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Do you still need that gummed tape to send Registered?

Been forever since I mailed anything registered mail. Does it still have to be completely sealed with that brown tape that you have to wet with a sponge?
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Yes...it may be self adhesive now but the brown paper type is still required for registered.
Yes with no exposed seams. I recently bought reinforced kraft tape on line at Office Depot. It seems nobody carries it in store.
I found some at Staples, but I guess we are in competition with frame stores - they bought out the store's supply to use to seal the frames/pictures on the back.
If you use a priority mail USPS box, make sure they can see where it is their box or it could cost more to ship registered priority. You only need to tape corners and seams like stated above.
Don't cover the words flat rate.
I have sent 5 or 6 Registered packages in the last 5 months. They will put the tape on the package for you at the P.O. . I have sent dozens of registered packages from numerous of P.O.s across the country. They have always put the tape on for me.
Mine does too - a valuable service.
Years ago they had this stickler guy no help he would send you away if package not up to par for him. This was about time I had incoming package lost or stolen. They fired him shortly after - no more problems, I was so glad c him go.
No, you don't have to use the gumed tape activated with water. It does have to be a brown paper tape. I buy a self stick paper tape so I don't have to mess with the water.
Here is what I use.
https://www.amazon.com/Shurtape-FP-96-General-Purpose-Packaging/dp/B000QEBF0E/ref=pd_sim_op_7?ie=UTF8&refRID=0Z93RKTJY642EKN9PF58
As long as the ink seal doesn't smear, it's good.
One word of advice. I tried the Staples self adhesive brown tape.
It was horrible as the postal stamp ink didn't soak in and tended to sit on the surface. The postal employee got it all over her hands and was an unhappy camper.
So it was "one and done" with my attempt to avoid the sponge.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
yeah the brown tape that they sell isn't absorbent. I use 3" reinforced tape that I got from mcmaster.
https://www.mcmaster.com/#carton-sealing-tape/=1dpp1gv
Collector, occasional seller
Well my link isn't going where I thought, click on water activated packaging tape and the good stuff is there
Collector, occasional seller
Just make sure the tape is paper based and not plastic based.