I work at an office supply store on weekends and there are definitely keys to unlock those things before you leave the store. I agree that the salesperson just didn't have a clue. I would find out the name of their regional mgr and speak to them directly as that was a horrible thing to put you thru. If she didn;t know what to do it isn;t all that big of a deal to ask for help from a manager or something....

I hate the plastic packages as well. I have recieved so many cuts from trying to get into that stuff. It's dangerous!