I am curious, what is the bag method?
This is my biggest pet peeve of all with making cupcakes!
I find most of the cute ones(especially from Wilton) come very flared out when you purchase them.
I have the best of luck with liners that I buy in bulk from Pfeil&Holing.
Agree - sometimes if the liners are too big they will 90% of the time do this; or at least this has been my experience. My problem with liners though is that I find these REALLY cute patterns but once the cupcakes come out of the oven you can barely see the pattern! Must be something to do with oil in the batter absorbing into the liner? 
As for getting even cupcakes I agree that the ice cream scoop or the icing bag would work the best to get the nice even levels. 
I've noticed when I separate the liners to place them in the cups I have to be careful not to press the crimps. It will put a dent in them. I like the bag method idea. I'll have to try that. I use a cookie scoop but some of the batters are really thin and makes a mess and takes a lot of time. I wish someone would invent something easier like a pancake batter dispenser but smaller for cupcakes!
I also use an ice cream scoop for my cupcake batter. I use a metal one with the squeeze handle.(learned that from"The Barefoot Contessa)
I also use them religiously for cookies, I have evey size.
I thought about getting a pancake batter dispenser for this purpose, especially when making a large amount.
I could swear I saw one somewhere that would be perfect for this. I think it was probably Chefs Catalog. I'll have to check again.
LisaR64. I tried that in the past to and NO it just doesent work .
I also use an ice cream scoop!
any thoughts on how to get the liners separated without damaging them???
It's kind of time consuming but I take my fingernail and separate them until I can gently lift them apart. Some of the ordered liners are sturdier too and don't damage as easily but are more expensive. I order mine from Confectionery House.
I was just coming to see if there were any posts about this! I always have that problem unless I use the silver liners. I'm guilty of denting the edge when I take them apart so I'll have to be more careful about that. I use a scoop too for my cupcakes but I still have trouble with the bunched side.
mommyle..Thats also what I do. I keep my index finger and thumb tips damp and that come right apart !
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