Do you use packing tape to tape shipping labels to your packages? I feel it's wasteful, suggestions?
I've always felt it's wasteful to do so since the packing tape is so wide, and you only need to cover a very small part of surface area on the label and package in comparison to it - but that's what I've always done. Sometimes I'll cut the packing tape in the same parallel direction, which is just as effective, and much less wasteful, however not as efficient. What are your thoughts?
44 comments
deserdog
·1 year agoI cover the entire label. And started doing soon the advice of another Ebayer who was also a rural mail carrier. Said she had seen lots of packages that could not be delivered because the labels were damaged. She said she taped over the entire label of her packages, so that is what I started doing. have never had a label issue so far.
mam98031
·1 year ago@deserdog
I don't put any tape on my labels. I've been selling here and other sites for a couple decades or more. I do have never had a label issue.
momtoabeautifuldaughter
·1 year agoI just use Scotch tape
fbusoni
·1 year agoI used to insert my mailing labels into these plastic holders... until one day when one of my packages got lost in the mail, because the adhesive around one of the edges of these labels which holds them to the cardboard box became exposed, presumably causing the entire label to be torn off on some conveyor belt. I then switched to packing tape, which is a PITA but which is foolproof in terms of reliably holding the label to the package.
I could save time and money by having the post office print my labels with the QR code, but am not sure how reliable that is... or if the post office will tell me that their "computers are down."
 
fern*wood
·1 year agoI just bought a Dymo thermal printer and a bunch of rolls of labels at a yard sale. We are setting it up and testing printing, but I wondered about my habit of always taping over the address. My packages sit out in humidity waiting for pickup. I thought I'd read not to do that with thermal labels, but the one I tested last night still looks fine. Does tape discolor them over time or something?
wastingtime101
·1 year agoCheck it in 3-4 days @fern*wood , or for an immediate answer do a fingernail scratch test and see if the line turns black.
fern*wood
·1 year agoThanks, I did the fingernail thing after reading your post, and it produced nothing, but I will check my test label later on too.
mam98031
·1 year agoI've been using a Zebra thermal printer for many years now and I've never taped any of my labels.
stainlessenginecovers
·2 years agoI buy pre adhesive labels, full sheets (8x11) that gives me the 'receipt' portion of the shipping label (great for the IRS if audited as well as I 'write' the 'package type or size' and 'what they bought (as it only shows 1 item even if they bought 2,3,10).
No tape
Super fast to attach
about .07 each (buy 500 at a time for $35)- probably same amount of $$ as 'tape' with 1/10th of the time to 'slap' it on the box/envelope.
johnrj1226
·2 years agoNeed a smaller label? when you set up to print just reduce the size of the print job to 75% or 70% works for me
deserdog
·2 years agoI always cover my labels, advised to do by an Ebay seller who worked for the post office. Lost maybe 3 packages since 1999.
jerseyboymusic
·2 years ago@dealforyou22
I print out my labels on plain paper. When I cut the label for the package it is only 3 1/4" X 5" and takes 3 pieces of tape from my tape gun to completely cover the label onto the package going lengthwise.
My USPS office years ago told me to cover the barcodes with tape, as well. Never an issue and when you bulk buy tape, it saves money in the long run (my opinion)
johnrj1226
·2 years agoAlways used clear scotch tape from Dollar Tree to tape down my plain paper printer shipping label stuck down with glue stick from Dollar Tree (should be renamed to a buck and two bits tree). Taped down all 4 edges and across the addresses and bar code. Worked fine on 1665 eBay sales and about 200 personal shipments without a single issue. Only shipped via USPS with packages shipped from Georgia (USA) to Guam, Hawaii, Alaska and everywhere in between.
And you still can get a cup of coffee for a nickel at Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota. You still pay on the Honor System. My family both sides homesteaded near by in Bowman, ND immigrants from Sweden and Italy early 1900s. Both Dakatoas are about 420 miles from east to west and a really flat but interesting drive.
mam98031
·2 years ago@johnrj1226
You aren't saving yourself any money on Tape at the dollar store. There is far less tape on the roll and it is really thin.
johnrj1226
·2 years agoWorked just fine for me - I sold when it was just a a buck for 4 rolls+ tax of 7%. and the product was crystal clear.. Recovered all my packing material in my handling charge. Used the average cost of packing materials from the previous year + 5% for each item listed. Check out the details of this example excel spread sheet I used. Note this is from the days of 10% eBay fees & the PayPal MP fees of 2.9%+30 cent days. If one knows excel it was an easy update to the current eBay fees. each sale had this same spread sheet and could easily sum up my annual activity for Uncle Sam and State income tax purposes. I'm certain folks have a better way but this is work for our needs
BTW Don't sell any more on eBay for almost 3 years. Spending more time with. this kid who is 5.8 y.o.now - he calls me PaPa and took him fishing when he turned 3 (like I did with his Dad)
I'm the photographer - not bad for a '44 model & an almost vintage Canon Power Shot A40 that is still ticking.
mam98031
·2 years agoI'm aware. You have told us several times on different threads.
psfhobbies
·2 years agoI put tape of my Rollo labels and the areas where the tape was turned black.IDK if it was the chemicals in the tape or bad labels.I don't tape over the whole thing just the edges sometimes.I do put tape under the label so its sticks better to the box.Some cardboard likes to give back the label..
iamalwaysright
·2 years agowastingtime101
·1 year ago@psfhobbies
Unlike thermal transfer labels, direct thermal labels are vulnerable to heat, light, packing tape, and they have a short lifespan before they discolor. Scratch a line down the label with your fingernail - if the line turns black, you're using direct thermal labels.
iamalwaysright
·2 years agoI'm surprised no one has mentioned glue sticks or something similar lol. Maybe no one uses those to stick labels on.
playwithitagaintoys
·2 years agoI can't believe so many people still waste money on paper, ink, and tape. Not to mention wasting time cutting up the labels, tearing the tape and dealing with printer glitches. At the end, your packages look unprofessional and scream amateur hour. Do you ever see any serious retailer tape on their labels? Get yourself a thermal printer. It's game changing if you plan to keep selling on ebay. Nobody has ever regretted investing in a thermal printer.
mam98031
·2 years ago@dealforyou22
Are you using plain paper labels so you feel you need to protect them with the tape?
I use a Thermal Printer. What an expense saver. I don't pay for any ink ever. I purchase the labels on a roll. Print the label [sticker], attach it to my package and away it goes.
You likely don't sell enough to warrant investing it one, however they aren't overly expensive. But you can buy shipping labels on Ebay that can run through your printer.
broto_64
·2 years agoThose of you who consider a label printer a waste of space...
How exactly are you getting your labels?
I mean something has to print it!
Laserjet is what I use.
Sticky labels, print and stick'm.
carlmarxx
·2 years agoI print them out on whit e paper from my printer . and tape them . I have used the stick on labels also . but will still tape over them . Based on years of dealing with the shipping carriers. and been amazed how they can damage the bar code's and address's that aren't covered with tape .
simply-the-best-for-you
·2 years ago@broto_64
I still use a Laserjet myself, but they are referring to the Zebra type thermal printers that are tiny in comparison to a full size printer. So they still print their labels, but it takes up almost no space.
mam98031
·2 years agoCorrect. But it is also a whole lot cheaper to operate. No ink ever is a big savings on its own. The labels aren't that expensive either.
Before my Zebra printer the cost of ink for my laserjet [inkjet before that] was expensive to operate with the cost of ink. Or at least that was my experience.
slippinjimmy
·2 years agoI did when I was printing on a laser with plain paper.
Once I switched to thermal self stick labels.....never.
meekamaye
·2 years agoI cover the label and my return address. After hearing some of the odd stories from relatives that were mail carriers, I keep those little tips in mind. (coffee spills, rain, dogs running off with packages, mail carrier falling in snow & everything scattering, kids with squirt guns...the list is endless)
simply-the-best-for-you
·2 years agoI almost never use tape & I've never had a problem. I do use sticky labels & a laser printer. I don't like dealing with tape at all & 99% of my items are not shipped in boxes, so luckily I almost never have to.
caldreamer
·2 years agoI put clear packing tape over the address so the label. Protects label from tearing off or smearing in the rain.
yuzuha
·2 years agoI cover the ENTIRE label with tape.
To date, out of 2000+ packages across multiple venues, I have never had a single one get lost/not get delivered, so to me it is working as intended.
dealforyou22
OP2 years agoWell then .. 😂
therogue-trader
·2 years agoI've done the same thing (cutting tape into thinner strips). You could also change the dimensions of the labels you print so that the tape fits better. Lately though I've just had the post office print my labels via the QR code option.
dealforyou22
OP2 years agoThis is interesting, I did not know you can change the dimensions of the labels for the tape to fit better. Is that something you change on the page setup dialog? How do you do that, does it make the font size smaller?
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 years agoI do because I do not wish to waste desk space for a label printer.
dealforyou22
OP2 years agoI do appreciate the simplicity of not having additional equipment as well
janet9988
·2 years agoI have always taped over the address with packaging tape and half of the barcode in case the package gets wet.
inhawaii
·2 years agoIn 2021 I switched to a Rollo label printer.
I wish I had done that years ago.
dealforyou22
OP2 years agoThis is a really nice suggestion, seems they seem to run $90-$200 on Amazon. I might research these a bit more and maybe look for a deal on one. I like the idea of being able to print from your phone too. Is it costly to buy the thermal papers and ink? What would you recommend if I start shopping for something like this?
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoI use a Zebra label printer (same concept as the Rollo). It takes rolls of 4 z 6" labels. You don't need to buy ink for it, you don't need to do anything save to feed it labels, and clean the printer head with a little alcohol after every roll or two of media. That's it.
They're small compact things and built like tanks. I've used one for years and can't even remember fiddling with tape and bits of paper. It's print the label and slap it on.
If you're only doing a few labels just taping them on is fine. If you're shipping a bunch of packages, thermal labels are a great way to go.
dealforyou22
OP2 years agoWow that sounds like magic to me. I will definitely be buying one of these. Thanks so much for the suggestion, not at all what I expected, but even better.
chapeau-noir
·2 years ago@dealforyou22 Do a little research to see what works best for you, i.e., prices, etc.
If you continue to tape labels, I use clear packing tape and tape the entire thing - I agree about 'accidents', and I live in a rainy, damp area where mail is sometimes soggy, so I think about that, too.
iamalwaysright
·2 years agoI've used Zebras for well over a decade. And I've actually never cleaned the printer head or anything like that. Still going strong.
mam98031
·2 years agoAre we suppose to clean the head??? OH NO! I've had mine for a bit longer than that and it is still going strong.
I bought it used off of Ebay a dozen or more years ago. It more than paid for itself in the first year.