Avery Removable Labels Review: Strong Adhesion, Mixed Printing
A verified buyer once said: “Labels stick, stay and remove cleanly without leaving a residue!”—a claim echoed across platforms for the Avery Self-Adhesive Removable Labels, 1 x 1.5 Inches, White, but not without caveats. With an average score of 4.7/5 on Amazon yet punctuated by cutting software complaints on Trustpilot, the product earns a balanced 7.8/10. Its performance in adhesion and clean removal is widely praised, but frustrations with Avery’s design tools dampen the enthusiasm for printable use cases.
Quick Verdict: Conditional Buy — great for physical labeling needs, risky for heavy template-based printing.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong adhesion holds for weeks (Reddit reports) | Avery Design & Print software widely criticized |
| Removes cleanly without residue | Printing misalignments common |
| Durable material works with Sharpie without smudging | Poor customer support experiences |
| Perfect compact size for labeling furniture, boxes | Some users find Sure Feed tech unreliable |
| Sticks to multiple surfaces (wood, glass, metal) | Not reusable after removal |
| Affordable bulk pricing | Limited water resistance unless using specific variants |
Claims vs Reality
Avery’s marketing promises labels that “stick, stay and remove cleanly without leaving a residue” and “adhere to smooth surfaces including paper, cardboard, plastic, wood, glass and metal.” For household organizers, this is appealing: one Reddit user noted, “I used the stickers on various pieces of furniture, appliances, and household goods, and not one of them has fallen off even after two weeks.” This matches the adhesion claim closely.
However, the printing aspect introduces friction. While Avery touts “easy customization using free designs and templates,” Trustpilot tells another story: “Garbage software… cumbersome and buggy is an understatement,” complained one reviewer after repeated misaligned prints. The reliability of physical adhesion is solid, but the ability to execute complex designs via Avery's software is questioned.
Another discrepancy surfaces with print quality promises under “Sure Feed technology” designed to prevent jams. While technically true in some cases, Trustpilot users report, “orders of printed labels… crooked and misaligned even the reprints,” directly undermining the marketing narrative.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
Across Reddit and BestViewsReviews, durability stands out. A verified Reddit report declared: “The sticker is durable and can be used with a sharpie marker without smudging. It also doesn't leave any hassle or stickiness when removed.” This makes them ideal for businesses needing temporary yet legible labels, or homeowners who reorganize storage frequently. The size—1 x 1.5 inches—scores highly for versatility: “Its size and shape are suitable,” shared one user, allowing for concise yet readable writing.
Clean removal emerges as another crowd favorite. For event planners, the ability to label and later remove without residue means switching signage on glass or metal surfaces without extra cleanup. “When removing the sticker, there is no hassle or left behind stickiness,” said one review, underscoring this benefit.
Common Complaints
The most persistent complaint revolves around Avery’s Design & Print software. Users on Trustpilot unleash frustration: “Horrible customer service… acted like they cared and had me send all types of pictures… and I got ignored.” Technical ineptness in print alignment also crops up repeatedly: “Can't print a thing… will now have to recreate all my labels.”
For corporate offices printing bulk, misalignments mean lost time and wasted stock. The issue isn’t the label material—it’s the digital execution.
Divisive Features
Sure Feed technology splits opinion. Some appreciate fewer printer jams, while others find mechanical feeding unreliable. Likewise, the price point garners mixed reactions: at around $7.64 for 500 labels, Amazon shoppers find it economical, but those requiring water-resistant qualities may need pricier variants.
Trust & Reliability
While physical performance earns trust, Avery’s brand image suffers on Trustpilot, rating just 1.4/5. Words like “epic fail” for customer service recur. Multiple users highlight account deletions and loss of custom designs: “They deleted my account… all my designs are missing.”
From a long-term durability standpoint, Reddit contributions remain optimistic—labels held for weeks without lifting, even on challenging surfaces. Still, corporate buyers express caution, tying reliability not to material but to software integration failures.
Alternatives
Within Reddit’s top removable labels list, several competitors surface—like “Houselabels HL-30334-R Dymo-compatible multipurpose labels” and “DayMark Safety Systems Move Mark Shelf Life / Use By.” These are often recommended for specialized storage or food service use, with dissolvable variants providing an edge for kitchen scenarios where Avery’s paper labels might falter under moisture.
Another niche alternative is “premium chalkboard label stickers” for reusability—ideal if writing and erasing repeatedly is more valuable than permanent adhesion. Avery lacks a true reusable offering here.
Price & Value
At $7.64 for 500 labels (about $0.02 each), the Avery 05434 model undercuts many competitors—especially when bought in bulk via eBay with free shipping. For budget-conscious buyers, especially in offices where labels are applied by hand and rarely printed from templates, the cost-efficiency is significant.
Resale value isn’t high; labels are consumables. Bulk buying saves most, as Reddit discussions note avoiding premium “water-resistant” or “UV-safe” labels unless strictly necessary.
FAQ
Q: Do Avery removable labels leave residue?
A: No, multiple users confirm clean removal from smooth surfaces like glass, wood, and plastic, even after weeks of adhesion.
Q: Can I reuse Avery removable labels?
A: Not effectively—once removed, the adhesive loses strength, according to Avery’s own FAQ.
Q: Are these labels water-resistant?
A: The 05434 model is not; only heavy-duty variants offer true water resistance.
Q: What’s the main issue with Avery’s software?
A: Users cite misalignment, limited customization, and cumbersome UI as common problems, especially when moving from older offline tools to the current online-only platform.
Q: Will these work with both laser and inkjet printers?
A: Yes, they’re compatible with both, but exact print alignment can be inconsistent per Trustpilot reports.
Final Verdict:
Buy if you’re an organizer, small business owner, or event planner prioritizing adhesion reliability, clean removal, and low cost without needing complex printed designs. Avoid if your workflow depends on precise template-based bulk printing through Avery’s software—this is where frustration peaks. Pro tip from the community: handwrite directly on these durable labels with a fine-tip Sharpie for best results, bypassing the software entirely.
