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What do you ship with? Tape and Label questions
FavreFan1971
Posts: 3,105 ✭✭✭
I am going to be selling a good portion of my collection this summer and fall and I have run out of labels and tape. I bought a 100 labels from Label Universe about four years ago and they seem really expensive now. They worked great but at nearly 25 cents a label it is too costly. Where have you bought labels from to print from PayPal/Ebay USPS shipping?
I need tape too. For both boxes and recycled bubble mailers. I recently bought some crappy clear 1.6 mil rolls and the stuff just falls apart without a straight rip. Is 2.0 mil tape decent or should I go with something a bit higher. Lastly, does it matter clear or brown?
Or am I thinking too much into this and customers don't care about tape at all?
Troy
I need tape too. For both boxes and recycled bubble mailers. I recently bought some crappy clear 1.6 mil rolls and the stuff just falls apart without a straight rip. Is 2.0 mil tape decent or should I go with something a bit higher. Lastly, does it matter clear or brown?
Or am I thinking too much into this and customers don't care about tape at all?
Troy
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<< <i>I am going to be selling a good portion of my collection this summer and fall and I have run out of labels and tape. I bought a 100 labels from Label Universe about four years ago and they seem really expensive now. They worked great but at nearly 25 cents a label it is too costly. Where have you bought labels from to print from PayPal/Ebay USPS shipping?
I need tape too. For both boxes and recycled bubble mailers. I recently bought some crappy clear 1.6 mil rolls and the stuff just falls apart without a straight rip. Is 2.0 mil tape decent or should I go with something a bit higher. Lastly, does it matter clear or brown?
Or am I thinking too much into this and customers don't care about tape at all?
Troy >>
well a couple of ways to do this. both are rather cheap. one would be to go to USPS and grab there priority labels. but that will only work if you ship priority mail. i would love to see someone attempt to recycle labels off of bubble mailers!!
Collecting:
Brett Favre Master Set
Favre Ticket Stubs
Favre TD Reciever Autos
Football HOF Player/etc. Auto Set
Football HOF Rc's
http://www.unisquare.com/store/brick/
Ralph
Jay - when I print from USPS or Ebay/PayPal it sends to a full sheet. Will those labels work that you are talking about with a printer?
<< <i>I don't sell much but i would never use that cheap clear tape. When i ship registered mail i am required to use brown tape. Using cheap clear tape may save a few dimes but it could cause problems in the long run. >>
+1
I cant help you out on where to get labels, but do yourself a favor and DO NOT CHEAPSKATE on shipping
supplies!! Using cheap shipping tape will bite you on the bottom 9 times out of 10. Ive seen it happen
over and over again!! What your selling is only as good as the shape it shows up to the customer in!
You might get lucky every once in a while, but it will catch you.
I don't make labels, I often write all the information on a piece of printing paper, and tape it on. (Is that too old school? I didn't have a printer forever and I've never encountered problems) I just make sure that the return address and shipping address are both covered so it can't rip off, get wet, etc.
The card was barely protected and the presentation was brutal.
We have discussed this before on this board but I use premium shipping products and if it costs me a $1 more then so be it. The card arrives safe and when the buyer receives the package they know it will be a quality transaction.
I don't sell a lot and if I did I would shop around to lower my costs a little but I would not skimp on shipping supplies.
Troy,
If your selling Packers cards and favre cards just do pwe in a penny sleeve,you will be fine!
On the other hand if doing cards of value,Im with dpeck and never cut corners,nothing worse than
that clear tape that splits down the middle on ya,just stick with the stronger,better brown.My.02cents
Needs'
1972 Football-9's high#'s
1965 Football-8's
1958 Topps FB-7-8
This clear tape works great.
I think it is closer to $7.50 at the store I buy it from.
Labels
Two to a page and they go through my Canon printer with no problem. You will have to take the sheet and reinsert it to use the other end to be able to use both labels. They come out to about .05 each.
For tape, I use the heavy gauge Scotch Moving/Storage tape. I got a 4 pack from WalMart and used a $1.00 off coupon. Seems like it was still $8-10 dollars.
Tape
I use a 6"x9" self seal bubble mailer and I pack my graded cards between cardboard that is cut to size. I wrap my packing slip around the cardboard so it creates an additional small wrap/protection. Put the label on before inserting the wrapped cardboard/card into the envelope. It's easier while the bubble mailer is flat and not odd shaped with a card in it.
Good luck with your sales!
<< <i>On the other hand if doing cards of value,Im with dpeck and never cut corners,nothing worse than
that clear tape that splits down the middle on ya,just stick with the stronger,better brown.My.02cents >>
When it comes to shipping tape, I too am down with the brown... it has just the right amount of semi-transparency for eBay packages!
Snorto~
I wouldn't use cheap generic tape.
The brown water-activated paper tape is necessary for Registered Mail packages but other than that I don't use it.
<< <i>Clear Tape
This clear tape works great.
I think it is closer to $7.50 at the store I buy it from. >>
At that price, it should probably tape the boxes shut by itself!
That's 54 yards for $7.50. I buy 6 rolls of tape (over 650 yards total) at Office Max for $9.99. Sure, I have to use two layers of tape sometimes, but it's no big deal. It works just fine.
<< <i>
<< <i>On the other hand if doing cards of value,Im with dpeck and never cut corners,nothing worse than
that clear tape that splits down the middle on ya,just stick with the stronger,better brown.My.02cents >>
When it comes to shipping tape, I too am down with the brown... it has just the right amount of semi-transparency for eBay packages!
Snorto~ >>
Scott
Dont even get me started on transparency and semi-transparency ,jeesh we could go on all night!
Needs'
1972 Football-9's high#'s
1965 Football-8's
1958 Topps FB-7-8
<< <i>I don't sell much but i would never use that cheap clear tape. When i ship registered mail i am required to use brown tape. Using cheap clear tape may save a few dimes but it could cause problems in the long run. >>
I agree. For my business I ship 2-3 times a week and Ive found 99% of clear tape SUCKS! Certain boxes it don't seem to stick to well so I end up using more and in the long run I went with a nice brown tape (3M) and a brown paper tape with thread if the package is about the size of a loaf of bread
ALL MY PSA SETS
had a problem. Not sure of it's thickness, maybe 2.0 mil.
You can buy this at Sam's Clubs for $18-19 for six rolls. Each roll is 50 meters in length.
The thinner tape really blows. I've tried it to save a few bucks and it was always
breaking apart and tearing on my tape gun.
Why not just print labels on paper and tape them to your mailers? The
paper would cost you less than 3 cents per sheet. You might use a nickels
worth of tape, plus the cost of the mailer. It would cost you roughly $0.22
to print and tape on the label. Factoring in the ink jet cartridge cost, maybe a quarter
per label.
I reuse all my bubble env and boxes. I use a razor blade knife to slit the end about 1" down from the end if I cannot open the glued flap.
Everything gets wrapped in heavy duty cardboard.
Print the ebay label and cut it from a piece of paper. Then use hd shipping tape. I tape both ends and completely cover the label.
That way its very hard to mess with the envelope. Have not had one messed with since.
You get free tracking when u use ebays checkout. Plus it gived ebay the info that item was shipped and delivered.
I have the tape gun and it maked shipping much easier.
The tape from staples or office depot is not as good as scotch...but it will work well in this scenerio.
1948-76 Topps FB Sets
FB & BB HOF Player sets
1948-1993 NY Yankee Team Sets
<< <i>I've been using the heavy duty Scotch shipping tape for years and never
had a problem. Not sure of it's thickness, maybe 2.0 mil.
You can buy this at Sam's Clubs for $18-19 for six rolls. Each roll is 50 meters in length.
The thinner tape really blows. I've tried it to save a few bucks and it was always
breaking apart and tearing on my tape gun.
Why not just print labels on paper and tape them to your mailers? The
paper would cost you less than 3 cents per sheet. You might use a nickels
worth of tape, plus the cost of the mailer. It would cost you roughly $0.22
to print and tape on the label. Factoring in the ink jet cartridge cost, maybe a quarter
per label. >>
I agree on the Scotch tape. Regarding printing the labels on paper and taping them on, I do this most of the time; it is cost effective and works fine. A reason against it is if you have a high quantity of items end the same day and need to ship out a lot of packages all at once. In that case, it takes a lot longer to cut each label and tape it on than it does to peel one off a sticky backing. So if time is an issue for you, the benefit of label stickers may out-weigh the cost savings of printing on paper and taping the label.
<< <i>Why not just print labels on paper and tape them to your mailers? The
paper would cost you less than 3 cents per sheet. You might use a nickels
worth of tape, plus the cost of the mailer. >>
If that's what you're paying, then it would be cheaper to use a sticky label. You can buy 200 labels for $9.20 delivered (4.6 cents each), and no tape is required. Plus, it's easier.
<< <i>Personally, I can't stand that cheap clear tape. I spent over 10 minutes picking that stuff off of a Winx Club DVD I bought recently >>
Needs'
1972 Football-9's high#'s
1965 Football-8's
1958 Topps FB-7-8
eyebone
<< <i>I am going to be selling a good portion of my collection this summer and fall and I have run out of labels and tape. I bought a 100 labels from Label Universe about four years ago and they seem really expensive now. They worked great but at nearly 25 cents a label it is too costly. Where have you bought labels from to print from PayPal/Ebay USPS shipping?
I need tape too. For both boxes and recycled bubble mailers. I recently bought some crappy clear 1.6 mil rolls and the stuff just falls apart without a straight rip. Is 2.0 mil tape decent or should I go with something a bit higher. Lastly, does it matter clear or brown?
Or am I thinking too much into this and customers don't care about tape at all?
Troy >>
Troy
Did you ever decide what BROWN could do for you? After a lil thought I think you should start
a poll and see what the %'s are..
Needs'
1972 Football-9's high#'s
1965 Football-8's
1958 Topps FB-7-8
Using tape to stick labels on your shipment can be a lot of hassle. Instead you can use a thermal label printer which is capable of printing custom shipping labels and stickers. You can print the labels in different sizes as per your needs and there is no need to cut these labels manually as they are perfectly sized.
@Favrefan1971, $0.25 per shipping label is too costly and is a huge burden that increases your operating cost when you have to ship hundreds of products on daily basis and need shipping label for each. MUNBYN offers thermal sticker labels for $12.99 per roll which contains 750 labels ( costing just $0.017 per label ). You can get these labels from their official store.