Avery 8663 Matte Clear 2x4 Labels Review: 7.8/10
“Virtually disappear on white, light-colored, or textured surfaces” is the promise—and across listings, the Avery Printable Shipping Labels, 2" x 4", Matte Clear, 250 Blank (8663) keep getting described as the “frosted” way to make plain packaging look printed-on.
Verdict on the feedback: Avery Printable Shipping Labels, 2" x 4", Matte Clear, 250 Blank (8663) earns a 7.8/10 based on the provided sources, with repeated praise for the professional look and printer-feed features—tempered by recurring worries (in adjacent Avery 2x4 label coverage) about adhesion in shipping scenarios.
Quick Verdict
Conditional — a strong pick for a “printed-on” aesthetic and inkjet-friendly sheets, but value depends heavily on the price you find, and the broader Avery 2x4 label ecosystem includes warnings about labels peeling in transit on rough cardboard.
Digging deeper into the listings, the “matte clear” positioning is consistent across multiple retailers: the labels are framed as a subtle “frosted appearance” that blends into white or light materials rather than screaming “sticker.” For small businesses and shippers who care about brand presentation, that’s the central appeal.
The second theme is process reliability. The product is repeatedly tied to Sure Feed technology, described as reducing “misalignments and printer jams” and improving grip via a “blue, textured strip” at the top of each sheet (as described in Office Depot and OfficeSupply copy). For people printing batch after batch, the pitch is less about beauty and more about avoiding wasted sheets and reprints.
Where the story gets more nuanced: not all label feedback in the dataset is purely about 8663. Some third-party summaries focus on Avery 5263 (white, laser, TrueBlock) and introduce a caution: adhesion “possibility of the labels peeling off during shipment,” with tape suggested. That doesn’t automatically indict 8663, but it does signal a real-world anxiety users and reviewers bring to shipping labels in general.
| Call | What the data supports | Who it’s best for |
|---|---|---|
| Look | “Matte clear” / “frosted” / “printed-on appearance” | Sellers shipping on white/light packaging |
| Printing | “Sure Feed” reduces jams/misalignment | High-volume home office printing |
| Application | “Easy Peel” / “Pop-up Edge” | Anyone labeling lots of parcels fast |
| Adhesion | Marketed as “Ultrahold permanent adhesive” | Smooth surfaces (paper, plastic, glass) |
| Risk | Some Avery 2x4 label coverage flags peeling in transit | Rough cardboard shipments may need extra security |
Claims vs Reality
One marketing claim shows up everywhere: the labels “virtually disappear” on white or light surfaces. Amazon’s product description leans into it: “The clear matte finish blends seamlessly when applied… giving… a subtle frosted appearance,” and the longer copy reinforces that they “virtually disappear on white, light-colored, or textured surfaces, creating a sleek, printed-on effect.” Staples echoes the same idea, describing “frosted clear labels that blend into white or light-colored surfaces for a printed-on look.” In other words, the official narrative is consistent across channels—these aren’t meant to look invisible on every box; they’re meant to look premium on the right kind of packaging.
The second major claim is printer reliability. The official line repeats that “Sure Feed technology provides a more reliable feed… reducing misalignments and printer jams.” Office Depot/OfficeSupply go further into mechanism, noting “the blue, textured strip… provides better grip for printer rollers.” For small operations—an Etsy seller printing shipping labels at midnight, or an office admin doing a run of outgoing mail—that’s the difference between “print and go” and a pile of misaligned labels.
Adhesion is where the gap between marketing and broader shipping-label reality appears. The product copy says the “Ultrahold permanent adhesive ensures labels stick and stay… without peeling, curling or falling off,” and Staples likewise frames it as “permanent adhesive” that “guarantees” labels stick on many materials. Yet in adjacent Avery 2x4 label coverage, ShopSavvy’s TLDR review warns of “adhesion concerns… labels peeling off during shipment, especially on rough surfaces like cardboard,” and suggests covering with packing tape. While that ShopSavvy write-up targets Avery 5263, it reflects a real shipping-world stress test that consumers apply to any label: it’s not enough to stick on clean paper; it has to survive conveyors, cold trucks, and scuffed corrugate.
Marketing claims featured in listings
- “Virtually disappear” / “printed-on look”
- “Sure Feed” reduces jams and misalignment
- “Permanent” adhesive that won’t peel
Cross-Platform Consensus
The most consistent story is presentation. Multiple sources position Avery Printable Shipping Labels, 2" x 4", Matte Clear, 250 Blank (8663) as a way to make shipping and product labeling look intentional, not improvised. Amazon calls the finish “subtle frosted,” and Staples frames it as an “elegant touch” that blends into white or light-colored surfaces. For small business owners shipping cosmetics, wedding stationery, or boutique goods, this is less about postage and more about brand cues: a label that looks like it belongs on the package, not slapped on at the last second.
A second pattern is workflow speed—especially for repetitive mailing. Across Amazon and OfficeSupply/Office Depot copy, the “Easy Peel” / “Pop-up Edge” feature is positioned as a time-saver: “just bend the sheet back and the label edges pop up for quick peeling.” For high-volume users, this is the kind of micro-ergonomic feature that matters because it repeats 100+ times. Even without personal anecdotes in the provided dataset, the repeated emphasis suggests it’s a core reason people choose this line over generic sheets.
Printing tools and templates also show up as a consistent hook. The listings repeatedly push Avery Design & Print and “free templates,” plus mail merge functionality (Staples highlights “easy-to-use tools… like our mail merge feature”). That message targets two different user types: the DIY creator who wants to “import your own artwork,” and the practical shipper who just needs addresses pulled from a spreadsheet without fuss.
Universally Praised (based on consistent cross-listing emphasis)
- “Frosted” matte clear aesthetic that “virtually disappear[s]” on white/light surfaces (Amazon, Staples, Office Depot/OfficeSupply)
- “Sure Feed” reliability to reduce “misalignments and printer jams” (Amazon, Staples, Office Depot/OfficeSupply)
- Fast handling via “Easy Peel” and “Pop-up Edge” (Amazon, Staples, Office Depot/OfficeSupply)
Common complaints are harder to attribute directly to 8663 because the dataset doesn’t include verbatim 8663 review quotes from individual buyers—what it does include are warning signals in nearby label coverage. The ShopSavvy TLDR summary introduces a recurring fear: labels that can lift during shipping, especially on rough cardboard, leading to the practical workaround: tape over the label. That’s an operational headache for anyone shipping at scale because “adding tape” turns a fast process into a slower, more hands-on one.
Price friction emerges as another implicit complaint when comparing across retailers: the same 250-pack appears at very different price points depending on channel (for example, Amazon shows a discounted price for 8663; Staples lists a much higher figure in the provided snapshot). For buyers, that variance turns “value” into a moving target—great if you catch a deal, questionable if you pay a premium for a commodity item.
Finally, printer compatibility can become divisive by context. Avery 8663 is consistently labeled as inkjet-optimized in the provided specs and descriptions. Meanwhile, some Amazon entries in the dataset heavily feature Avery 5263 (laser-focused, TrueBlock). That split matters: users who assume all “Avery 2x4 shipping labels” are interchangeable can end up buying the wrong substrate for their setup.
Common Complaints (from the wider Avery 2x4 label coverage in provided sources)
- Adhesion worries in transit on rough cardboard; tape reinforcement suggested (ShopSavvy TLDR)
- Price swings across retailers can undermine perceived value (Amazon vs Staples/other listings)
Divisive features cluster around material and finish. Matte clear film is a deliberate aesthetic choice: it’s meant to “blend” and look subtle, especially on white or light backgrounds. But that same subtlety may not be what every shipper wants—some people prefer the high-contrast visibility of bright white labels (like the 5263-style product pages). The dataset doesn’t include direct consumer debate quotes, but the presence of parallel listings for white TrueBlock labels signals a real split in buyer priorities: concealment and elegance vs maximum readability and coverage.
Trust & Reliability
Digging deeper into the provided “Trustpilot (Verified)” section, what appears is not a pattern of scam reports or long-term “6 months later” user stories—but rather retailer-style product entries and specifications (including Office Depot and WebstaurantStore pages). With that limitation, the safest integrity call is this: the dataset here doesn’t supply actual Trustpilot narrative feedback or Reddit long-term posts that can be quoted.
What can be drawn responsibly is reliability as framed by multiple retailers: “Sure Feed” is repeatedly described as reducing misalignment and jams, and “permanent adhesive” is presented as sticking on surfaces from “paper” and “cardboard” to “glass” and “painted metals” (Amazon and Staples descriptions). That’s “reliability” as marketing promise and spec-level claim—not durability stories from users months later.
If long-term performance and scam-risk are critical to your decision, the provided sources don’t contain the kind of “verified buyer said…” narratives needed to confirm or contradict the claims with real-world longevity accounts.
Alternatives
Only one clear competitor product family is meaningfully represented in the dataset: Avery’s own 2" x 4" labels in other variants—especially Avery 5263 (white, laser, TrueBlock) as listed on Amazon, and summarized by ShopSavvy.
The tradeoff is straightforward in the way the listings position them. Avery 8663 focuses on the matte clear, frosted “printed-on look,” while Avery 5263 is framed around “TrueBlock technology that covers up everything underneath the mailing label” and “optimized for laser printers.” For reuse of boxes, the TrueBlock angle is a functional advantage; for a boutique aesthetic on light packaging, matte clear is the appeal.
ShopSavvy’s TLDR summary of the 5263 line adds one more consideration: it flags potential “adhesion concerns” in shipment and suggests tape reinforcement. That caution may influence buyers who prioritize shipping survival over appearance, even if it’s not explicitly tied to 8663 in the data.
Price & Value
Pricing in the dataset is scattered—and that’s the story. For Avery Printable Shipping Labels, 2" x 4", Matte Clear, 250 Blank (8663), Amazon shows a steep discount in the provided snapshot (a list price around the high-$30s with a current price around the high-teens). Staples’ listing in the snapshot is notably higher for the same pack size, while other office retailers show mid-range pricing. The end result: “value” depends less on the product and more on where and when you buy.
For small businesses running predictable shipping volume, the per-label cost is what matters. At a discounted Amazon-like price, these look like a reasonable upgrade for brand presentation. At premium office-supply pricing, they can feel like paying extra for aesthetics and convenience features like Easy Peel, Sure Feed, and the clear film.
On resale value trends, the provided eBay section doesn’t include actual sold listings or market movement—just repeated product snippets—so there isn’t enough data here to responsibly claim a resale pattern.
Buying tips implied by the sources
- If you print on inkjet, 8663 is repeatedly described as inkjet-optimized (Amazon, Staples, OfficeSupply/Office Depot).
- If you need to cover old markings on reused boxes, the dataset points to TrueBlock-style Avery 5263 listings as the alternative.
- If shipping on rough cardboard worries you, ShopSavvy’s TLDR suggests tape reinforcement (noted for 5263).
FAQ
Q: Are these labels actually clear or do they look cloudy?
A: The listings consistently describe a “matte clear” finish with a “subtle frosted appearance.” Amazon calls it a “clear matte finish” that “blends seamlessly,” and Staples says they “blend into white or light-colored surfaces for a printed-on look,” implying a frosted-clear effect rather than glossy transparency.
Q: Do they work in laser printers?
A: The provided sources repeatedly frame Avery 8663 as “compatible with inkjet printers” and “optimized for inkjet printers.” For laser-focused use, the dataset highlights Avery 5263 as “optimized for laser printers,” suggesting buyers should match the label line to printer type.
Q: Do they really reduce printer jams?
A: Multiple listings claim Sure Feed technology provides “a more reliable feed” and reduces “misalignments and printer jams.” Office Depot/OfficeSupply also mention a “blue, textured strip” that helps printer rollers grip the sheet. The dataset doesn’t include buyer quotes confirming this, but the claim is consistent across retailers.
Q: Will the adhesive hold up during shipping?
A: Product pages describe “Ultrahold permanent adhesive” that sticks to many surfaces “without peeling, curling or falling off.” However, a third-party summary of a different Avery 2x4 label (5263) warns of possible peeling “during shipment… on rough surfaces like cardboard” and recommends tape, showing a potential gap between claims and shipping stress.
Q: How many labels come in a pack and what size are they?
A: The sources consistently list 250 total labels in 2" x 4" format, with 10 labels per sheet and 25 sheets per pack. This is repeated across Amazon, Staples, and office-supply listings for the 8663 line.
Final Verdict
Buy Avery Printable Shipping Labels, 2" x 4", Matte Clear, 250 Blank (8663) if you’re a small seller or office shipper who wants a “frosted,” professional printed-on look on white or light packaging and you’re printing on an inkjet.
Avoid if you primarily need to cover old markings on reused boxes (the dataset points instead to TrueBlock-style Avery 5263) or if your shipments rely on rough corrugated cardboard where extra reinforcement might be needed.
Pro tip implied by the broader label discourse: if adhesion anxiety is high for your shipping route, consider the tape-over-label approach mentioned in the ShopSavvy TLDR summary—especially for rough surfaces and heavy handling.
