Thermal Printer for Shipping - Question
 

Friends, I'm wondering whether anyone uses a thermal printer for shipping and has any recommendations. I've been shipping a lot of singles, and the inconvenience/cost of doing so via the post office is rough. Shipping larger items via UPS is prohibitively expensive. I'm thinking that the printer could pay for itself if I print postage from eBay or PayPal. Can I still get tracking information? Advice and ideas are appreciated. Sorry, I've never printed postage myself.

I know a lot of breakers that use paypal shipping or stamps.com and love it. Yes, you get tracking information.

[url]https://www.amazon.com/DYMO-LabelWriter-Thermal-Printer-1755120/dp/B002M1LGJ4[/url]


I highly recommend this one. You can get a used one for less on eBay.

You don't need a thermal printer to print a shipping label.

[QUOTE=SaltyCracker;15651884][url]https://www.amazon.com/DYMO-LabelWriter-Thermal-Printer-1755120/dp/B002M1LGJ4[/url]


I highly recommend this one. You can get a used one for less on eBay.[/QUOTE]

I have at times thought about upgrading from my 450 turbo to one of these but honestly the turbo works very well, just kind of limited as it cannot do return labels or non-GSP international

Yes, you absolutely want to get a thermal printer asap if you are selling any kind of quantity as the money you will save on postage will pay for the printer in little time, possibly a week depending on your volume.

I use a Dymo 450 turbo and buy aftermarket labels

The ease of use, automatic upload of tracking and shipping details, massive savings on postage, no longer waiting in lines at a post office... the benefits are staggering

Cost myself hundreds if not thousands by not employing the use of such a device for many years until coming to the realization that it was simply the way to go

[QUOTE=PumpnDumpling;15651954]Yes, you absolutely want to get a thermal printer asap if you are selling any kind of quantity as the money you will save on postage will pay for the printer in little time, possibly a week depending on your volume.

I use a Dymo 450 turbo and buy aftermarket labels

The ease of use, automatic upload of tracking and shipping details, massive savings on postage, no longer waiting in lines at a post office... the benefits are staggering

Cost myself hundreds if not thousands by not employing the use of such a device for many years until coming to the realization that it was simply the way to go[/QUOTE]

Really helpful, thank you.

When you say this saves $$... you mean labor?? I mean, the postage cost is the same, right (assuming you use the discounted eBay postage)? And vs printing on an inkjet and just taping it on, I can’t imagine the consumables are that much different in cost.

Now just slapping a sticker on a mailer does sound nice :)


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[QUOTE=PumpnDumpling;15651954]Yes, you absolutely want to get a thermal printer asap if you are selling any kind of quantity as the money you will save on postage will pay for the printer in little time, possibly a week depending on your volume.

I use a Dymo 450 turbo and buy aftermarket labels

The ease of use, automatic upload of tracking and shipping details, massive savings on postage, no longer waiting in lines at a post office... the benefits are staggering

Cost myself hundreds if not thousands by not employing the use of such a device for many years until coming to the realization that it was simply the way to go[/QUOTE]

The postal worker indicated that I'd still need to come into the office for them to scan a manifest. I have no idea what she was talking about. Does that sound right? I figured that I could simply pay through eBay/PayPal with tracking, print, adhere, and send.

The manifest she was referring to is only for bulk shipments, you cannot print it out if you print 1 label at a time

You have the option of printing the manifest from ebay or pp's bulk shipping page

If you use that option and print out the manifest the clerk scans the sheet and tracking for each item will indicate acceptance

You are in no way required to have the manifest but the clerk will not scan in more than x amount of your pre-paid packages if they do not feel like it

[QUOTE=Archimedes;15651991]The postal worker indicated that I'd still need to come into the office for them to scan a manifest. I have no idea what she was talking about. Does that sound right? I figured that I could simply pay through eBay/PayPal with tracking, print, adhere, and send.[/QUOTE]



I think they mean they still need to scan a pickup of the package, and the folks who come to your house to deliver mail aren’t equipped for that. I just swing by our local post office on off hours and there is usually no wait


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[QUOTE=PumpnDumpling;15652017]The manifest she was referring to is only for bulk shipments, you cannot print it out if you print 1 label at a time

You have the option of printing the manifest from ebay or pp's bulk shipping page

If you use that option and print out the manifest the clerk scans the sheet and tracking for each item will indicate acceptance

You are in no way required to have the manifest but the clerk will not scan in more than x amount of your pre-paid packages if they do not feel like it[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=pewe;15652019]I think they mean they still need to scan a pickup of the package, and the folks who come to your house to deliver mail aren’t equipped for that. I just swing by our local post office on off hours and there is usually no wait


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Thanks, guys. Are you suggesting that I should print and adhere the labels and then take the bubble mailers to the post office to be scanned? I'm not sure what constitutes "bulk," but I usually don't ship more than 20 at a time. I want to print all the labels and affix them, so it seems like the manifest thing is not an option. Really appreciate the insight.

Pewe, do you use a thermal printer?

[QUOTE=pewe;15651987]When you say this saves $$... you mean labor?? I mean, the postage cost is the same, right (assuming you use the discounted eBay postage)? And vs printing on an inkjet and just taping it on, I can’t imagine the consumables are that much different in cost.

Now just slapping a sticker on a mailer does sound nice :)


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Honestly have not crunched the numbers but feel if you equate time to money that there is no way this thing does not save you $ :)

Although when i think about it, the money i put towards aftermarket labels seems roughly on par if not a bit less than what i was spending on ink refills

OP stated he has never printed his own postage so the savings i was initially referring to were that of simply using ebay's shipping discount

[QUOTE=pewe;15651987]When you say this saves $$... you mean labor?? I mean, the postage cost is the same, right (assuming you use the discounted eBay postage)? And vs printing on an inkjet and just taping it on, I can’t imagine the consumables are that much different in cost.

Now just slapping a sticker on a mailer does sound nice :)


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I have NOT used the discounted eBay postage, because I don't have a printer. I was thinking I could do this on my own with a scale and thermal printer and save money using the discount. Not to mention the inconvenience.

[QUOTE=Archimedes;15652048]I have NOT used the discounted eBay postage, because I don't have a printer. I was thinking I could do this on my own with a scale and thermal printer and save money using the discount. Not to mention the inconvenience.[/QUOTE]



Ahhh! Then this makes total sense :)


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[QUOTE=Archimedes;15652033]Thanks, guys. Are you suggesting that I should print and adhere the labels and then take the bubble mailers to the post office to be scanned? I'm not sure what constitutes "bulk," but I usually don't ship more than 20 at a time. I want to print all the labels and affix them, so it seems like the manifest thing is not an option. Really appreciate the insight.

Pewe, do you use a thermal printer?[/QUOTE]

The labels come out and are applied to the packages in either case

If shipping using the bulk option they all come out at once and you have the option to print out a separate shipping manifest (likely on your inkjet and not the thermal) the clerk can scan so they do not have to scan each and every one

I use Zebra thermal printers almost exclusively for shipping labels at home and my distribution warehouse. Before we started getting brand new shiny ones every year from FedEx I would just purchase the refurbished ones form amazon or wherever and I've yet to have an issue with any of them. They seem built to last, at least the older ones I have and used (ZP450,505,550, etc).

At home I use the ZP450. For smaller and other types of labels, I use a Rollo printer, but the ZP450 (adjustable label size) can be used as well, I just don't like to switch. The Rollo printer can also be used for any other type of labels including shipping labels but these seem to ware down much faster than the Zebra and I don't really recommend for higher volume.

I'm sure the dynamo's are fine, I've never used them. Any type of thermal printer should work as long as it can handle the label types you want to use and volume. If you are currently printing and taping paper labels, you should do this right away, the time savings alone will be worth it.

You can also get free labels from FedEx (and probably from UPS) but at some point they expect you to show some volume for the supplies they are sending you.

As for the packages, I take them to my post office, anywhere from 1-45 every other day or so. My post office has a dedicated scanner person so I'm usually not there long.

[QUOTE=pewe;15652058]Ahhh! Then this makes total sense :)


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[QUOTE=PumpnDumpling;15652092]The labels come out and are applied to the packages in either case

If shipping using the bulk option they all come out at once and you have the option to print out a separate shipping manifest (likely on your inkjet and not the thermal) the clerk can scan so they do not have to scan each and every one[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=80pc;15652126]I use Zebra thermal printers almost exclusively for shipping labels at home and my distribution warehouse. Before we started getting brand new shiny ones every year from FedEx I would just purchase the refurbished ones form amazon or wherever and I've yet to have an issue with any of them. They seem built to last, at least the older ones I have and used (ZP450,505,550, etc).

At home I use the ZP450. For smaller and other types of labels, I use a Rollo printer, but the ZP450 (adjustable label size) can be used as well, I just don't like to switch. The Rollo printer can also be used for any other type of labels including shipping labels but these seem to ware down much faster than the Zebra and I don't really recommend for higher volume.

I'm sure the dynamo's are fine, I've never used them. Any type of thermal printer should work as long as it can handle the label types you want to use and volume. If you are currently printing and taping paper labels, you should do this right away, the time savings alone will be worth it.

You can also get free labels from FedEx (and probably from UPS) but at some point they expect you to show some volume for the supplies they are sending you.

As for the packages, I take them to my post office, anywhere from 1-45 every other day or so. My post office has a dedicated scanner person so I'm usually not there long.[/QUOTE]

Very helpful, guys. Thanks for sharing the insight.

Didn't read the thread but Dymo 4xl printer. Won't regret it. And you can make it wireless if you run it directly thru your router/modem vs. your computer.

Adding: Never having to buy ink cartridges, running out or having to reorder it again plus peel and stick labels? Saves money in multiple different ways.

The request for pickup helps but is not required. That clerk is just lazy and doesn’t want to scan your packages. What PO is it? Maybe they need a secret shopper to stop in.

Yes.

Thermal printers are the greatest. You will save sooo much money. I've used one for years. Back in November my old computer kept giving me the blue screen of death. Only way to fix it... I had to reformat the computer back to factory settings. My thermal printer would not work with Windows 7. For 3 months I had to take everything to the PO. I worked nights so I'd just take them to the kiosk at 5:30 AM. Twice when I'd walk in a homeless person was inside the building trying to stay warm. Of course the thought goes through ur head.... what do I do if they try to do something? They didn't and a few weeks ago I bought a new computer... my thermal works!! :D

I looked things up....

Kiosk price $3.66-$4.05.... PayPal price $2.76

The labels I use... 99019... 3 rolls of 150 - $12.78 dlvd. Cheaper the more you buy. How many ink cartridges would you have to buy to ship 400+ packages? Paper and tape or self adhesive printer sheets. The sheets alone are $11 for 200... so that's $22 just for 400 sheets.

You can drop off ur packages in any Blue USPS mailbox and they will scan them. You don't have to take them to the actual post office. Unless you have a ton. 5-10 just drop off in Blue mailbox.

The savings on PayPal postage alone will pay for the printer in no time.

I bought an hp inkjet printer with instant ink. You pay monthly and they send you ink refills for free. You always have a backup and your printer senses when you change your cartridges and hp see as a new one. It's 5 or 10 dollars a month depending how much you print. If you don't print a lot it rolls over to the next month. I buy self stick labels on Ebay. 500 sheets or 1000 labels for about 30 bucks. So 3 cents per label. I use PayPal to buy postage. 1 to 4 ounces first class is between $2.66 and $3.09 depending on zone. Post office is between $3.66 and 4 something. And its bluetooth so I can print wirelessly from my laptop. Oh, and I got it on sale for $50 from Staples and it does scans and copies

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[QUOTE=Ferg1945;15653532]Yes.

Thermal printers are the greatest. You will save sooo much money. I've used one for years. Back in November my old computer kept giving me the blue screen of death. Only way to fix it... I had to reformat the computer back to factory settings. My thermal printer would not work with Windows 7. For 3 months I had to take everything to the PO. I worked nights so I'd just take them to the kiosk at 5:30 AM. Twice when I'd walk in a homeless person was inside the building trying to stay warm. Of course the thought goes through ur head.... what do I do if they try to do something? They didn't and a few weeks ago I bought a new computer... my thermal works!! :D

I looked things up....

Kiosk price $3.66-$4.05.... PayPal price $2.76

The labels I use... 99019... 3 rolls of 150 - $12.78 dlvd. Cheaper the more you buy. How many ink cartridges would you have to buy to ship 400+ packages? Paper and tape or self adhesive printer sheets. The sheets alone are $11 for 200... so that's $22 just for 400 sheets.

You can drop off ur packages in any Blue USPS mailbox and they will scan them. You don't have to take them to the actual post office. Unless you have a ton. 5-10 just drop off in Blue mailbox.

The savings on PayPal postage alone will pay for the printer in no time.[/QUOTE]

This is great. What kind of printer do you use?

What happens if an inkjet printed label gets the taddest bit wet in the wrong spot(s)? :D

Thermal printers are a game changer and life saver!

No more buying ink, use WAY less tape, no more buying paper. Plus all the time you save is a game changer!

I use a Dymo 4xl label writer. At the time it was about the only one I could find that was super compatible with a Mac. I am sure things have changed since then but it is still working wonderfully so I stick with it.