Some time in the past I removed my inkjet printer in favor of a laser printer. Doing this was such an excellent life hack for this digital native who does not print photographs and solely actually wants the comfort of printing delivery labels and the occasional doc for signatures. As a substitute of measuring the lifetime of ink cartridges in months, the laser printer allowed me to measure the lifetime of toner in literal years.

My subsequent try at leveling up my printing recreation was to attempt a thermal label printer. For those who're unfamiliar, a thermal printer does not use any ink in any respect; it is course of is akin to burning-in on particular paper. My job is exclusive in that I am continuously sending merchandise forwards and backwards, so nearly all of my printing wants revolve round delivery labels. However I've seen that my spouse's printing wants over the past a number of years have additionally change into primarily delivery labels, too. Anybody shopping for a majority of their items on-line can also be in the identical boat.

I made a decision to offer the Rollo Wi-fi Printer an opportunity to see if it might deal with all my delivery label wants and to see if this was a viable possibility for different folks to contemplate, as nicely. The top result's that this class of product is not for informal shoppers, no less than not but. The excellent news is that this Rollo Wi-fi label printer is great for anybody with a enterprise, from new creators to established small companies, and people frequently delivery out items.

TL;DR

Execs:

  • Wonderful cell app for iOS and Android
  • Built-in providers for commerce platforms
  • Wi-fi connection was quick and dependable

Cons:

  • No paper feeder or tray

Purchase at Rollo.

Rollo Wi-fi Printer Options

I scoured the web in quest of a consumer-friendly thermal label printer however got here up with only a few choices. These gadgets are primarily geared toward companies, small and huge. There are some low-cost choices, however they do not have Wi-Fi or assist cell gadgets nicely. There are others that do have wi-fi connectivity however are costly and nonetheless not likely meant for full-featured app use.

Rollo, however, is essentially the most consumer-geared thermal label printer I've seen. Extra creators and people are starting to deal with their very own commerce so it is smart that they would want a handy technique to create and print delivery labels to mail out merchandise or different items.

The Rollo Wi-fi Printer has Wi-Fi, not Bluetooth, and might print natively from iOS, Android, Chromebooks, Home windows and Mac. The printer can accommodate totally different dimension labels between 1.57 inches and 4.1 inches vast—with no top restriction. The Rollo Wi-fi Printer additionally works with any Direct Thermal Label, so that you needn't purchase particular labels from the corporate.

Rollo Wireless Printer
The Rollo Wi-fi Printer is compact and engaging, nevertheless it does not include a paper tray or spool to carry the clean labels.TYLER HAYES

By way of issues it is missing, there is no paper tray or label feeder. There are add-ons you should purchase, however out of the field, you may have to discover a technique to set the labels behind the printer.

Rollo for Enterprise Use

Rollo Wireless Printer
The Rollo Wi-fi Printer opens with the press of a single button.TYLER HAYES

The true good thing about utilizing a label printer like that is for companies to deal with delivery outgoing orders. This Rollo printer helps ShipStation, ShippingEasy, Shippo and ShipWorks, amongst different software program. It additionally has its personal free software program known as Rollo Ship Supervisor.

Rollo Ship Supervisor will allow you to obtain orders from well-established commerce platforms like Amazon, however it might additionally deal with delivery fee and scheduling pickups.

To be extra particular, there are at present 13 promoting channels you could log into to attach with utilizing Rollo Ship Supervisor. These embrace Amazon, eBay, Shopify, Etsy, Squarespace, Walmart, WooCommerce, Large Cartel, Wix and extra. UPS and USPS are the accessible delivery choices at present within the app, too.

Testing the Rollo app on an iOS gadget, I used to be impressed with its construct high quality. As a substitute of software program that felt previous or uncared for, the Rollo app is fashionable and responsive. It is simple to make use of and stuffed with handy options, together with having the ability to schedule free USPS pickups proper within the app. The free web-based Ship Supervisor can be nicely finished, for my part.

Rollo Wireless Printer
The Rollo Wi-fi Printer works nicely for 4 inch by 6 inch delivery labels, however it might deal with smaller ones, too.TYLER HAYES

Adapting a Thermal Label Printer for Private Use

I am not working a enterprise, however I do ship a good quantity of containers. The problem for shoppers printing delivery labels is that these are supplied in all types of shapes, sizes and even orientations. It could be good if there have been a approach for shoppers to simply crop and print return labels on these thermal printers, however that does not appear to exist but.

The simplest technique to print a delivery label out of your cell phone is to take a screenshot of it. Loads of labels come on a web page stuffed with different textual content, so you may have to pinch and zoom together with your fingers to place the label to crop out all the surplus. Tapping the share icon and choosing print will robotically modify that screenshot to suit the default 4 inch by 6 inch labels.

Rollo Wireless Printer
The Rollo Wi-fi Printer is a thermal printer designed for delivery labels, however it might print something despatched to it—together with this image of itself.TYLER HAYES

Generally you may want to avoid wasting a PDF after which rotate it together with your fingers earlier than taking a screenshot. Once more, none of that is notably perfect, however it is going to work. Is that this higher than an inexpensive laser printer? In all probability not for most individuals. I did not thoughts the effort although, as a result of it meant I did not should waste an 8.5 inch by 11 inch sheet of paper and many tape every time.

It ought to be famous: Whereas thermal printers like this Rollo one are geared towards delivery labels, they will print something that's despatched to them.

Ought to You Purchase the Rollo Printer?

Thermal label printers are a product class that appears ripe for modernization. Rollo seems to be the primary product to actually put within the work and make the hardware and software program expertise simple to make use of with the gadgets that individuals use frequently, primarily their cellphones and tablets.

The Rollo Wi-fi Printer is modern and engaging, plus its setup was easy and its Wi-Fi connection was at all times dependable for me. Its Rollo Ship Supervisor software program appears to be nicely maintained and is nice to make use of. The worth is costlier than a typical wired thermal printer, however I feel the Wi-Fi on this gadget offers is nicely price the associated fee. (Rollo additionally makes a cheaper, wired model when you actually do not want Wi-Fi.) Any entrepreneur and small enterprise proprietor annoyed by outdated label printing ought to positively give the Rollo Wi-fi Printer a glance.

For basic shoppers searching for a easy technique to lower down on ink and paper waste once they print delivery labels, this most likely is not the answer. But it surely positively might be made to work when you really need it to.

Purchase at Rollo for $279.99.

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