The rubber bands (#64) are of excellent quality. They do not break. And they don't melt either. I would recommend this product to every library and business.
I work with stacks of sharp edged card stock that would cut the rubber bands and shoot them everywhere. Staples Economy Rubber Bands Size #33 is thick enough that they do not cut through snap or break. I've been using them for the last three years.
The Staples Economy Rubber Bands #16 are the worst quality. You must have changed vendors because we have been ordering this item for years and since December 15 I have ordered twice the first time I had to return them all but I thought maybe it was just a bad bunch so I tried again a couple of weeks ago. Same thing we can't even use them they are so bad.