/DETAIL/~SKU001777/~CA1777.htm?mkid=8by
I work on cars so I always have a screwdriver in my jeep. I take a flathead and run a point over the ridges. then i unhook the bottom hinge and pull the sticker off after flattening it out.