The metal tip at the end of a tape measure is loose for a good reason. The first inch is short by 1/16 of an inch, but it isn’t an error. It's meant to give you an accurate reading whether you’re measuring the inside or outside edge of a particular surface, and it’s referred to as “true zero.”
If you want to find a fiberglass tape measure that you can use on the job site, be sure to look at the broad selection we have at Engineer Supply.