Why Pay More To Print?

When purchasing a new printer, do you rely more on the salesperson’s recommendation or do you simply select the printer that is the least expensive or on sale?

Here are some factors to consider when you are in the market for a new printer.

Operating Cost. Calculate the cost of replacement printer cartridges (laser or inkjet). Today you may get that “great deal” but what you may not realize is the cartridge in the printer is a “starter cartridge” or a “low yield” cartridge. Is there a high yield cartridge available to replace the “starter” or “low yield” cartridge? If yes, what is the initial cost of those cartridges? Can the cartridges be remanufactured (laser) or refilled (ink)?

Type of Printer. When selecting the device that best fits your needs – Laser, Ink Jet, Multifunction, Photo Printer or Mobile Printer – consider how the mechanics of the device may ultimately impact your cost. For instance, laser printers may cost more to purchase but much less to operate. When comparing laser printers, find out whether the drum is built into the laser toner cartridge or is a separate unit. Is the Ink Jet printer cartridge a tank with the print heads built into the printer or does the Ink Jet cartridge have the print head integrated? A laser cartridge or inkjet cartridge may have a low price tag, but do you have to replace the drum or print heads separately later?

Resolution. Do you need a professional document for presentations, flyers, business letters or proposals? Then the print quality of your document is very important. The number one factor that determines the quality of the output of a printer is resolution which is measured in DPI (dots per inch). Inkjet, laser and photo printers will all have varying DPI. The greater the DPI, the higher quality the output.

Speed. Pages Per Minute (PPM) is another important consideration. Print speeds are based on the type of documents you are printing (coverage and resolution). Networked or Wi-Fi enabled devices can provide a great cost savings, allowing multiple computers to connect to one printer.

Size. Will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper or heavy card stock? Then choose a printer whose paper path is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without jamming. Top loading printers which require that your paper curl around the drum during imaging work fine for printing on text weight paper but often jam envelopes, labels and postcards.

Warranty. Be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturer’s and or store warranty (at least 90 days). Does your credit card company offer an extended warranty? Some credit cards offer a one year additional coverage. Check with your credit card company. Make a copy of your receipt (original receipts fade) and attach it to the manual and file.

The Final Word. No matter what type of printmaking technology you purchase, it is important to make sure you know what you want to do with it first.

Why pay more to print when you can save up to 50% on laser toner and ink jet printer cartridges at Cartridge World Roswell? Cartridge World Roswell has served more than 5,000 customers since opening their doors at 10713 Alpharetta High Way in 2005. Meet owners Luba Bilentschuk and Randy Henderson at the January 26 Intelligent Office Network meeting and enter a drawing to win a new laser printer courtesy of Cartridge World. For more information or advice on your next printer purchase, call 770-594-1991.