Address label printer

Road_Hog

I had to send quite a few parcels out today. Everything I send is send by signed for delivery method. The missus was on the wrapping or (if it would fit) Jiffy bag duty, whilst I picked out the items from the pile, checked payment had been made and produced an address label.

Now, my writing is like a spider dipped in an ink pot, a complete scrawl. So, back when I was seriously into ebay, I bought a Brother QL-500 label printer. Absolutely brilliant, just cut and paste the address and print and you get a fast and professional looking label. An absolute godsend today.

It doesn't have ink cartridges, it kind of seems to be a laser printer but the ink is on the special labels you have to buy. I have some reels of labels left over, so I don't know what they cost today, but it's much smaller than a normal printer and it works nicely. I can highly recommend it or its replacement or similar type. Anyhow, it made my life easier today.

theonlywayisup

You have bought a thermal printer. They don't use ink but thermochromic paper/labels which the printer heats thus making the text/image. We use Zebras and Royal Mail supply the labels free of charge.

Obviously_the_best

By far the easiest way to do this is simply buying A4 sheets of labels, and using Word's built in template for making them, then you can just print them on any old printer.

Road_Hog

Obviously_the_best wrote: »

By far the easiest way to do this is simply buying A4 sheets of labels, and using Word's built in template for making them, then you can just print them on any old printer.

I really struggle with Word, I can do complex macros in spreadsheets or keep database links integrity, but word processing programs aren't my forte.

I just like the simplicity and that it works.

shammyjack

Use A4 Labels and Avery online label printing service , save as a PDF and then print !

Road_Hog

shammyjack wrote: »

Use A4 Labels and Avery online label printing service , save as a PDF and then print !

Still sounds difficult and not my thing. It's like, the wife's going to work in the morning and says, I'm just jumping in to the shower, can you either iron me a top or do an oil change on the car. The trolley jack would be out in under a minute.

I just hate any word processing type programs. Difficult macros or referential links, and I'm fine, word stuff and I run a mile.

Besides, I have my QL-500 and it does the job, a bit of a godsend when needed. I think there was a Plus version, which automatically cut the label, but I went for the cheaper version where you have to push the lever.

Abbafan1972

I just print the person's name and address on an A4 sheet of paper using word. What could be simpler than that?

Road_Hog

Abbafan1972 wrote: »

I just print the person's name and address on an A4 sheet of paper using word. What could be simpler than that?

Putting the trolley jack under the car, whipping the axle stands out, filter spanner on the oil filter, new washer for the oil drain plug and about 5 litres of oil.

pikachu_bumface

I use a4 sheets and mail-merge in Word from the sales records, downloaded from eBay in Excel - it pulls over all the address info and the sales number, so I can match it up with the sold item easily. I was so chuffed when I worked out how to do it, I was copying and pasting before that and it took hours! Took me ages to get it right, but saves so much time now!

GotNoMoney

Old topic sorry but there is a money saving side to using these dedicated printers - it is thermal printing, so you don't need to buy ink or put it in the printer, the paper "contains" the ink, so there's no messing about cleaning print heads either.

Thermal printers are pricey for what they are I guess, but I think thats because most people using them all day long are making enough of a profit to afford it plus, like OP says these things are a godsend. I worked out a label thats 6cm x 10cm costs about 1.7p if you get the cheapest "DK-22205" roll on eBay. Its about £5 / 300 labels.

The cheapest printer I can find with an automatic cutter is the QL-570 for about £50. The QL-500 is about £40 and the cheapest I can find.

I know this forum is about saving money but I always try to buy something with a name on it . The labels, who cares, get the cheapest, but I wouldn't buy the cheapest printer, too many headaches with too many printers over the years. Buy quality or pay twice.

Brooker_Dave

£30 in costco, generic label rolls are cheap now from Amazon and work as well as the brother ones.