Ok, I know some things from China/Taiwan can be inexpensive but how about 100 plant tags with a free S&H for 97 cents ???

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100pcs-Waterproof-Strip-Line-Gardening-Labels-Signs-Plant-Hanging-Tags-Gray-hv2n-/251381216915?pt=US_Garden_Tools&hash=item3a877cf693

I've seen those. The plastic is like on the white long and narrow tags you insert into a pot. 
These are good for grafts for me since they are light and still durable enough, I can hang them on a branch. 

I think that's good, but I just cut up the soda and beer cans and emboss the variety on them.  A hole puncher works great and then I just tag them.  EasyPeasy and no cost at all.
Suzi

And you get to drink the beer first! :>)

Well guys and gals, here is a problem with your suggestions:
the good beer I like is not sold in cans !!
Bottles only.  Now what?

But pepsi is.

If the plant inventory gets large, I make sure quality and long lasting is a factor.
These are great tags, I reuse them by just crossing off and adding on a corner or backside.
Misplacing a tag or forgetting what something is... is more of a loss to me then saving a couple $.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-METAL-TREE-TAGS-PLANT-LABELS-ID-MARKERS-/270617549007?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f021018cf

hang the bottle with name on the label :)

1" window blinds bought from Goodwill or rescued from roadside cut to length and hole punched work great.  Make sure you use a permanent marker.

Flatten the bottle cap with a mallet and emboss on the inside?

Pete, your suggestion might be a little impractical. I think humor was you aim though. You succeeded - IMO. LOL!

Hey Danny. I've used the old blinds extensively. Surprisingly, one of those paint markers works even better on them than a sharpie marker. Those 2" wide plastic blinds are even better. They're thicker & seem like they would last a long time. I was salvaging the end pieces of some of those recently when my wife put new blinds in our dining room. Up-cycling at its best :) . 

bill, yeah.. it would be impractical. but if you leave few drops in the bottle, it will also work as slug trap :) 

I like it how some good things is easier to process with beer :)
Pete, any particular brand you suggest that work best for the slugs? Please, see-through-the-bottle beers is not an option.

I found that a pencil works better for me than a sharpie. Much more durable and is not affected by the UV rays.

I use plastic knives. Cut the end flat and cut off serating then write in it with pencil. Tested them last yr with sharpie and pencil and found sharpie wears off but pencil seems more permanent.
Total cost; free!

Thanks I ordered some, I will not be using these as permanent labels, but for less than $2 shipped for 200 why not?  I use the mini-blind alot and the paint markers do last longer than sharpie. For permanent labeling the metal impresso style tags are worth it, but I will use these when grafting be it on an existing tree or a rootstock, until the graft takes it has not earned  permanent.  I might use them when sending cuttings or such, but for a buck it worth me not having to snip punch and thread a tag from a mini-blind. That is until my GREEN minded daughter lectures me on leaving the Planet in a respectable shape to her, and she is right so maybe I will have to hide these.

It is not cheap but a Dymo Rhino M1011 does a nice job.  It actually embosses metal ribbon (stainless steel or aluminum).  I've been using one for probably about a year & am very happy with it.  

I tried some laminated metal tags like cyberfarmer mentioned & I agree they are garbage.  Pencil on plastic is much better than sharpie.  I think wax pencil also would work very well but the tip is kind of broad & it is difficult to record much info on a reasonable size tag.

John

Considering I can't turn down anything for $1, I just bought some. Thanks for the tip.

John nice tool, I have been looking for something like this , thanks for posting it

For $473 it should accept computer input rather than having to dial each letter individually.  The plastic labels get brittle and crack after 1 - 3 years.

I've been staring at old vertical blinds in my living room for too long. I wrapped a few lengths with 3" Aluminum Tape and now have plenty of 3"x3.5" labels. I wrote the name in ball point pen and wrote on top of that with a nursery marker. I can now read the labels from 20' away.

Amazon sells them for $140

I am tempted

Looks like they are ripping them off in Aus.  It goes for $140 on Amazon w/ free shipping.  When I bought mine, I got it from B&H Photo, they were marginally cheaper on the unit but WAY cheaper on the metal ribbon cartridges.

A computer input would be nice but you'll be paying a lot more than $473 for something that will imprint metal (I looked before ordering this one).  Plastic labels will not work out, that's why I recommended this one.

John