General Forum

How is re-using tape any more gross than re-using cardboard, etc ?

My guess is the idea that hair and other things can get on tape and that grosses them out. 

Glue stick.

When I was in high school (20 yrs ago), a friend and I experimented with a stamp after hearing about ways to cheat the system. Yeah thats right, we were badass. Anyhow, we mailed a letter back and forth from Colorado to New Jersey constantly for like a whole summer using just one stamp. We put a thin layer of elmers glue over it and then the postmark wouldnt get ON the stamp. Cant remember the method for getting it off to reapply, but aim guessing its to do with the steam we'd use to remove it from the envelope. So yeah, we just did a dab of elmers to affix it and the smear across the face of the stamp. Eventually the stamp was too worn and wrinky from steam and glues and peeling.

I have a few good bits of tape stuck next to my computer desk. My wife gets upset, telling me its not worth the few cents I'm saving by keeping all the ugly tape stuck on the wall.  You can tell which traders are using new tape and which are reusing as the bits get smaller and smaller as they keep getting ripped appart to be reused.  Vs a trader using new tape will have bits 3 inches or longer.

As for cardboard, I think nearly every trader on this site reuses good bits.  I've gotten trades where you can see 4 or 5 other trade numbers crossed out on the cardboard the cards are in.  Another good source for decent cardboard to put around the cards is to pick up 2 or 3 of the heavy stock priority mail envilopes from the post office.  They are free (you pay if you use them to ship).  Cut them up and they are prefect.

I'll reuse anything that doesn't look like it went to war. Reusing postage stamps is actually against the law (at least that's what a postal worker told me) and you can't put tape over it either. Everything else is fair game in my shipments. I'm sending out a box today that was used before it was used to get cards to me, so this is at least it's 3rd use that I know of. Hope it can continue to be used. And I too have a stash of painters tape here - if it was torn my the previous trader, I trim it before re-use as I also trim my new tape when I have no used tape in inventory. :)

I like to reuse the PWE packing that I receive in trades. Some people have got it figured out real well, and makes me feel a lot better sending the PWE instead of spending at least $5 for a padded envelope mailing of just a few cards......

Bought lots of cards from ebay in the spring...

Along with several trades etc...

Lately started selling (not much luck with cards but War Gaming stuff  going fairly well) Been reusing envelopes, boxes etc...

Strip off the postal label, use 5 x 8 card for address and cover it with packing tape...

Lately used a box from RCCA (Racing Collectibles Club of America) that I received some die casts in from

1998....

So far, haven't gotten any flack from PO for reusing Flat Rate Bubble mailers....

Confessions to a crime. I'm sure it feels good to get that off your chest after carrying that burdon around for 20 years. Don't worry, I think the justice system has bigger fish to fry.

The cards themselves are considered used, so...