Manco EZ Tear Carton Tape Gets The Job Done In Record Time, No Scissors Needed!
Written: Jul 04 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to use, no scissors needed, no offensive smell, great for shipping and packing.
Cons: Some might find the adhesive a bit too strong
The Bottom Line: Inexpensive, strong, durable and crystal clear!
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| Freak369's Full Review: MANCO INC. Manco EZ Tear Carton Sealing Tape |
I do a lot of shipping and until about six months ago I was a faithful fan of Manco’s Carton Sealing Tape – so much so that I’d buy it in the multi pack so I’d never run out. As luck would have it, I did run out when packing up item to be sent to my nieces and nephews overseas. With only fifteen minutes until Office Depot closed, I needed to get my tape and packing supplies and be on my merry way. In my hurried shopping trip I picked up the EZ Carton Sealing Tape instead of the regular version. I didn’t notice this until I got home and back to wrapping up my boxes and was a bit ticked at myself for grabbing the wrong roll of tape. Knowing that I needed to get them out first thing in the morning I decided to go with what I had and make the best of it. When I cracked open the over warp, the roll of tape looked the same as the other Manco rolls I’d purchased in the past but when I started using it and didn’t need to use scissors or a box cutter [I’m dangerous with scissors and lethal with a box cutter] I was sold on the EZ version!
Manco EZ Tear Carton Sealing Tape
Actually, the full name of the product is Manco EZ Start EZ Tear Carton Sealing Tape but I guess Epinions decided to shorten it a little. This is crystal clear carton sealer is available in a lot of different sizes and widths – but I’ve purchased and used the 2 inch kind the most. The rolls come in 30 and 60 yard lengths and are about the same price as the other Manco carton sealing tapes however if you search around you can find this in other sizes. I’ve never come across them in a multi pack but rest assured, if it was offer or sold in that format, I’d be the first to snap it up. The obvious perk of using this over others is that it doesn’t require you use scissors to cut it and you don’t have to stand there for five minutes picking at it to get it started off the roll. I pay about $2.19 a roll for the smaller and $3.59 for the larger roll but prices can and will vary depending on where you shop. I suggest placed like Office Depot or Staples but you can also find this at Target, Wal-Mart and K-Mart in the office and shipping supply section.
Strength
You might think that since this is ‘easy tear’ that the tape might not be as strong as the standard kind. I’ve used this on packages and haven’t noticed any difference between them as far as strength is concerned. The tape does seem to be a little thinner than the Manco Carton Sealer but in all honesty, unless you have them side by side, chances are you won’t be able to tell the difference. I’ve used this on parcels shipping overseas and across the U.S.A and all of them arrived in great shape. The thinner rolls are better for sealing envelopes and flat parcels and work great for adding a little extra protection to documents, letters and small boxes.
Adhesive
For a long time I used the USPS Priority Mail tape for boxes that I shipped that method. This ruined several pairs of scissors due to the adhesive building up on the blades but that wasn’t the worst part. The smell of the tape was so obnoxious that I had to question if they didn’t do that on purpose so people wouldn’t request it. The USPS offers free shipping supplied for Priority and Express Mail that you can pick up at the post office or have delivered to your home. These are free and great when you do a lot of shipping and can’t seem to find a certain size or style box at your local post office. There’s no smell to the Manco EZ Tear Carton Sealing Tape so you won’t want to pass out after wrapping several packages or parcels.
For me the adhesive has just the right amount of strength to it but some people might find that it’s a bit too strong. This isn’t something that you will want to get on your skin – but if you do – don’t stand there and just yank it off, peel it off slowly – even more so if you get it in an area with hair. If for some reason you get this on your naughty bits, take a warm shower or soak the area – this will help loosen the bond between the tape and skin. Use this same advice if a child happens to get this on their skin. Their skin is more sensitive and this could lead to not only pain when removing it, but a nasty red mark.
Is It Really “EZ Start” And “EZ Tear”?
Without a doubt, yes to both! One of the things I hated most about using carton tape is that it tends to get stuck all over everything – including itself. This tape lifts easily off the roll and tears just by ripping the tape with your fingers – much like masking tape. Now, you might think that this would lead to the tape splintering or ripping when you start a new piece but I’ve only had that happen a few times and that was mostly my fault for trying to pull the tape off too fast or leading off with the corner instead of starting in the middle. There’s noting worse than trying to get a piece of tape started only to have these tiny little frays come off. The tape starts nicely off the roll and rips easily – no scissors or cutter needed – which means one less thing to have to keep track of [scissors] and one less thing to cut myself on.
The Bottom Line
All in all, I’m pretty happy that I grabbed the wrong carton sealer. Chances are I would have either never noticed this or never tired it had fate not stepped in. If you do a fair amount of shipping or send out a lot of packages around the holidays, this will make the job easier. You won’t need to use scissors or cutters and it’s just as strong as the regular Manco Carton Sealer. I’m extremely pleased with this product and the fact that I don’t have to break out the scissors. If you have younger kids in the house you know what a godsend a product like this can be. If you are looking for a sturdy, inexpensive and reliable carton sealer or packaging tape, I highly suggest checking out the Manco EZ Tear Carton Sealing Tape!
As always … thanks for the visit!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2003 Freak369
Other shipping related reviews …
Avery Marks-A-Lot Fine Mark
Manco Masking Tape
Avery Marks-A-Lot Chisel Point
USPS Priority Mail
FedEx Ground
Recommended:
Yes
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