Re: Help! What printer would you suggest?
 

Larry:

Check out sendoutcards.com

* Can merge names and addresses on postcards.
* They have live stamps.
* You can schedule when the postcards go out.

Could get a bit expensive if you have to mail a lot of post cards out. But they do have bulk discounts. Well worth checking them out and outsourcing the mailing to someone else.

Re: Help! What printer would you suggest?
 

Thanks, Steve and Ankesh.
Ankesh, I'm a little familiar with sendoutcards but never checked them out.
Steve, I looked at an Oki but didn't try it.
Cost of ink is a concern and a laser would help. Both for cost and speed.
I think I'll take some paper over and ask them to demo it.

Re: Help! What printer would you suggest?
 

Larry,

I don't have mine anymore and I don't recall what brand it was.

I looked online and couldn't find any dedicated postcard printers so I'm assuming that some of the new printers out there are capable of doing this.

But I would still say that ordering and sending them through the USPS website would be your best option if this is something you want to do in the future.

What's the reason for the live stamp? Is that something your customer would reconsider?

Jim

Re: Help! What printer would you suggest?
 

Hi Larry,

I've been using Send Out Cards for a while now myself and think their service is incredible, but I have heard that since they're printed digitally and not finished with a protective coating like most postcards, theirs get beat up in the postal system a bit and don't look quite as good as their greeting cards that are protected by an envelope.

Another thing to consider there is the lead time too - as all cards are mailed from Salt Lake City and may take a few days to get where they're going. Cards I've received in PA typically take 3 - 4 days to arrive which isn't terrible, but something to consider if you need them delivered pronto.

All in all it's a great service, but as with anything you should test it out and see how it meets your needs.

Cheers,

Stev

Try this...
 

Larry,

Thanks for asking about Printers.

What is it you Actually want to achieve? What is the Final End Goal?

If it's just a Post Card with a name and address on it and a Live stamp, then have the cards done at a Print Shop and use Mailing Address Labels - hey, you're sticking on a Live Stamp so Stick on an Address Label at the same time.

Why won't that work as a Solution?

Michael Ross
www.hotsheets.info

Re: Try this...
 

Putting Postcard printers aside for a moment... :)

Read through this thread very Carefully...

And Think about all the different Postcard business ideas & Services that someone could Turn into an interesting business...

Here's a few Keywords I keep on Seeing! Post Cards... Live stamps... The Postcard Press Release...

And Google “says” there are even more ways of “twisting” this one into a Real business... ;)

Phil

Re: Try this...
 

Thanks everyone for all the good advice.
This is a good discussion.
I think USPS.com is the best service offered bythe post office. I would have used it. It would have been fast, simple and professionally done.
In this particular case, he wanted live stamp. Not sure why.
As far as labels, I don't like them and the client wanted them printed on the card. I think there's a big difference in impression for someone who receives something with a label.
About using a print shop, quantities come into play and none of the local printers could or would print my cards with the addresses.
This client just received his leads and wanted them mailed ASAP.
The bigger picture is that I want to expand this into a service for my consulting clients. Kind of a one stop shop. And it would be part of creating a regular additional stream.
Creating various marketing pieces and being able to deliver the whole process seems to increase my value to them.
Thanks, again and look forward to any other ideas on this.
Larry
PS. Phil, interesting way to spot this as an opportunity. You do a great job of having your "lookers" out all the time.

Re: Try this...
 

Thanks Larry.

>The bigger picture is that I want to expand this into a service for my consulting
> clients. Kind of a one stop shop. And it would be part of creating a regular
>additional stream.

One thing I've learnt from Harvey Brody (via GJA) is you don't have to be a one stop solution. Just a one stop gateway.

Re: Try this...
 

Good point Ankesh