Trying to find some sort of printing device to print script gift
messages on gift enclosure cards. size: 2 1/4 x 1 1/2
ex:
http://www.nashvillewraps.com/ShowDetail.ww?Sku=AC3309&Link=Search

Seems like Florists used to have little printers/ typewriter printers
to complete this.

We have a small internet gift business, and it looks quite unprofessional
to write the messages by hand.
Please help.
I have searched with no success.
thanks! :-)

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Clarification of Question by mom2trishie-ga on 12 Nov 2002 08:11 PST

Thanks baxendale-ga, very kind of you. :-) Appreciate your suggestion.
Guess, we are now more of a "medium" size e-tailer. We write 1000+
plus gift cards, and during the Christmas season, 2000+ a month.

Dear Taxmama-ga  - 
This is my first "google question", and an important one to "me"...I
was disappointed to see my reply began with this: :-(

<<Dear Mom,  
I don't have time to really look into this 
in depth for you.>>

Please advise, as I am new to this, are you just busy, or is $10.00
not enough to qualify for time to look for an answer?

re: suggestions

 <1) Look at the portable printers on the market. 
Many of them will accept smaller cards or paper>

YES, this is what I am looking for, but have been unable to locate.

<2) Look at label makers>
Tried them, P-touch, and others, timely, awkward, and not a solution
for us.

 
<3) Look at buying sheets of transparent labels, 
like Avery shipping labels 6 to a page 
or 12 to a page. >

Good solution, and we've done it, but it ties up our 2 main computers,
and printer where we are doing shipping, invoices, and customer care.

We need a solutions, where our 2 gift wrappers in a gift wrap room,
with 2 stations, can share a printing device, that will allow the
small pre-printed by occassion, and print the gift message.

Thanks.

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Request for Question Clarification by morningstar2000-ga on 12 Nov 2002 08:54 PST

Dear Mom - 
  
    Okay I have tried to sort out the question and answer section
there with little luck so excuse me a moment for starting over.   Now
let me see if I have this correct first.

You have 2 gift wrapping/packaging stations.
They can share a printing unit.  (okay this is were my questions start
) DO they have a workstation to use?   Ie Can they go to your computer
open up a application type in the custome greeting and then send it to
a printer not used by either of your other machines.   Also since you
are printing a large number of these cards.  Would it be at all
feasible to print sheets of 10 at a time?  With or without the same
background and message?

I assume every gift card is customized to say something like "  Think
of you, love mom and dad "  Yes?

Are all cards on the same seasonal background?   

Are you adverse to changing the size of you cards to be a standard
business card size.. ie 3 1/2 x 2 inches?


I am sorry for all this confusion.   Your pricing is just fine and if
you are willing to work with me here I will do my best to find you a
solution that works for you business.

Thank you , 

Morningstar

---

Request for Question Clarification by taxmama-ga on 14 Nov 2002 20:14 PST

Dear Mom,

Oh, I am SO sorry. 

>>Please advise, as I am new to this, are you just busy, or is $10.00
not enough to qualify for time to look for an answer?<<

No doubt, if you asked the question, and were willing to pay for the
answer, I am sure it is an important issue to you.

Really, I apologize if I sounded flip.

The reasons I said I didn't have enough time were:

a) I'd already devoted nearly an hour to finding a printer
and couldn't find one that I knew would meet your needs. 

b) I had to leave for an appointment.

Your task is harder than it looks at first glance. 
I was really surprised not to find at least three
decent, non-thermal, portable printers. And I couldn't 
find even one. 

But, you're right, at a rate of far less than $10.00
per hour, many researchers may be discouraged from 
pursuing an active search.

Please do accept my apology if you felt I made light 
of your dilemma. 

I'll keep my eyes open for you. 
And I'll ask around. I can't believe there
isn't something out there. If not...it's a
good niche for someone to create a product.

If I find anything, I'll let you know. 

Best wishes,

Your TaxMama-ga

A great question!  2 thoughts.
1. Can you change the paper you use?  A good paper dealer will sell
regular letter size paper that's perforated into small cards.
2. If your volume is low, you can find a low-end inkjet printer that
prints pages straight through (no curling them over rollers).  Then
you affix the card to a larger sheet of paper, and run the whole thing
through.  A little tricky, but I've done it with good success.

good luck!

Dear Mom,

I don't have time to really look into this
in depth for you. 

But I have three suggestions that you might want 
to consider:

1) Look at the portable printers on the market.
Many of them will accept smaller cards or paper.
(Stay away from 'thermal' - those fade.)

2) Look at label makers

3) Look at buying sheets of transparent labels,
like Avery shipping labels 6 to a page
or 12 to a page.

You can use your existing printer.

Print in any font you've got. 

And just paste the transparent label into the 
card. Do it nicely, no one will know.

Some label printers:

Seiko
http://slp.pcsc.com.au/

Casio
http://www.casio.com/labelprinters/

Dymo
http://www.labelcity.com/online/printers.asp?CartId=7846808CXQZT2-ACCWARE-08&tpc=

Good luck!

Your TaxMama-ga

P.S. Baxendale's idea is excellent. 
You can get your cards printed onto 
perforated paper in the first place
on card stock. And run those through
your printer.

Hi Mama,
Have you considered an electronic typewriter?  They're inexpensive:
You can buy an electronic typwriter with a correction key for a little
over a hundred dollars at office superstores.  They will take
odd-sized paper.  They're easy to use.  Most have enough memory to
make correcting mistakes easy.  If you're willing to spend a little
more, you can get them with spell-check, changeable font sizes and
other features.  If you think this will work, I can look into finding
models that meet your specs.
Helpful1