Question
Hi,
I'd like to buy a dedicated label printer to use with endicia. does anyone have one and what do they recommend? can you also tell me how much the labels cost for your model (more important than printer price). specifically the shipping labels are what i am interested in (need at least a 4x4).
In an old thread, wbbell recommended the eltron 2442 and dymo printer (can't remember the model). any other recommendations in terms of specific model numbers?
does anyone know about the speed of these printers? are the older used ones that are serial or parallel going to be incredibly slow compared to ones that have a usb connection? I swear my new usb lexmark printer takes twice the time to print as did my 8 year old canon bj printer (unfortunately I couldn't get it to work with win xp).
Thanks in advance.
Answer
I have an off-lease Eltron 2442LP that I bought off eBay for $30 landed. If you open a UPS Account, you can order a case of the 4x6 thermal printer labels that will last you a long time. I've been using this off-lease printer for over a year now and no problems. I have two extra ones as backup but have not had to use it.
As for speed, the 2442LP is a parallel. You have high speed data transfer using EPP or ECP mode on parallel. The shipping label data is only about 400k, so you could can print about 2.5 labels per second. Depending on the driver you download, you can also specify darkness and "inches per second" which will allow you to print faster with less quality, or slower with better quality.
I don't know about the serial-based ones. The USB ones can push more data through but unless you plan on batch printing, I think you are wasting your money. $30-$50 for a used parallel? Or $100 plus for a USB one? Now if you don't have a parallel port available, you can buy a parallel port PCI card and still come out ahead instead of buying the USB one.
Answer
thanks, tekgems! I saw several of the 2442s for sale on ebay. I'm not even using my parallel port on my computer since all my scanners and printers are usb! but I just thought it might be incredibly slow.
can you use any 4 x 6 label in them or is there a specific one you need to buy? looking at the dymo printers on ebay , there were also lost of labels which said specifically for a specific printer.
thanks again!
Answer
Open a UPS Account. Order your thermal labels from UPS:
http://wwwapps.ups.com/using/services/supply
Navigation: UPS WorldShip > Labels
01774006 Direct Thermal Label 4" x 6" Roll
For use with UPS WorldShip® ribbonless printers; prints barcodes and/or addresses. (320 per Roll) Minimum quantity is 1 Order in increments of 1 There are 16 rolls per case.
I'm sure at some point you will need to ship UPS when they are cheaper than US Postal Service. Meanwhile, use the Eltron and free labels for other shipping needs.