They're less bad if you use quality tape.

Probably using them wrong. These things are great if you have a lot of boxes to tape and need it done fast.

It takes some practice, and you have to understand how the blade engages based on the angle you’re holding it at. If you can figure that out, these are awesome. It doesn’t even have to be a fancy one or more expensive tape.

You're likely using it wrong. They're great, when you have a good one.

Fairly confident you are using it wrong.

Bought one when moved to a different country and had to pack a lots of big boxes.

Its great time saver, only downside is how god awful loud they can be.

The ones where the plastic shield pressing against the box makes the little teeth plunge into the tape are friggin' orgasmic.

Years ago I worked 2nd shift in a bindery at a medium-sized print shop. One day when I came in at 3 pm, the 1st shift straw boss announced that we had to get a certain job folded and boxed and ready to ship by 5 pm. The asshole who ran the folder on 1st claimed it was "all set up and ready to go". It was not. So to add to the frustration of the situation, this one c*nt, whom her co-workers called "Princess Smith" because she was fucking the married supervisor who's name was Smith (no, not really), used to hide one of only two tape guns in her toolbox. So after wasting an extra 10 minutes looking for the one remaining tape gun (after 15 minutes finishing the set-up of the folder), we barely got the job folded, boxed and palletized in time for the truck driver to load and deliver it.

Later, once we had time to breathe, I was still feeling salty. I broke into her assigned plastic toolbox by removing the hinge. I took out "her" tape gun (not hers. just to be clear) and taped it up in a huge wad of tape, then put it back and put the hinge back on, and put the toolbox back where she kept it.

The next day, we heard that she cried about it and even went to the company VP about it. After placating her, according to one of the other supervisors, they all laughed their asses off.

Managed to perfectly perforate my chin with one of these as a foolish 16 year old in my first job. Entirely user error (I'll let you guess how) and left my chin looking like you could tear it off like a postage stamp for weeks after.

Safe to say I wasn't allowed to use it again after that, so my only experience with these is that they're terrible - though that's probably not a fair judgement given the circumstances 😂.

Cheap ones are s##t, worn out ones are also s##t. Adjusting the tension on the tape roller is a fine art as batch to batch the glue can change.

God I need to get out more !

They're fantastic for boxes.

Practice helps.

I use them everyday. I work in logistics. Trick number one is to have special tape that isn't as loud when unrolling it.

Tip number two is just use your finger to put the first bit on, hold it with the finger and do the rest. At the end, push the top part against the box to make the knife cut the tape.

Wipe over the tape with your finger if needed, some tapes and kinds of carton don't have much holding power. If you move your fingers over the tape, you'll heat up the glue and it will stick better.

How's it not working for you?

If you don't have the tape facing the wrong direction, it should work effortlessly. Many fail to understand the razor and plastic shield mechanism that leverages tension to make a clean tear tho. The tape can melt and be tough to use. You could also have a low quality item technically but even cheap ones are fairly manageable for a while
Source: An embarrassing amount of exp honestly

I think they're fine but kind of unnecessary unless you're boxing a bunch of stuff. If you're moving or do online sales on e-bay or whatever it might be worth picking up a quality one but otherwise just buy a roll of packing tape.

A good one of these makes moving much easier and less painful and aggravating than the cheap ones or the plastic things. Just don't use it too long, take breaks if you're making a lot of boxes at once. You can stress your hand and wrist using it.

There's also a technique to it, which you can find examples of online. Try a few ways and see which works for you. Also practice helps. 😁

My search: https://www.ecosia.org/search?q=how+to+use+packing+tape+dispenser&tt=iosapp&_sp=42E1644D-3938-4D1B-A693-C152F5E91823

don’t use UPS brand tape for these things

Tape Gun.

https://youtube.com/shorts/AYV0JmlKA28

The only way I’ve been able to get these things to work is to put my thumb on the tape roll so it stops rolling out and I can cut it with the blade part. I have historically had the same issue as you though.

A triangle shaped thumb nail and the tape roll alone is all you need to be lightning fast. Seen pros do it for a living, so I had to try. Beats these things by a mile!

Depends on the item.
Some are great some are annoying.

But generally: Skill issue

They work great until someone drops it and bends the frame. As soon as there's misalignment it's becomes frustrating garbage.

Working warehousing, I bought my own and tethered it to my push cart because every one in the building kept getting destroyed by other employees.

I don't think it's possible to use sheathing tape without one.