By Brandon James

Label printers are very helpful devices and can be used both at home and at work. At home, they may be employed in the kitchen for labelling food products, cans, and bottles. In the garage they may be employed for labelling tools, drawers, boxes and more. For professional use, or in an office environment, they can be used for labelling wires, office hardware, files and even office doors or desk name plates.

When considering purchasing a label printer, there are a number of aspects one needs to keep in mind. There are numerous brands and sorts of label printers on the market, each offering their own benefits, or made for certain types of labelling applications, but in almost all cases there'll be some common aspects to think about when choosing a label printer acceptable for your needs.

1. Initial cost and continuing consumable costs.

When comparing label printer costs, it is not just enough to have a look at the outright once-off value of the label printer itself. Obviously, everyone wants to get the best price for their money, so the first cost is important for short-listing label printer's that you may be considering, but should not be the only cost you take into account.

There are label printer kits that may provide excellent value for money, since they often include a carry case and some consumables too. However, you should always look at the cost of extra consumables, since you will need to buy replacement label printer tapes, batteries or even replacement AC adapters at some stage.

These things can add to the final cost of ownership and can sometimes be more expensive than the label printer itself. Consider this when choosing your label printer, to get the most benefit from your label printer investment.

2. Particular applications for the labels you need.

Not all label printers and labels are made the same, or made for the same applications. When having a look at varied label printers, you must make sure that the label printers you are considering will perform well for your labelling needs. In some cases, high speed labelling is important. In others, high quality labels might be more crucial than the rate at which they are printed.

If you have explicit needs, make a listing of these and use your list to appraise the various label printers that you are considering. It may be better to pay a touch more for a specific kind of label printer, particularly if it was designed for your particular printing requirements.

3. Warranties and after-sales service.

One regularly overlooked aspect when purchasing a label printer is the product guaranty and after sales service. It's correct that some label printers are inexpensive enough that they can easily be replaced without much fuss, if they happen to break, but for professional label printers that cost much more, the guaranty and after-sales service will be quite crucial. If your business relies on label printing, any down-time due to damaged label printers may be tricky.

If, for instance, you are in the business of network wiring and reticulation, labels will be highly critical. If your label printers don't function properly, it may cause delays with installations. Always ask what the process is for warranty claims and repairs. Also ensure you ask what time frames are involved with repairs, and if spares are always widely available. The last thing you need is to wait months for your expensive label printer to get repaired.

If you are in the marketplace for a label printer, be certain to ask these questions and consider these aspects before committing yourself, to make certain you get the best deal for your cash and that you get the right label printer for your label printing wishes.

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