It happens all the time. A customer calls us with a printer that isn’t working right. “The labels are smudged.” “The barcodes won’t scan.” “The printer keeps jamming.” And our first question is, “What kind of ribbon and media are you using?” Because Avalon Integration’s team has learned that the rewards for using the right thermal printer supplies deliver long-term rewards.

There are lots of “bargains” to be found when shopping for thermal printer ribbons and media. But those discounted deals come with their own hidden cost. Inferior products cause anything from poor print quality and adhesion to printer failure.

For example:

• Dust and debris from subpar media are left behind in the printer. It leads to abrasion and build-up that gradually leads to a printer problem.
• The adhesive oozes from the label and into the inner workings of the printer, creating a sticky mess that causes the barcode printer to seize up.
• Inferior ribbons wrinkle or break, which requires the cost and time to replace them.

So, while you save money on buying the supplies, you spend those savings (and more) on printer repair, the waste of your IT staff’s help desk time, and the cost of replacing the low-quality supplies. In some cases, the use of cheap supplies on an ongoing basis will shorten the lifespan of your thermal printer, costing you in both ROI and total cost of ownership.

Is it worth it to save a few bucks now on Thermal Printer Supplies?

When we recommend a product to an Avalon Integration customer, it’s our reputation on the line. One of the main reasons Avalon Integration recommends Genuine Zebra Supplies is that we know we can count on them for consistent quality. When you have a brand that works—whether it’s a barcode label or an automobile—you stick with it, right?

Zebra manufactures all of its labels, tags, receipt paper, and thermal printer ribbons according to strict standards. They test them with the same diligence. From one order to the next, you don’t have to worry about the quality, because they’ve gone to great lengths to ensure it.

When you commit to using Genuine Zebra Supplies in your barcode printer, you gain more than consistent quality and far fewer repairs. Zebra and Avalon Integration will supply you with free printhead replacements for as long as you own your Zebra printer. All you have to do is continue to feed it only Zebra supplies.

When you figure that an average printhead costs about $400, you’re reducing the TCO while increasing the quality, life, and reliability of your Zebra printer.

Get Premium Barcode Printer Consumables.

Please don’t waste your money on bargain barcode printer supplies. They aren’t a bargain at all. Instead, contact Avalon Integration to make the right choice and we’ll pay you back with the Printhead Protection Program. It’s free to enroll and the rewards are substantial!