Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly durable document tube, March 21, 2009
The Safco Telescoping Document Tube is a cylindrical plastic container with adjustable lengths. Its principal intended use is to provide protection for important documents (i.e. artwork, blueprints, posters, etc.) during transport.
In preparation for shipping the tube, Amazon threw it into a needlessly oversized shipping box that contained no cushioning material, allowing the tube to freely jostle in the spacious box without any protection. No matter. The tube survived the treacherous transport from one of the company's many regional outposts to my front door (...unintentionally, it passed the first test of its ability to withstand the rigors of travel).
The black tube with one clear cap and ID label (as pictured on Amazon's website) turned out to be a black tube with one black cap and no ID label (the other end is completely sealed and part of the tube). No affixed ID pouch on the tube itself is provided either. I made do with my own label. The screw-on end cap (rather than the slip-on type) is more reassuring, as it is more secure in protecting the documents inside from sliding out and shielding them away from the elements.
The material of the tube barrel is thin, pliable soft plastic. Not exactly what I had envisioned as I had preferred thick, non-compressible hard plastic. Nonetheless, it is rugged enough for normal handling as the cylinder and, more importantly, documents inside have survived multiple trips thus far over a 6-month time period.
The tube has endured the expected hazards that accompany transport inside my car's trunk, a cab's trunk, plane's overhead bin, and a hotel shuttle's storage area. The container has been exposed to Pacific coast breeze, Bay Area fog, sweltering Texas sun, and Northeast freezing rain without any apparent damage thus far. Even with the tube extended near its maximum length, I have been able to carry it on planes without any questions or hassles from airline personnel.
No written instructions come with this no-frills product. The manufacturer must have tested this out with lab monkeys and felt that if they could figure out how to extend/telescope the tube, so can their human counterparts.
Tube's Inner Dimensions:
Diameter = 3 in.
Shortest Length= 24 1/8 in.
Longest Length= 39 3/4 in.
Strengths:
- Protects documents from the elements
- Screw-on end cap leaves little to chance for contents to slide out
- Adjustable tube length by 3/4 in. increments to accommodate documents of varying dimensions
- Adjustable nylon strap to carry tube behind the shoulder or across the back
Limitations:
- Thin, pliable soft plastic (I preferred something more rugged; however, not a problem with durability so far)
- No ID label on end cap (as advertised); no ID pouch either
- No written instructions
- Price-point seems a bit high
Overall Impression:
Given the cheap plastic material and low production costs, the Safco Telescoping Document Tube seems a bit over-priced. Nonetheless, it has lasted surprisingly longer than I anticipated and continues to work as intended thus far. My posters have arrived at conferences and returned home unscathed inside this tube. Therefore, I can recommend this product.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Fair tube, May 4, 2009
I bought this tube to carry my scientific posters. The posters are 3 feet by 6 feet. This is just about the limit for this tube. The "locking" mechanism that keeps the tube extended is not stable and can unlock easily. I had a poster become unfastened in the tube and had to destroy the poster to remove it. The tube itself is light.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
defective design, totally useless product, May 12, 2007
direct to the point: very unreliable. It doesn't stay at the adjusted point. it either retracts or falls apart when you are carry it. The tube cap doesn't fit tight either and falls off frequently. I bought it to carry my poster to a conference. I had to readjust it more than 10 times on my way to the airport and in the airport. the cap would also fall off every 5 minutes or so. I was so mad but needed the tube to protect the poster on the plane so had to bear with it, but I threw it out as soon as the plane landed. I bought another poster tube (another brand, about the same price) afterwards that works fine.
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