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Good design improves your life. Meanwhile, bad design makes your life much, much worse. Not only that, but it can actively ruin your day. Don’t believe us? No worries, we’re bringing the proof.

People vented about the minor everyday inconveniences that turn out to be major problems and actively make their day a lot worse. We’ve collected the most egregious examples that hurt to read, and you can find them below. Read on for their experiences that are all frustratingly relatable and make you wish that more designers knew what they were doing.

#1

Hands scooping flour into a bag next to a scale, representing the everyday inconvenience of precise measurements in baking. Could I please have some plain flour with a teaspoon's worth of flour caught up in the folds at the top, so that when you open it, it's like your personal miniature ticker-tape parade that you have to clean up.

elizathomascomedy , Curated Lifestyle / Unsplash Report

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    #2

    A person in a red sweater dispensing hand soap, illustrating everyday inconveniences. Hand soap pump that won’t pop up but just instead turns in circles so you have to unscrew and use it as a popsicle stick style dispenser please. Thank you!

    rachaelleahklein , Anna Shvets / Pexels Report

    #3

    A person seals a cardboard box with tape, highlighting an everyday inconvenience of packing. I would like a roll of tape that has a hard to find end but when I do find and pull it, it shreds into 8 separate parts and I waste at least 6” of tape pulling the shreds and cutting it even again.

    notetosarah , Kateryna Hliznitsova / Unsplash Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to be a chronic nailbiter for decades. Literally never had any nails at all as I'd bite/rip them down past the nailbed. Now imagine trying to find/peel up the edge of masking/packing tape when you have no nails at all and only your dumb blunt skin fingertips XD

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    Thanks to negativity bias, a small inconvenience, an unkind word, or a small hassle can derail your entire day. Something unpleasant but cosmically unimportant, like spilling coffee on your favorite shirt because of a poorly designed takeaway cup, stepping into a puddle, or getting some (hopefully constructive, not destructive) feedback from your boss, can make you ruminate. You start thinking that the day is already ruined, even if you can still turn it around with a bit of effort.

    Focusing on the negatives more than the positives is hardwired into us because this is what helped our ancestors survive. The bad news is that this makes us particularly sensitive to situations where things don’t go our way. So, poorly designed products, packaging, and services can impact our day quite a bit, even if we objectively realize that the actual inconvenience is minuscule.

    #4

    A box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese with instructions, highlighting an everyday inconvenience. Can you pick me up a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese that absolutely will not “open here”?

    theautisticwitch777 , Powerface17 / Reddit Report

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    #5

    A partially peeled tamper-evident seal on a bottle, a funny description of everyday inconveniences. I just need something with this tab to piss me off.

    jessicatattsaz Report

    Sanguina
    Community Member
    55 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That looks like a jug of maple syrup

    #6

    A close-up of a picture frame with multiple price tags that are difficult to remove, a common everyday inconvenience. I want a picture frame. BUT ONLY if the price tag is smack in the middle, and leaves an impossible to remove, gooey residue on the glass when you peel it off.

    ktjd70 , radtastictaylor / Reddit Report

    Ideally, we’d all be able to increase our resilience and change our mindset so that tiny everyday inconveniences do not, well, inconvenience us. There’s only so much time and energy that we have each day, and it shouldn’t be squandered on things that genuinely don’t matter. That’s easier said than done, though.

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    Reid Daitzman, Ph.D., emphasizes that “everyone, everywhere, every day experiences minor emotional turmoil.” Psychological irritants and setbacks can cause mental health issues if they happen over a long period of time and are intense enough.

    “Any minor irritant can push someone over the edge,” he writes in a post on Psychology Today. Petty annoyances can be the things that finally lead to a breakdown if you’re under chronic stress.

    #7

    A woman with curly hair laughs loudly, expressing a funny everyday inconvenience. I need some maxi pads that won't stick to my underwear but stick to my pubes so well I give myself an accidental Brazilian pulling it off.

    lookwhatkatemade , Mizuno K / Pexels Report

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    #8

    An orange and white cat in a litter box with a kitten watching, highlighting a common pet owner's everyday inconvenience. Please grab a bag of cat litter that has a tiny hole in the corner so you leave a trail allllll the way through the store.

    latmilone2527 , Emrecan Dora / Unsplash Report

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    #9

    A person holding a pill bottle and a glass of water, showing a common everyday inconvenience. I have a sprained wrist, can you grab me some Tylenol with the child safety cap that needs 2 hands to open.

    pinkpowerrangr , Jonathan Borba / Pexels Report

    Fred
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tylenol is a brand name for paracetamol.

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    According to Daitzman, you have to reevaluate your current situation and priorities if you’re overreacting to minor frustrations with rage.

    He suggests doing the following things when dealing with irritating and annoying experiences:

    1. Put things in perspective
    2. Accept what you can't control
    3. Realize all people make mistakes or overreact
    4. Jot down your primary triggers
    5. Shift mental focus to more positives
    6. If possible, address the situation. If not, move on
    7. Grin and bear it. Have a laugh
    8. Be patient
    9. Avoid people you know who might mess with your head
    10. Understand moods

    If everyday inconveniences continue to cause chaos in your life, it might be time to reach out for help. Get in touch with a therapist or sign up for an anger management course. Recognizing that you need help requires some humility, but you should not see this as a personal failure. It is an opportunity to improve your life.

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    #10

    A man with a beard and glasses struggles with an inverted umbrella on a windy day, a common inconvenience. One umbrella turned inside out by the wind on a rainy day, please.

    biabrat , pressfoto / Magnific Report

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    #11

    A person wearing white gloves applying glue to a small object, illustrating everyday inconveniences. I’d love a tube of super glue that’s already dried out.

    gingerkristen , azerbaijan_stockers / Magnific Report

    #12

    Can I have a bag of clementine oranges that look juicy but when you peel them they’re all just dry husks of orange pulp and a roll of paper towels with so much glue on the end that you shred like 3 layers just to get one? I think they’re down the aisle that is blocked by a herd of slow walkers. Be sure to get in line behind the old lady paying with a check!

    dot_yr_ts_cross_yr_eyes Report

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    We want to hear from you, Pandas!

    Which of these daily nuisances and bad design decisions did you vibe with the most? Which ones are likely to annoy you the most, and why?

    What everyday inconveniences did we miss that can genuinely ruin your day? Yours truly can’t stand it when cinema seat numbers are mislabeled and misplaced—it’s a tiny issue, but it leads to awkward encounters with other movie lovers.

    If it’s convenient for you, let us know what you think in the comments!

    #13

    A Capri-Sun orange drink pouch with a blue cartoon face, a common everyday inconvenience. can you get me a caprisun that instantly explodes when you try to put the straw in.

    out.past.the.kuiper.belt , Anonymous / Reddit Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What is this person talking about? Everybody knows that Capri-Sun pouches aren't pierce-able by their straws XD

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    #14

    A pair of Woolworths Essentials soft grip scissors in red packaging, illustrating everyday inconveniences that most people cant avoid. can you actually make a return for me? i bought a pair of scissors but i need scissors to get them out of the package.

    honneemakesthings , Anonymous / Reddit Report

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    #15

    Two people preparing hot dogs with ketchup, showcasing funny descriptions of everyday inconveniences. I got a 10 pack of hotdogs but only have 8 buns. Can you return the 2 extra hotdogs?

    nerd0divergentwrecks , Daisy Anderson / Pexels Report

    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Add us on Google

    #16

    A person spills a drink on a white t-shirt, illustrating an everyday inconvenience. I’ll take a large, very hot coffee with a lid that doesn’t quite fit. I’m wearing a white shirt and late for work, so it’s important that I have this item asap.

    genericusername2.0 , Joshua Earle / Unsplash Report

    Cee Cee
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hate that type of coffee cup

    #17

    A pile of mismatched plastic food containers and lids, a funny description of an everyday inconvenience in kitchen organization. Can you pick up two square Tupperware lids and three round Tupperware bowls?

    coffeeandtodolists , Magda Ehlers / Pexels Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My mother (and probably everyone else's mother) has a kitchen drawer that is entirely devoted to Tupperware lids. That's all that's in the drawer. Tupperware lids. I guarantee you that 80% of the corresponding Tupperware containers are long since lost to the æther, but the lids remain. Alone. Forever.

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    #18

    A young woman unpacking groceries, illustrating an everyday inconvenience of getting home and sorting out items. No, thanks. I’ll send my male Instacart driver that brings me radishes instead of beets and 96 eggs from Costco.

    username_14344_ , Kevin Malik / Pexels Report

    #19

    A person charges a smartphone with a low battery, an everyday inconvenience. A phone charger with a short in it that'll look like it's charging but actually flicker off whenever an ant farts nearby. Please.

    bootle.b , rawpixel.com / Magnific Report

    #20

    Burnt toast pops out of a toaster, an everyday inconvenience for many. Some non-acetone nail polish remover and a toaster that flings the toast directly on the kitchen floor so you have to hover your hands above it to catch the toast, or a toaster that barely ejects the toast at all. Nothing in between, please.

    bluequiltedviolet , Joshua Earle / Unsplash Report

    Rose the Cook
    Community Member
    55 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How about a toaster we bought recently that toasts a small square in the middle of the bread and leaves the edges around untoasted.

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    #21

    Young woman holding bananas and a tote bag at a market, avoiding everyday inconveniences. A bunch of green bananas please. The ones that go right to brown and spotted and skip yellow.

    foodgal1 , Diana Light / Unsplash Report

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    #22

    Hands spilling a drink on the ground, a common everyday inconvenience. An iced coffee with just enough overflow that when I try to put the straw in it spills all over the lid please. With oatmilk.

    _cozyfigs , Kateryna Hliznitsova / Unsplash Report

    #23

    Woman loading groceries into car trunk, managing an everyday inconvenience. Can you get me a gallon of milk that falls over and leaks in the car on the way home and the only way to get rid of the smell is to sell the car.

    stacischut , Getty Images / Unsplash Report

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    #24

    Oh! I need a purse strap that slides off my shoulder constantly.

    srndur Report

    #25

    Elderly man looking at phone with a frustrated expression, experiencing an everyday inconvenience. Can you get me a 500 pack of multi-factor authentications and 250 one time security codes?

    mdcappy , Helena Lopes / Pexels Report

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    #26

    Can I get a loaf of bread but please make sure it’s squished because I need all my sandwiches to be rhombus shaped.

    kelsicha Report

    Rose the Cook
    Community Member
    51 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Once worked in a nursing home where one resident would not eat bread or toast unless it was perfectly square. She kept a box of geometry instruments to measure before eating.

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    #27

    I’ll take a lukewarm coffee and a suspiciously damp sandwich.

    mickeys64 Report

    #28

    A man with dreadlocks, glasses, and tattoos in a kitchen, experiencing everyday inconveniences. I’ll take a pair of sweat pants with no pockets, thanks!

    imjusthalloween , Alen Kajtezovic / Unsplash Report

    #29

    A woman in a red turtleneck sweater holds her head, frustrated by an everyday inconvenience. Can you get me a sweater that gets stuck on every doorknob?

    vallieannie , garetsvisual / Magnific Report

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    #30

    A smiling woman holding up half an avocado in a kitchen, a humorous take on everyday inconveniences. I’ll take some rock hard avocados that never ripen and I end up throwing them out two weeks later.

    ggcornwell , Yaroslav Shuraev / Pexels Report

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    #31

    A person struggles to put on a tight sock while sitting on a chair, a relatable everyday inconvenience. Can you get me a damp sock please? Just one, the other can be dry.

    hannahbanana.0420 , Marcus Aurelius / Pexels Report

    #32

    A TV remote surrounded by batteries, an everyday inconvenience when batteries run out. Really need something that requires the most obscure button battery. Please be sure the battery is not included.

    angie_suro , Terrance Barksdale / Pexels Report

    #33

    A person puts mustard on a hot dog, an everyday inconvenience for preparing food. I long for a squeeze bottle of mustard that ejaculates mustard water if you forget to shake it like a banshee first. Please and thanks.

    wrath.of.con , Ron Lach / Pexels Report

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    #34

    A sandwich still wrapped in plastic, an everyday inconvenience, sits on a table. Can I get a cold sandwich with 3 layers of plastic wrap on it thanks.

    rayetcr , Brock Wegner / Unsplash Report

    #35

    A dozen eggs where one is barely cracked and has leaked and now dried making it impossible to get the next 3 eggs out.

    thompson.galen Report

    #36

    I'll take fountain Dr. Pepper that you have to wait in line for 8 minutes to purchase, then after you step out and take the first sip you realize it's actually root beer.

    amy.swims.sometimes Report

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    #37

    Can I have a bottle soda that doesn't easily open, gets stuck in the only hissing position. Until it finally shreads the skin on your hand, then explodes all over the place?

    fl_foxy_roxy Report

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    #38

    Ooh! Grab me a single piece of string cheese with a “peel here” that cannot be peeled.

    nik_higley Report

    #39

    Can I order a pack of strawberries that go mouldy the second you get home please?

    beadybella Report

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    #40

    Could I have a pair of damp hands and a jar to unscrew pls?

    ccreedi Report

    #41

    Can I get a tv dinner that everything comes out both way too hot and frozen?

    oliversullivan07 Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That takes me back to my childhood XD

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    #42

    I’ll take a pack of the gum that loses flavor within 5 seconds, thanks!

    thenexussystem4 Report

    #43

    Could you get me a yoghurt but when I try to pull the lid off the tab breaks off? Please.

    kiki.the.lala Report

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    #44

    Can you get me a box of donuts that collapses and all the donuts fall out when you hand it to me? Thanks!!

    thegoblinofchaos Report

    #45

    Can you get me fruit cups that automatically squirt in my face when I open them?

    moonpetalnotes_ Report

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    #46

    Can you get me a pack of sharpies that don't have the lids? Oh and some empty dish soap that looks like there's enough to do a few dishes but it takes HOURS for it to drip to the top when you flip it over.

    sunflower_8408 Report

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    #47

    Just grab me a slushie, a lid that will never fit right, and the thinnest walled straw known to man.

    botethibeault Report

    #48

    Actually, can I come in with you? I need to use the restroom and I wanna come out with slightly damp shoes with suspect liquid.

    ukiahboyds Report

    #49

    Whatever you get me, just make sure it’s in a grocery bag that rips open while carrying it in my driveway.

    dig4wax Report

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    #50

    Can you get me a chocolate bar that has the pieces already broken but not in the right place?

    jasminbee_ Report

    #51

    Pls get me one of these phone chargers where if you bend it the wrong way once it’ll break.

    livshotmess Report

    #52

    I would like one of those “antibacterial wipes To Go” packages that, once opened, is immediately 12 sheets of dry cardboard.

    berkeleybusmama Report

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    #53

    Hey can you get me the big package of bacon? You know, the one that you use half and then have to put the other leaking half back in the fridge because it doesn’t close.

    lexiewelpwrites Report

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    #54

    I want lightbulbs, wrapped in paper-thin cardboard and open at both ends. Make sure the cashier puts them at the BOTTOM of the bag, under the ten-pound dumbells you're buying for someone else.

    isnarkaholic Report

    #55

    I’m doing some baking today. Would you grab me some parchment paper? I’d prefer the kind with the serrated strip that doesn’t really cut the paper straight so I end up using a scissors anyway.

    lacywearsmanyhats Report

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    #56

    I’ll take one of those Nature Valley granola bars that splinters into a thousand sharp crumbs when you bite into it. I want to find crumbs in my bra tonight.

    msfrancesma Report

    Lukas (he/him)
    Community Member
    10 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What s***s is I love those granola bars, but they're a mess.

    #57

    1 ply toilet paper.

    monica_g.d Report

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    #58

    A funny description of an everyday inconvenience: a napkin dispenser that gives you either 60 napkins or a small corner of one. Omg, thank you for offering! I’ll take one of these napkin dispensers, please!

    rescuedpetsrock Report

    #59

    I'd like a bag of air with some chips in the bottom, thank you.

    jennlael Report

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    #60

    Get me a sports bra with the removable bra pads plz.

    galaxyfoxartistry Report

    #61

    My kids need more bubble wands that they can immediately spill on the porch.

    radio_on Report

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    #62

    If you could drive my car so that it has about five miles of gas left when I’m running late for work in the morning, that would be awesome.

    carolineandcordelia Report

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    #63

    I could use a small rock for my shoe. Not big enough for me to actually take my shoe off, but just small enough that I shake my foot around to get it to move to a spot that doesn’t hurt.

    kitedadrock Report

    #64

    I’ll take shredded cheese in a resealable package, but a bad resealable package where, when you rip it open, you rip off the resealable ziploc, too.

    laurelerin22 Report

    #65

    Yah, can you grab me a puddle of cat vomit that you step in when you wake up at 3am to go pee? It’s my favorite.

    justmetadognamedmaria Report

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    #66

    A bag of those delicious caramels each locked inside impenetrable plastic wrapping.

    tracystuntlady Report

    #67

    Can you grab me a steamer bag of veggies that will leak all over the inside of my microwave? Thanks!

    ms.bays_4979 Report

    #68

    Can you accidentally get me a Coke Zero instead of a Coke? Thanks!

    electramourning Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's the opposite for me XD I got used to drinking diet sodas years ago and now "regular" sodas taste foul and gross in a way I cannot even describe.

    #69

    Talenti Gelato that I desperately want to eat frozen but can’t open without hot water on the lid or a chainsaw.

    luciloosews Report

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    #70

    Can I get a big tub of protein powder that’s packed to the gills with the scoop at the very bottom?

    kate.frenz Report

    #71

    One razor that runs out of battery when half my leg is shaved please and thank you.

    littleodessa1 Report

    #72

    Yeah, how about a bag of crisps that bursts in every direction upon being opened.

    dailystatementswithwario Report

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    #73

    One mosquito please. For the kitc…you know what, I want to treat myself. For the car!

    faraji.ai Report

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    #74

    1 wet dog please. Preferably one with A LOT of fur.

    cyborgqueenkel Report

    #75

    Can you get me a bag of salt & vinegar chips but make sure the vinegar taste is dang near non-existent.

    quethebratz Report

    #76

    Add a side of a check engine light, we got a proper party.

    lizparkstudio Report

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    #77

    I’ll take the bottles of detergent with the stupid spouts on them that won’t poor out all the remaining detergent and do absolutely nothing to prevent leaks/spills.

    mrs_dcjohnson Report

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