Sorry,...
tape's not in a shortage. Not yet, anyway.
Tape buyers are a bit panicked that there might be a future shortage. That's not certain. Reels of many varieties are currently still available at the reputable tape outlets, now and for some time to come.
There's legitimate uncertainty about if & when any tape manufacturer will step into the gap. Quantegy could come out of reorg and keep producing, as I've read plans of Quantegy coming back with a smaller, more focused operation. It could be a reorganized Quantegy, or it could be another venture. I've read press releases about ATR beginning tape production.
IMO, it's not time to panic, but I've been stockpiling tape for a while now for personal reasons, since way before the panic hit, and I have no reason to panic. I've been to shops that still sell tape. Not to say I'd not consider picking up a few extra reels, whenever I'd get a chance. You know I will. That's not a panic, though. YMMV.
Tape used to be a good deal on Ebay, in most cases, but there's currrently a panic and feeding frenzy going on over tape, due to current circumstances. I've seen some pretty outrageous deals on Ebay, such as a 7" reel of 456 bidding up to $30, for what's otherwise a $10 reel of tape. I'd gotten [10] 600' reels of 3M 996 a while back for under $30, which today bid to over $80. The panic and feeding frenzy is on, and you may see inflated Ebay deals on new tape, and used tape of dubious origin, now & for a while to come. I've also seen 1-pass reels of 2" 996 sell for new tape prices. We'll see a lot of that before the "crisis" is over. The current situation lends itself to price gouging, and you're seeing it now.
There are still many viable outlets for 1/2" reels of 456, currently, so good luck with the 38. I have one, and it's great.