Quick Tips for Buying Printer Ribbons
Posted by on 8/19/2011
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Printer Ribbons
Today, some people have been led to believe that printer ribbons are no longer sold because inkjet printers are more popular than dot matrix printers. On the other hand, if you own a business, then you may realize that there are many places where you still need to make use of
printer ribbons. This may include adding machines, typewriters, and label printing devices. While these machines will never produce the kind of quality you expect from a laser or inkjet printer, you will still find it necessary to continue buying ribbons in order to carry out daily tasks.
Finding a Reliable Source of Cloth Printer RibbonsIf you have an adding machine, chances are it makes use of a cloth ribbon cassette. As a general rule of thumb, you will find that these cassettes are far more expensive than their size warrants. In addition, if you happen to have an older adding machine, it may be very difficult to find printer ribbons supplied by the manufacturer. Overall, if you need cloth ribbons, it may be best to simply look for generic versions. Alternatively, you can look for re-inking kits that will enable you to get a bit more from the cartridges you already have on hand.
How to Buy Plastic Ribbon CassettesThere is no question that a plastic ribbon cassette can deliver quality comparable to a laser printer when it comes to black text. On the other hand, as machines that use these ribbons become more obsolete, you may find it fairly difficult to obtain printer ribbons that will work in your machine at a reasonable price. Some things that you can try include:
· Look for stores that specialize in ink refills to see if they have discounted or closeout plastic ribbons available
· Shop online at auction sites or other locations that may offer bulk plastic ribbons
· Look for online stationary stores that may have compatible sized ribbons that you can add to an existing cassette.
Manufacturer Brand vs. Generic Printer RibbonsAs with inkjet and toner cartridges, you should be able to find generic printer ribbons. In most cases, even if you need a color ribbon, you will find little, if any difference in quality between the manufacturer and generic versions. No matter whether you have an old dot matrix printer or an adding machine, buying generic printer ribbons can make it easier to purchase in bulk quantities, as well as single units at a lower price.
Even though printer ribbons are rapidly becoming obsolete, you are bound to have one or two machines that still make use of them. If you don't want to spend a fortune on replacement ribbons, then you will need to look to discounted or generic sources. At the very least, if you have a favored adding machine or some other device that requires fabric or plastic
calculator ribbons, you will be able to continue using it while you consider what kind of equipment you will be replacing it with at some time in the future.