Thermal printer? (wireless, Mac OSx, etc)

[kirkland]

Looking to buy one... I know Zebra makes the workhorse printers. I'm looking for suggestions for something that meets the following criteria:

1) compatible with Mac

2) wireless printing (apparently the zebra is only compatible if you buy some $60 wireless adaptor peripheral?)

3) easy to run with VM (I have not started using VM but plan to soon)

4) PREFERABLY under the 150 range, but if I need to spend more, I will

5) compatible with UPS thermal labels


ONE MORE THING. I have a few different SKUs I sell, and it would be a real headache if labels print without any product info on it. All the labels I see from other sellers are just address based. I like the way eBay sets up their "Print Shipping label" page for traditional printers, in the sense that the label has the product info underneath the addresses. How do you get SKU info to show on the label? From what I understand this is a function of your shipping software?

Thanks!

[phaz0rz]

LP-2844Z

They don't meet your wireless requirement but they're cheap, super reliable, and compatible with all the free courier shipping labels.

Any printer compatible with your host will be compatible with your VM as long as you have VMware tools installed. It virtualizes any printer you have connected and allows you to print from the VM without installing any extra drivers.

About your SKU question, stamps.com allows you to add a note to the bottom of shipping labels. I use that feature then cut off the note as we fill orders. (BTW they'll also let you print packing slips with your labels or add a graphic to your return address)

[yankee]

shipstation allows all sorts of customization options. Right now we have pictures of the good printed on the packing slip because we are shipping items for someone else and really have no idea what the items are.

[Gladiator]

I use a DYMO 4XL with all my macs.

[Yasav]

Originally Posted by Gladiator

I use a DYMO 4XL with all my macs.

Is the quality of the labels good? What drive are you running? Have you experienced any font issues?

Thanks

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by Gladiator

I use a DYMO 4XL with all my macs.

I've heard Dymo's are really expensive to use compared to Zebra's because of proprietary Dymo labels. 5000 Zebra labels go for $50 all day on eBay (or free from UPS).

Just something to consider.

[Gladiator]

Originally Posted by Yasav

Is the quality of the labels good? What drive are you running? Have you experienced any font issues?

Thanks

I have a Mac Pro (El Capitan), iMac (High Sierra) and an iPad Pro (12.9) and I bulk print labels using Endicia my Pro and iMac and wirelessly print manual or webpage style labels from my iPad. Dymo software is all current and up to date on the printer area of settings, and Endicia is the current version.

I’ve never experienced any issues. I buy cheap labels on eBay and Amazon that are the equivalent of the branded ones and they print just fine.

The only compatibility issues are with PayPal label printing as they don’t recognize DYMO and you have to select Zebras model equivalent to setup.

[Gladiator]

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

What does the label cost break down to on average, if you don't mind me asking? I see Dymo labels every time I go label shopping but they're always expensive comparatively. I get 1000 free labels per month from UPS. If those 1000 aren't enough I go onto eBay and buy 5000 (they are the same free UPS labels - high volume UPS shippers can order 5000 at once rather than 1000) for $50.

Depends on the seller, I usually get 1800 for $18 and I buy two or three sets of the six rolls each time. So looks like about the same, give or take the shipping added on.

[kirkland]

https://www.amazon.com/Address-Shipp...ls%2B1800&th=1

^ I'm still learning about these printers, but these seem like they would be commensurate in price with the Zebra labels, no?

[Gladiator]

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

90% of my labels are free so there's really no comparison unless you find a courier with free Dymo labels

UPS/Fedex/USPS don't have any. DYMO has little cuts between the labels which is how it reads, UPS doesn't supply that type.

I've been pleased with the DYMO on my Mac. It prints dark, crisp labels every single time. I'd never switch away, even for the free labels, given how seamless they've been with the software and hardware I use.

[kirkland]

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

90% of my labels are free so there's really no comparison unless you find a courier with free Dymo labels

Didn't you say you get 1000 free labels from UPS every month? I'm not making sense of the math here, but that doesn't seem like a whole lot of labels for the business. That would mean you're only shipping ~30/day which I know isn't true. Do you mean 1000/order? Because if it was only 1000 labels per month, that wouldn't be a whole lot of free labels at all to justify the courier cost savings.

I know Fedex is tough with the free labels, so just wondering if UPS has tightened up too.

[Gladiator]

Originally Posted by kirkland

Didn't you say you get 1000 free labels from UPS every month? I'm not making sense of the math here, but that doesn't seem like a whole lot of labels for the business. That would mean you're only shipping ~30/day which I know isn't true. Do you mean 1000/order? Because if it was only 1000 labels per month, that wouldn't be a whole lot of free labels at all to justify the courier cost savings.

I know Fedex is tough with the free labels, so just wondering if UPS has tightened up too.

Depends on what you sell, I would wager.

Given you’re on a Mac and if you have a shipping software - get the cheap compatible labels on amazon or eBay and you should be good to go.

[SaiJin]

regardless of the wireless, I still prefer the zebra wired. LPT2844 series.
Had it for 10+ years and hasn't failed me.

I really like the durability and ease to clean the head.

Is wireless really that important to you?

[dallis]

I use the Zebra ZP450. I used to use the 2844. Both excellent. Probably printed 2 million labels with the Zebra.

Neither are wireless, though, although you can buy a wireless printer adapter, but why, I want to see the labels as soon as they print to double check everything, and that means it sits right next to my laptop on the desk.

[munkron]

Get a Zebra printer. You can get a used one on ebay for cheap.

It's way better than a Dymo printer.

One thing to note is that Zebra drivers for a mac are not perfect, they are better for windows. If you have a newer Zebra printer, you will have to change the name to work with stamps.com and some other things.

Regardless, the printer still works, but I wouldn't recommend it for like Amazon product labels.

Works perfectly for mailing out though.

[vettefever17]

Running a Dymo 4XL. Has weathered the storm coming up on 4 year now. I think I average around 18 cents a label. Only maintenance is occasional alcohol swap on the roller from adhesive. It has been a work horse. For a MAC user, I just use the screenshot command and size to fit under the preferences. Works like a charm, and faster than adjusting the defaults.

[Gladiator]

Originally Posted by munkron

Get a Zebra printer. You can get a used one on ebay for cheap.

It's way better than a Dymo printer.

One thing to note is that Zebra drivers for a mac are not perfect, they are better for windows. If you have a newer Zebra printer, you will have to change the name to work with stamps.com and some other things.

Regardless, the printer still works, but I wouldn't recommend it for like Amazon product labels.

Works perfectly for mailing out though.

Kinda defeats the point, eh?

I've had both Zebra and DYMO and I don't know how I can comparatively say one is better than another from a purely label quality standpoint. Connectivity with a mac, which is all I use, and seamless attachment and integration with Endicia/Stamps/ShipStation is how DYMO wins out.

[nerdydood]

Go epson and you can buy a wireless card