Zebra Label Printers For Parts

Remember the days of going to the post office for everything?  Seems like everyone is shipping from home these days and saving money.  And for that you need a label printer.  I recently bought two Zebra Label Printers on eBay advertised as “For Parts”.

Zebra Printers

Pictured above is a Zebra GK420D and an LP 2844-Z.  Both are old.  Made in 2012, and 2009, respectively.  While there are inexpensive label makers out there for sale, nothing beats getting a label printer for $20.  And these old tanks can use generic labels.  Most manufacturers these days require expensive, and proprietary labels.

But buying these things is a crap shoot.  I spent $40 for both printers. Conversely,  this could have been a $40 disaster but as it turns out both printers actually still work.  Kind of.
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Zebra LP 2844 Label Printer

When you go to a Tech blog you expect to read about cutting edge technology that is fresh and exciting.   You don’t really expect to read about an appliance that was first manufactured in 2003.  And yet, here we are.  I’ll speak to the viability of using the venerable Zebra LP 2844  as your default label printer.

Seems crazy, I know, but most of the Zebra LP 2844’s out there are still working and may very well be the most economical solution out there for creating your shipping labels.

Why An LP 2844 in 2023?

1. Cost.  It is always about cost.   A working printer should not really cost you more than $50.  If you are diligent and patient you can actually get them for less than that.
2. Consumables.  These old printers can use generic labels.  Most label makers these days only work with proprietary labels that are read via RFID tags placed in the rolls.   Generic 4×6 labels are abundant and a lot cheaper than proprietary label rolls.
3. These printers also work with fanfold labels.  You don’t have to have a roll installed internally.  You can feed them from behind the printer from a folded stack of labels.

To recap:  Your printer should cost less than $50, and can use cheap shipping labels.
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NIIMBOT B1 Review

NIIMBOT Label Printers

This will be my review of the  NIIMBOT B1 thermal label printer.

I love NIIMBOT printers.  And to put that statement in perspective I have owned and reviewed a LOT of label printers.   Most of them you would call industrial printers.

A few months ago NIIMBOT contacted me and asked me to review their B21 Label Printer.  Since that time I have reviewed their B3S, the D110, and now their excellent B1 label maker.   I have enjoyed them all.  The concept of a small, portable, bluetooth label maker makes a heck of a lot of sense.  Most of my industrial printers are large, come in huge carrying cases, and are hooked to a computer via USB.  Most of them use speciality labels as well such as shrink tubing.  Having all that capability is great but sometimes you just need to put a small and simple label on something.  Actually MOST OF THE TIME, you just need to put a small and simple label on something.

This is where NIIMBOT printers shine.

Having a label maker that sits on your desk that you don’t need to actually have your hands on is awesome.  Holding a printer with a tiny keyboard on it is no fun.  Bluetooth connections are a welcome addition.   Making a label from a phone app instead of needing a full blown laptop is cool too.
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