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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2016 5:48:24 GMT
Oh my goodness I am so sick of cutting my labels with scissors everyday and need one of these so bad. I get confused though when I go to purchase one. I have windows 8.1 and all of them I find don't support that from what I can tell. I am eventually going to do the upgrade to windows 10 so will they work for that? Does anyone here who uses 10 have a suggestion or does that even matter? I had finally found one on amazon a while back but then in the reviews people were mad that they couldn't use the cheaper generic labels so that just confused me even more and I gave up the search again. Maybe I am making it too complicating. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2016 5:50:11 GMT
Also I use stamps.com so I need it to work with that.
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Post by SA on Jan 22, 2016 6:02:07 GMT
Funny, I was just thinking about a thermal print just a couple of hours ago!
I want to follow this thread. But I have a Mac. Any suggestions for that?
Selfish, if you don't want to go full on thermal printer, but don't want to cut your labels, you can get peel and stick printing labels that you can use with your regular printer.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2016 6:38:01 GMT
Ok I never thought about going that route. is it difficult getting it lined up? I don't know for some reason this just all confuses me when I think about it all! I'm kinda wanting one of those little tiny label printers but maybe using my own printer would me more simple.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Jan 22, 2016 7:25:32 GMT
I use a Zebra thermal printer and would never go back to a 'regular' printer - it's so much easier and without the hassle of ink jets (ink expense), or the ink shedding of a laser printer. I have the Zebra GC420d which I got at Egghead.
Setup is easy - I used it with Win 7, also briefly with my tablet with Win 8.1, but upgraded to Win 10 and it was seamless.
When you get printer labels, get the made in USA ones - there's a good seller on eBay where I get mine. I get them 1000 at a time and they're very reasonable in cost.
The printer requires minimal maintenance - just clean the print head every 250-500 labels (every roll or two) - that's really easy and you can do it with alcohol swabs.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2016 8:27:50 GMT
Ok thanks so much!!! I'm looking on ebay now. Little more than I wanted to spend lol but the used ones aren't too bad.
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Post by SA on Jan 22, 2016 11:37:30 GMT
If it's more than you're looking to spend, here are the regular printing labels: www.ebay.com/itm/100-XL-SHIPPING-POSTAGE-LABELS-8-5-x-5-5-/290288864583?hash=item4396908d47There is no lining up or anything. You just stick them in your printer and push print. It prints on the label, you peel it off and you stick it onto your package  I've been wanting to switch to Thermal, but I haven't been able to justify the cost. A $25 ink cartridge lasts me 4-6 months in my printer. The labels are cheaper than the thermal rolls. But the thermal printer takes up less space and the labels are cuter (smaller). |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2016 15:33:16 GMT
I use a Dymo Labelwriter 400 and I have Windows 10 installed and they play well together.
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Post by RetroMonde on Jan 22, 2016 16:57:15 GMT
For those that use thermal printers, do you also print packing slips? I was interested in a thermal but realized I'd still be using my other printer for the inserts & scan forms anyway and didn't wanna add another machine to the cramped workspace. I did use the peel & stick labels and loved them but 'operator error" made them inefficient; I was always wasting labels when I'd forget & print an international order or just a single order.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2016 18:38:47 GMT
Have been curious about thermal printers too. Right now I usually buy 1000 inkjet labels for around $25 on Amzn & super cheap generic ink so my cost per year is pretty small anyway.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Jan 22, 2016 19:47:05 GMT
For those that use thermal printers, do you also print packing slips? I was interested in a thermal but realized I'd still be using my other printer for the inserts & scan forms anyway and didn't wanna add another machine to the cramped workspace. I did use the peel & stick labels and loved them but 'operator error" made them inefficient; I was always wasting labels when I'd forget & print an international order or just a single order. I print packing slips - I do everything all at once - print all packing slips, then I print all thermal labels. The packing slips I use to pull inventory and organise shipping (When I print packing slips I also print anything international. Then as I pack I just print out the labels from the Zebra. Printing out labels on my laser is a poor idea for me - my laser printer is also the network printer so other stuff gets printed on it and I'd be switching labels in and out - or worse yet, have tax reports, the DH's resume, etc., printed on the labels. Also, there's a tendency for ink shed when the package goes through the system (I've wondered how some packages have gotten to me) - that depends on the toner used - the cheap knock-off stuff sheds. I don't think that's a problem with ink jet, though. Zero costs for ink, etc., with the thermal printer. Also you can print labels one at a time - I often wondered what I would do with that extra label if I had one package, or three, or any odd number if I had the paired printer labels. So, pros and cons. ETA: If I sold online just part-time or on a hobby basis I'd probably just use labels with my laser printer and make sure I had good quality labels (not the kind you have to cut) so they didn't jam. But again, there's the network printer issue for me and I'm bound to have the same problem with forgetting to switch the media in and out. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2016 20:40:53 GMT
If it's more than you're looking to spend, here are the regular printing labels: www.ebay.com/itm/100-XL-SHIPPING-POSTAGE-LABELS-8-5-x-5-5-/290288864583?hash=item4396908d47There is no lining up or anything. You just stick them in your printer and push print. It prints on the label, you peel it off and you stick it onto your package I've been wanting to switch to Thermal, but I haven't been able to justify the cost. A $25 ink cartridge lasts me 4-6 months in my printer. The labels are cheaper than the thermal rolls. But the thermal printer takes up less space and the labels are cuter (smaller). Ok I already ordered some of these! Thank you so much!  I had an oh duh moment when I looked at the listing. Not sure why I haven't ordered these sooner but always thought it was going to be a pain to get it lined up. I already have a great printer that is ridiculously cheap on toner. I can get a toner refill for it on ebay for $9 shipped on ebay and it lasts me over a year (maybe even 2) and its used a lot daily. It's been so long since I ordered toner maybe the price has gone up but that's what it's always been. It's a Brother HL-22400 if anyone is looking for a good printer. I think I'll just use these labels for now and down the line sometime get a label printer. I still haven't looked up the Dymo that was mentioned though. |
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Post by chapeaunoir on Jan 22, 2016 23:56:16 GMT
I have a Brother printer also - they make really good printers. The DH's lasted over 10 years of really hard work (he was running big bike events and printed literally thousands of pages for each event) - it was still working fine when he either donated it or sold it (might have gone to a charity) - it was much slower than the newer ones. Mine is about 6-8 years old and chugging along. I get the Brother toner, though, because I can recycle the old cartridge through Brother, and it's a big honkin thing. I'll check the refill option - that's cool.
If you're good with the laser and just need a change in label options to solve an issue, I'd stick with that.
If you someday want to go with a thermal I think you'll really like it. You can get them refurbished - there's a good seller on eBay.
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Post by SA on Jan 23, 2016 5:28:44 GMT
For those that use thermal printers, do you also print packing slips? I was interested in a thermal but realized I'd still be using my other printer for the inserts & scan forms anyway and didn't wanna add another machine to the cramped workspace. I did use the peel & stick labels and loved them but 'operator error" made them inefficient; I was always wasting labels when I'd forget & print an international order or just a single order. I've been doing this 13 years and have never, not once, put a packing slip into a package or used a scan form. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2016 14:26:52 GMT
selfish, something to check out.
Will the two-label sheets feed through your laser printer?
I've always used the labels and, until recently, had an inkjet printer. I'd heard about them jamming in laser printers, so when I shopped for a laser printer a few months ago, I made certain that it had an easily-accessible manual feed slot. I manually feed mine from a front slot when I'm printing. Most of the printers I looked at had the manual feed slot in back, which wouldn't have worked with my printer location.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2016 7:48:46 GMT
selfish, something to check out. Will the two-label sheets feed through your laser printer? I've always used the labels and, until recently, had an inkjet printer. I'd heard about them jamming in laser printers, so when I shopped for a laser printer a few months ago, I made certain that it had an easily-accessible manual feed slot. I manually feed mine from a front slot when I'm printing. Most of the printers I looked at had the manual feed slot in back, which wouldn't have worked with my printer location. Yeah I didnt think about that but mine does have a tray on the front I pull out & stick the paper in. Hopefully it works...I'm super excited about getting those labels! |
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Post by unknown on Jan 24, 2016 10:41:15 GMT
I use a laser printer and a paper cutter to cut, no scissors, fast and straight.
Has anyone looked into the epson eco tank printers?
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Post by unknown on Jan 24, 2016 10:51:27 GMT
One very small comparison. I've much lower volume than prior years. I have always used a packing slip and used a scan form. I always had 99% plus on the shipping stuff. A few times in the last month I just dropped the packages into the APC bin because parking is horrendous and just looked at my 'dashboard' and 'sales stats' for the first time in 6+ months, I'm at 75% - I have NEVER been that low. The 'good thing' is I don't give a rats patootie about their 'standards', never look at the stuff, don't wanna be TRS+. And I'm a tree hugger.
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Post by SA on Jan 24, 2016 12:32:51 GMT
Selfish, do you have an inkjet or a laser printer? And if inkjet, how much ink do you go through?
I only ask because for ME, it makes sense to stick with what I have. It uses much less ink that printers I've had in the past. And I put all of my labels in the tray and just go from there.
unknown--that 75% thing can change a couple of times a day. It just depends on when your pkgs are scanned. I'm typically at 99 also. But it drops often while waiting to be scanned into the system. It's just because they're sitting in the box. I don't even care about that #. Never has made a difference to me. And since they implemented it--I've never lost TRS.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2016 22:33:44 GMT
Selfish, do you have an inkjet or a laser printer? And if inkjet, how much ink do you go through? I only ask because for ME, it makes sense to stick with what I have. It uses much less ink that printers I've had in the past. And I put all of my labels in the tray and just go from there. unknown--that 75% thing can change a couple of times a day. It just depends on when your pkgs are scanned. I'm typically at 99 also. But it drops often while waiting to be scanned into the system. It's just because they're sitting in the box. I don't even care about that #. Never has made a difference to me. And since they implemented it--I've never lost TRS. I dont go through a lot. A $9 toner cartridge lasts me a year maybe 2 years its crazy. It lasts so long I cant remember when I bought it last when it does run out. So yeah my ink cost is pretty cheap. As long as the labels I ordered work I may not even worry about getting a label printer. Oh and it's a laser printer. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2016 6:27:40 GMT
Wow that was fast! I just checked and my labels were delivered today I have a UPS box so won't be able to get them until tomorrow. Yay!
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Post by SA on Jan 26, 2016 12:15:04 GMT
You're going to love it SO MUCH BETTER than cutting and taping labels to packages. It makes a world of difference!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2016 14:42:11 GMT
If you haven't already done so, you'll want to set it up so that only the label prints and not the receipt. You want to be able to use both labels on each sheet as mailing labels. If it prints the receipt out, then it only prints one label per sheet.
Also, it's probably obvious, but if you only have one label to print, just leave the second label on the backing and feed it in appropriately the next time you have a single label to print.
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Post by RetroMonde on Jan 26, 2016 18:37:57 GMT
If you haven't already done so, you'll want to set it up so that only the label prints and not the receipt. You want to be able to use both labels on each sheet as mailing labels. If it prints the receipt out, then it only prints one label per sheet. Also, it's probably obvious, but if you only have one label to print, just leave the second label on the backing and feed it in appropriately the next time you have a single label to print. I didn't realize you could set the labels to print without the receipt. That's what I meant by "I lost too many labels to operator error". International labels were a problem for me when using the stick-on labels. Maybe I need to give them a 2nd chance cause they were fast & easy to use. But I print from my laptop with our wifi connection and don't sit by the printer & babysit labels. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2016 3:08:08 GMT
The international labels always take up a whole sheet. Haven't figured out how to avoid that, but I don't have hardly any international sales, so it's not a big deal for me.
I sit right at my printer when I'm doing labels and feed them in one sheet at a time, so I do babysit mine.
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Post by 57roses on Jan 27, 2016 3:32:36 GMT
To avoid wasting a label for international shipments I use a page that only has one label on it, or you can pull a label off the page and put it on a used backing sheet for later use.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2016 14:47:14 GMT
The Dymo 450 can be used to print most USPS labels from Ebay labels or stamps.com using 99019 labels. They cannot print international, UPS or Fedex labels. They go for about $65 new on Amazon.
Another popular option is the Zebra tlp 2844 using regular, 4x6 labels. They can print any shipping label and works with almost any shipping software. They can be found on ebay/amazon sometimes for under $100 used. You can get a refurbished model with a warranty for about $150.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2016 21:37:24 GMT
Selfish, here's my suggestions for your shipping labels, if you're using an inkjet printer.
Put a piece of scotch tape across the numbers below the bar code. This way if the bar code gets wet and unreadable, at least the numbers can be manually entered. I also use 2" wide clear shipping tape to cover the to & from address. Again, added protection since inkjet will run if it gets wet. A little extra work, but it gives me peace of mind.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2016 11:47:04 GMT
I've been really sick last few days so I am just now this morning getting to use my new labels. They are awesome! So much better! Only thing they don't seem as sticky as I thought they would be. Maybe some batches are stickier? I am wanting to tape them all down. lol. which would pretty much defeat the purpose. BetsRoff I have a laser printer so I don't know if they will run or not if they get wet but thanks for bringing that up. I'll check today before I drop my packages off.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2016 12:49:50 GMT
I've been really sick last few days so I am just now this morning getting to use my new labels. They are awesome! So much better! Only thing they don't seem as sticky as I thought they would be. Maybe some batches are stickier? I am wanting to tape them all down. lol. which would pretty much defeat the purpose. BetsRoff I have a laser printer so I don't know if they will run or not if they get wet but thanks for bringing that up. I'll check today before I drop my packages off. FWIW, my understanding is laser ink doesn't run. My next printer is going to be a laser as SO uses most of the ink for personal projects. But, he also pays for most of it. I just get nervous when it gets real low and I have shipping to do. As for label stickiness, I've always gotten good quality labels so it's never been an issue. But I do prefer rounded corner labels vs square corners. Hope you get to feeling better soon! |
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I had an oh duh moment when I looked at the listing. Not sure why I haven't ordered these sooner but always thought it was going to be a pain to get it lined up. I already have a great printer that is ridiculously cheap on toner. I can get a toner refill for it on ebay for $9 shipped on ebay and it lasts me over a year (maybe even 2) and its used a lot daily. It's been so long since I ordered toner maybe the price has gone up but that's what it's always been. It's a Brother HL-22400 if anyone is looking for a good printer. 
