dlstewart's Full Review: Avery 17012 View Presentation Binders 1" Capacity,...
We use a lot of binders in our office in several different sizes. One style of binder we use is the Avery Durable Ring Binder with a 1" Capacity in White (model # 17012).
Description
These binders are a nice clean shade of white. The smooth white vinyl is covered on the outside with a clear plastic covering that is open along the top. This creates pockets so that sheets of paper can be inserted into the front, back, and spine to announce the binder's contents.
Inside the binder, at both front and back, are two horizontal pockets. The pockets are horizontally tiered, one above the other. Along the inside spine is a silver-colored metal 3-ring locking system. At each end of the metal spine is a trigger-tab to easily snap open all three rings at once. On the back of the binder are two black rivets that hold the spine in place.
This binder measures 10 3/8" wide x 11 1/2" high with a spine measuring 1 3/8" wide. It is designed to hold 175 sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" 20-pound paper.
My Experiences
A one-inch width binder may sound small, and it is. However, sometimes we have need of binders that hold a limited number of pages. One use for these binders are company sign-in sheets. At the front desk is an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper where visitors sign-in. The nature of our business does not see a lot of foot traffic, but it is important to log who enters the building and who they are seeing.
As the sign-in sheets are filled, I keep them sorted by year ... one year to an Avery binder. Since these binders hold 175 sheets of paper, they offer more than enough room for storage. I like it that these binders stand upright in a bookcase. It is also terrific that I can keep track of what each binder holds by printing customized sheets of paper to insert into the clear pockets on the outside front and back cover as well as the spine. This makes for instant identification.
In order to keep the binders looking professional, I print the spine insert (and a front cover sheet) using a laser printer and a word processing program. I create my own inserts and slide them into place. I admit I was disappointed in the avery.com website. The literature that comes with these binders states: "Avery templates. Just click & create. Customize your binder at avery.com". I visited the template area on the Avery website, and the index did not mention binder templates. In the search box, I typed the model number of the binder (17012). No results to display. However, a link offered accessories for 1" binders, so I clicked it. That produced a page offering to sell me Binder Spine Inserts. I didn't want to buy inserts; I wanted to create my own. Using a word processing program (Microsoft Word), it was easy enough to print my own inserts without the Avery templates.
These Avery binders work very well for us. The rings have what Avery calls a "gap-free design". Using the trigger-tabs, the rings are easy to snap open. I have never had any gaps between them. The three-hole punched papers always stay in place on the rings, too. Using the trigger-tabs, I can also lock the rings in place.
I also like it that the spine is affixed to the back cover of the binder. This means that when I open the binder, the papers lay flat. It makes for a nice presentation, and the pages are accessible.
One feature I rarely use are the inside pockets. Due to the nature of how I'm using these binders, there are no loose pages to insert. However, on occasion we have used these binders for other projects in the office, and the inside pockets easily hold a few sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" paper. If you place a business card vertically into the bottom pocket, the edge of the card will peek out for grasping. Set the card horizontally in the pocket, and it will fall to the bottom, making retrieval a challenge.
The covers wear well, too. These binders see average use: opening and closing on a regular basis to insert new sheets. They don't see abuse. Since these binders are constructed from vinyl and plastic, it is easy to use a damp cloth to clean the covers if necessary.
Purchasing
W.B. Mason sells these binders for $4.45 each. Staples.com sells them for $4.49 each.
Summary
I like Avery Durable Ring Binders with a 1" Capacity. These binders have a quality feel and look to them. They are easy to use, and I can customize the front and covers as well as the spine to reflect what information the binders contain. An excellent product!
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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