Hardware: zap straps

Self-tutoring about dollar-store shopping and fasteners: the tutor mentions zap straps.

The following is according to my understanding.

I have written numerous posts about visiting dollar stores, such as my post from January 6, 2024. I love going to dollar stores, for a few reasons. Not only can one find truly useful things there for very cheap, but also the variety of goods one finds there – and of people – are fascinating.

Seeing what other people are buying at a dollar store might be the most interesting part of going there. One Friday night, maybe a year and a half ago, my wife and I were at a Dollar Store, in the checkout. A guy maybe five or ten years older than I am, either Brit or Aussie, asked a question to a clerk who was walking by.

I didn’t hear what the man said, but my wife looked at him and pointed: “Aisle (whatever it was), other end.”

The man nodded thankfully, then hurried off where my wife had indicated.

“What did he ask about?” I asked my wife.

“Zap straps,” she answered.

“What’s that?”

“Another name for zip ties,” she replied.

Call them zip ties, zap straps, cable ties, or anything you like…they’re a popular item. I have a big bag of them, but might use one per month. Yet, people must use them a lot. They used to use them, for instance, to gather computer cords together. Now, I think, velcro ties are preferred for that, since they are more gentle on the cords.

The last time I used a “zap strap” was to hold a spring-loaded implement open so it could dry out. It worked very well for that.

Every time I see the zip ties in the drawer, I wonder what other people are using them for, as well as what other names they use for them.