When the holidays roll around, I send a lot of packages to friends and family overseas. This means filling out a mount of customs forms, reading over updated lists of things that I can and can’t send and making sure that the packages all conform to postal and carrier regulations. The last thing I want to have to worry about is if the address label is the right size or the information is easy to read. I look at it this way, the post office and other package delivery services screw up enough on their own, why give them any more ammunition?

When I came across the Avery Gummed Address Labels I had to laugh, they look like they were designed about fifty years ago. Still, these are one of the easiest ways to get my packages out the door, play according to the rules of the postal service and give them one less excuse to use when they ultimately lose a package. That’s the number one reason packages are “lost” – addresses that are smudged, ripped, torn, incomplete or otherwise unreadable. These labels won’t ensure that your package will made it from point A to point B in one piece – but you will know that if it does get lost, it isn’t your fault.

Avery Gummed Mailing Labels

Measuring five and a half inches by three, these are approved by the United States Postal Service [and other shipping companies] for addressing parcels, packages, flat envelopes and other mailed goods. The sender and receiver areas are clearly marked so even the most inept postal worker or shipping employee will know where it is going and where it came from. You get four lines for the sender information and four lines for the receiver so these are great if you are sending packages locally or overseas. You can write on them with pens or markers but I suggest using a fine line Sharpie or other permanent marker to prevent smudging when you moisten the label. Gel and roller ball pens will work, but they will require a little bit of additional drying to ensure that the ink doesn’t smudge.

One you have your label addressed, all you need to do is moisten the back of the label and stick it on your package. Yes, you can attach it first then write the shipping information on it – but if you make a mistake you’ll have to fight to get it off and risk ripping the box or try to place another one over it and worry about it peeling off while in transport. As an added piece of precaution, I apply a layer of packing tape over the address label – I’ve learned the hard way you can never be too careful when shipping things. What ever you do, moisten these with a sponge or paper towel, the gumming is rather nasty if you lick it and it lingers in your mouth – and no matter what you drink or how much you brush your teeth – the taste remains.

Price

These are sold in a standard 25 pack, packaged like a small tablet and gummed at the left side. The 25 pack, most commonly found in stationery departments and in mailing centers of office supply stores, cost about $1.25. You can purchase multi packs of 4, 8 or 12 tablets for $3.99, $7.99 and $9.99 respectively. Are they worth it? They are if you send a minimal amount of packages and don’t want to fire up your computer and printer. Now, if you are an Ebay seller or send a lot of packages on a regular basis, you will whip through these in no time. You can either purchase the larger multi packs or invest in laser printer labels. These are a little less expensive than the adhesive backed labels but do require a little more work to get them stuck to the packages.

Things To Know

These are designed for slapping on a box or parcel and hand writing the information – try to stick it in a typewriter or word processor and you will have one hell of a battle on your hands to get it back out. Avoid leaving these lay around or having them exposed to extreme heat or cold. This will break down the gumming on the back of the labels and will result in corners that pop up – a true recipe for disaster when shipping with the United States Postal Service. Thos employees must hunt down packages with loose corners and rip them off – maybe it’s their official pastime outside of kicking, tossing and throwing packages around. You’d be best to keep these inside the small plastic case they come in or inside a plastic baggie, once they get wet or are exposed to moisture, they are pretty much done for.

The Bottom Line

These are great if you only ship a few packages here and there or do mass mailings during the holidays. Since they conform to the USPS regulations in regards to size, you can ship knowing there’s one less thing to go wrong. Now, if you send packages to the same people all the time – invest in the laser printer labels and print up a few sheets with each persons name and address and be done with it. Since I ship to a few family members that move every few months [work related moves] it’s easier for me to just write out the addresses and slap them on the parcels. These address labels are strong and won’t warp even if you over moisten them – but take my advice and put a layer of packing tape on top for an added measure of protection.

As always, thanks for the read!

^V^ Freak ^V^

© 2003 Freak369


Other office and shipping related reviews…

Avery Marks-A-Lot Fine Mark

Manco EZ Tear Carton Tape

Sanford Sharpie Permanent Markers

USPS Priority Mail

Federal Express Ground



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Recommended: Yes