Printer Types
There are three categories of printers. Some are better than others for use in the auction environment. They are:

Type

Advantages

Disadvantages

Dot Matrix:

First Choice.

Ribbon price: about $8.00

Ribbon life: Until you can't read it anymore.

Economical to operate.

Won't stop as ribbon ages.


Will strike carbon copy.


Good report print quality.

A bit noisy.


Requires tractor fed paper.

Printed forms must be separated and tractors removed.

Laser:

Second Choice

Cartridge price: about $60.00 (may be recharged).

Cartridge life: about 2500-3000 pages.

Very quiet.


Very good print quality.


Uses plain paper.

More expensive per page than dot matrix.


Quits when cartridge runs out.

Won't strike carbon copy.

Some models may not be compatable with One Ten vac.

Ink Jet:

Third Choice

Cartridge price (Black): about $25.00 (may be recharged).

Cartridge Life: About 200-300 pages.

Pretty quiet.


Uses plain paper.


Good quality print.

More expensive per page than laser.


Quits when cartridge runs out.

Won't strike carbon copy.

Some models may not be compatable with One Ten vac.

Post Script: My first printer was an Epson LX-810 Dot Matrix. I used it for many years, maybe 12-15. It is dirty, beat up and looks like it has been in a train wreck, but it still works like the day I bought it. I'm on my fifth Ink Jet printer. Cheap plastic and rubber can't beat real metal.