eBay Packing Tape is getting incredibly expensive

[likelikinrocks]

As I write this 11 bidders have bid $61 for two rolls of eBay branded tape located in Australia. The cheapest seems to be $10.22 per roll plus $28.95 from the USA. They seem to be about $30 a roll so I'm going back to the cheap brown stuff until the price gets back to normal.

[wide-world-of-stamps]

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@digital*ghost wrote:

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@chameleon54 wrote:

Dont know anything about this company but a quick google search found this.

http://www.austmadepackaging.com.au/ad_tapes.html 

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What is it with Aussie businesses?  (Sorry, this just makes me a little  lol ). 

This kind of website is a huge frustration of mine as so many Aus businesses have them like this, some of them don't even list or display their products, they basically act like glorified yellow pages ads with occasionally the ability to submit a form request for a quote. Drives me up the wall and almost guarantees I'll keep looking for another business to buy from. Bleh. (Also, that website has this on their about page "We supply all over Australia and as our name suggests, we proudly source as many of our products as possible from Australian owned and based companies." So, yeah, their name apparently just "suggests" that some unknown quantity of products are sourced from Aus companies - I was thinking it suggested something else entirely, i.e. that all of their products were, but maybe it's just me).

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I totally agree with every word you've just written.  I was going to highlight the relevant points but, as the whole post is relevant, decided not to bother.  

[danieh_6]

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@cezm wrote:

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@tazzieterror wrote:

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@danieh_6 wrote:
I don't see a valid reason to use eBay tape other than promoting eBay.

Its a lot cheaper, less than $1 (inc shipping) per roll for standard clear stuff.

IMO it encourages package theft whether this is a courier or safe dropped parcel at your door

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I've posted hundreds of eBay branded satchels over the past few years - I have no evidence supporting you view.

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Agreed. A parcel is a parcel is a parcel. All equally desirable I would think.

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I disagree, If you were a theif and you had to pick between a plain parcel or a parcel with a Am**on Prime logo, which would you pick.

[tazzieterror]

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@danieh_6 wrote:

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I disagree, If you were a theif and you had to pick between a plain parcel or a parcel with a Am**on Prime logo, which would you pick.

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If I were a stupid thief, I'd definitely pick the Amazonian one. Might get me some toilet paper, or hand sanitzer, or even some packs of spaghetti!

[cezm]

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@danieh_6 wrote:

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I disagree, If you were a theif and you had to pick between a plain parcel or a parcel with a Am**on Prime logo, which would you pick.

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We can agree to disagree.

Doesn't Prime just mean it might have spent less time in the post? Nothing to do with the contents of the package.

If I was a thief I would probably pick the plain wrapped one so it was less conspicuous when I'm walking away but then I may not be a good very thief - I'm ok with that!

[digital*ghost]

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@danieh_6 wrote:

I disagree, If you were a theif and you had to pick between a plain parcel or a parcel with a Am**on Prime logo, which would you pick.

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Package theives come in two varieties - there's the opportunistic theif, who didn't set out to steal from anyone that day, but spots a package on someone's porch, completely unattended, and within easy reach and quick escape.

This type of theif may be more tempted by specific branding on a package (because branded packaging has been shown to increase the liklihood of theft after delivery, but the data doesn't include third-party site branding, only actual product brands), so by that I mean if it says "Samsung" on it in big, bold writing, it might tempt the opportunist from casual glance without a second thought, to "score!" - the reason branded packaging can increase the liklihood of theft is because it can provide a general indication of the type of product and therefore potential value. eBay / Amaz*n branding is not quite the same, because it doesn't tell anyone what the contents or value could be, so if eBay branded packages increase the risk of theft, I would be inclined to think the increase is marginal at best, but would reserve that thought unless / until some proper data has been collected that can show it increases theft. I have been trying to find such data, but comparisons of package theft with generic vs eBay / Amaz*n branded packages doesn't seem to have been done as yet (but, I suspect if it made a huge difference, all the sellers who switched from fulfilling their own orders to using FBA would have switched back quick smart if it significantly increased package theft, and I found nothing online to indicate this is a common occurrence - if it does increase instances of theft, then I guess such sellers find the increase to be negligible).

The second type of theif is the one who plans it out, who left their house with the definite intention of stealing packages from porches etc - these are the types that will take any and all packages, regardless of what is (or isn't) on the box. Some will even follow delivery drivers and take as many as they're able to shortly after they were left. These people just get everything they can, ditch what isn't useful to them, and keep or sell what is. 

[tazzieterror]

Is anyone else alarmed that d*g seems to know a lot about stealing parcels? 

[digital*ghost]

Spoiler

[11dustyattic]

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

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@chameleon54 wrote:

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

It is almost impossible to buy packing tape that is not made in China no matter what you are prepared to pay.

I have just had a look at Officeworks on line and their range.....from the dirt cheap Keji to the well regarded Scotch brand.....is made in China.  There was one orphan brand from Indonesia.

It seems to me that you may as well look after your own wallet as whatever you buy is supporting China at the end of the day.

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Dont know anything about this company but a quick google search found this.

http://www.austmadepackaging.com.au/ad_tapes.html 

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Goodness, I though everyone knew about Officeworks......they are an Australia wide office supplies company with a wide range of prices in all items.

The point I was making was that while this store has a range of prices for packing tape all of the tapes were made in China.

No matter how much anyone is prepared to pay for their tape, at the end of the day they are supporting China so no point in spending more than you want to and "buy Australian" when China is the end beneficiary of your Au$.

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I'll respond to your comment, not directing my reply specifically to you, more a general response to all who have pointed out most of it comes from China anyway.

I'm well aware of that but my point, which seems to have been missed in translation, is that we should be supporting people who live and work in Australia, paying tax, supporting our economy. THAT was my point, not whether it's made in China sheesh. What do  Chinese sellers do for our economy? I mean the ones who don't live here.

I would have responded sooner but haven't had time to check the forum for a few days.

Again I'll stress I'm not targetting you specifically, more a reply to all the comments re goods being made in China. There is lots of perfectly good stuff made in China and yes I agree we all depend on it in one way or another. No denying that

[11dustyattic]

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@digital*ghost wrote:

I buy my tape from the same place I buy all my other  non-AP packaging. I usually buy the 36 roll pack, which is currently priced at $35.90, so basically $1 per roll, but they have a listing for 108 rolls for $95, so down to 88c a roll, (that listing shows as free post to me, but might not be to other areas - this is 48mm wide, 75m long, clear tape, 45 micron). 

I don't doubt it's manufactured in China, but if you're looking for packing tape that's less than $1 per roll, available from an Australian business, it's pretty easy to find. (I use it for  standard stuff, securing bubble wrap and boxes, but I wouldn't recommend it as a heavy duty tape). 

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Do you believe a genuine Australian seller could buy it cheap enough to sell it at that price? Yes it could be the quality that is compromised, but it would be interesting to know if they are a legit Australian registered business.

Re the quality of the tape, I'm fussy, it has to be strong tape, I quite often cardboard case flatter items and the tape has to be strong to hold it together. I've tried different tapes that either snap or don't stick properly. I just don't have the patience when I'm busy packaging and have other places I need to be, not to mention the extra tape used or wastage each time it fails. Same with the tape guns, if the teeth get out of alignment and they start to fail, in the bin and replaced.

Horses for courses though

[lyndal1838]

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I'll respond to your comment, not directing my reply specifically to you, more a general response to all who have pointed out most of it comes from China anyway.

I'm well aware of that but my point, which seems to have been missed in translation, is that we should be supporting people who live and work in Australia, paying tax, supporting our economy. THAT was my point, not whether it's made in China sheesh. What do  Chinese sellers do for our economy? I mean the ones who don't live here.

in China and yes I agree we all depend on it in one way or another. No denying that

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I should point out that I am not a seller so am not using packaging tape as much as many sellers would.....but we do use it in our business.

I often buy 2 different qualities of tape......a better (hence more expensive) tape for personal use and a cheap as chips tape to repair parcels so they hold together for a few hours between the pickup point and the customer's delivery address.

These days I look for the cheapest tape fit for my purposes.....if it is in Australia I buy it....if it is overseas I buy it.  In the first instance I am supporting an Australian seller as you advocate even if the item was made in China.....in the second case I am supporting my Australian wallet even though the item was still made in China.