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[on:]

I just got a package from the USA, and inside was bubble wrap stuck together with USPS sticky tape, like this:



Now how do you misuse sticky tape?

Even assuming you could, do you really think that some criminal (eg. typing up hostages in a bank robbery) would stop just because it had a warning printed on it?

And what law would you violate? The "correct use of sticky tape" ordinance?

Surely this is egregious over-labelling?

[Reply #1 on:]

The glue will probably get you high, that's all.

If its a government mob, it would be the information printed on it that can't be misused in my opinion.

Could probably skip some security checks if something is mislabelled.

[Reply #2 on:]

The USPS will ship virtually unlimited amounts of shipping boxes to your house for free. That warning is to inform people that they can't get $1000 worth of boxes for free from the USPS, then use them as moving/storage boxes.

[Reply #3 on:]

We live in the Age Of The Wimp, and the age of the Legal Lottery.
No amount of warnings, legislation, or expense is too great to prevent a single paper cut or a single spilled coffee.
Lawrence Bullis was right, you know.

[Reply #4 on:]

As it says the old adage: "Always a better signage will discourage misuse"

[Reply #5 on:]

The USPS will ship virtually unlimited amounts of shipping boxes to your house for free. That warning is to inform people that they can't get $1000 worth of boxes for free from the USPS, then use them as moving/storage boxes.

or turn them inside-out and retape, and use UPS/Fedex instead.
I've received packages like these from some eBay sellers.

So now USPS pre-prints and marks the inside of their boxes too.

[Reply #6 on:]

I would imagine that taping co-workers to office chairs is misuse.

In the eyes of the people who supply the tape.

[Reply #7 on:]

The USPS will ship virtually unlimited amounts of shipping boxes to your house for free. That warning is to inform people that they can't get $1000 worth of boxes for free from the USPS, then use them as moving/storage boxes.

or turn them inside-out and retape, and use UPS/Fedex instead.
I've received packages like these from some eBay sellers.

So now USPS pre-prints and marks the inside of their boxes too.

I used to do that at a place I worked, UPS sent us a palette of assorted boxes, bags and whatnot ... we had just switched to fedex, so I just flipped them inside out

[Reply #8 on:]

Wow, I had no idea I could get free boxes from UPS !!  Thanks.  Now if I could only get free bubble wrap.

[Reply #9 on:]

Not UPS..... but USPS

You can also get stickers, customs form envelopes, etc.

[Reply #10 on:]

Maybe they don't want you to mistake misuse it for toilet paper!

[Reply #11 on:]

I would imagine that taping co-workers to office chairs is misuse.

Then there's taping the cat.

Or taping postal workers?

I once took the cover off a co-worker's phone, and taped down the hook lever. He couldn't answer his phone. Looking back, I should've used USPS tape.

How about twisting two wires together, and taping them, instead of using wire-nuts?

Those are just some of the ways I'd mis-use sticky tape. YMMV ]

[Reply #12 on:]

How about twisting two wires together, and taping them, instead of using wire-nuts?

its not uncommon for me to walk into work and see one of the engineers had setup a test ... 12 volts 50 amps running though 22 gauge wire connected by twisting the ends and a little bit of electrical tape covering it

[Reply #13 on:]

How about twisting two wires together, and taping them, instead of using wire-nuts?

its not uncommon for me to walk into work and see one of the engineers had setup a test ... 12 volts 50 amps running though 22 gauge wire connected by twisting the ends and a little bit of electrical tape covering it

Well, as a temporary thing ... sure. In my last house, I discovered an outlet wired this way, using lamp cord. I'd been running a table saw from it.

[Reply #14 on:]

12 volts 50 amps running though 22 gauge wire connected by twisting the ends and a little bit of electrical tape covering it

Isn't that called a fuse?

-j