Brother QL-1100 Wide Format, Postage and Barcode Professional Thermal Monochrome Label Printer, Black

My wife's last Kickstarter was a huge success, netting over 600 packages to ship. BackerKit allowed customers to individualize and include additional items in their packages, but some chose not to add anything, allowing the print of batches of multiple labels. PirateShip (.com, like Stamps .com ) saved her LOTS of $$$ for international shipping without having to pay full USPS international rates. But the old method of printing each label on its own full size sheet of paper, cutting them out to 4 x 6, and taping them to the boxes was getting cumbersome, so enter the QL-1100.Oh, and did I mention that when labels are bought and printed from PirateShip, they have to be delivered to the Post Office on the day you put on the label, so there's no time for mistakes, especially when trying a new printer. So there was lots of pressure to get it done right, and fast.This was the label printer recommended by PirateShip, so I just got it as there was no time to research and try out any others.Computer Software Installation:The driver installation was a snap, only one minor hiccup. The installation program can auto-select the drivers once the QL-1100 is plugged into the computer via the USB, and it did so seamlessly. Nothing seemed to happen for a few minutes during the software install, but I read in the User Guide that sometimes the driver installation status window hides behind other open windows on the screen. So minimizing the browser and other windows, sure enough, there was an open dialog box that was waiting for an input from me. Clicked on that, and it took about 5 minutes to fully install the drivers.Paper Installation:The cartridge is fairly easy to install, but you do have to make sure the label fits under the sensor on the right side of the unit so it can know where the beginning and end of the labels are for the printing and cutting. The User Guide says to insert the new labels such that the arrow on the label is visible outside the unit At first I was worried that this would cause the printer to eject and waste a label, but happily the unit recognized this, and on the first print backed up the label and started at the right spot.Single Print via PirateShipBought the label on PirateShip normally, then followed their directions on their video to print to the thermal printer. It was the most complicated for the Firefox browser (naturally, that's what my wife used) so after the label was purchased, hit the big 'print' button, right click on the tiny link to open the label in a new browser tab (Firefox can't print .pdf files directly), hit the print button on THAT tab, select the QL-1100, portrait mode, 4 x 6 size, press OK, and a label promptly spat out of the QL-1100.Worked great.Batch Print via PirateShip:BackerKit produces an Excel file that PirateShip can use to populate address information for multiple packages that are all the same size and weight. You have to delete the excel columns that aren't needed (e.g., the customer's Kickstarter user name may not be the shipping label name, so those have to be removed). Once the excel file is ready, the data is transferred to PirateShip, and the package size and weight are put in. Hit the print button, go through the process as above to open new tab and select printer, etc, and on the first try, 36 each 4 x 6 shipping labels were printed on the QL-1100. For the 4.07 x 6.4 inch labels, the QL-1100 cut each one precisely where it was supposed to.Labels.I couldn't afford to mess around with alternate label brands, so i used the Brother labels. They worked perfectly in the QL-1100 and they stick to the Uline and Paper Mart shipping boxes. When I first ordered the printer I was afraid I'd have to put tape over the shipping labels to make sure they didn't fall off in shipping, but the Brother labels stick like iron and there doesn't seem to be any danger of them coming off.They did curl a bit, especially at the end of the starter roll that Brother gives you in the QL-1100 package, and getting the backing off takes a little more effort, but with that strong adhesive I'd rather have that than having a label come off in shipping.Summary: Success!! In both single and batch mode prints for multiple PirateShip shipping labels. No tech support needed at all from Brother.

This printer has been a lifesaver! I can print multiple shipping labels super quick, all at once, and it cuts between each one automatically. I also use the smaller 2.4” wide label to print product labels. The reason I hated printing labels with my laser printer is because the ink would smear, I would have to tape over the label to protect the barcodes, which defeated the purpose of printing on a label in the first place. I used so much packaging tape (and time!!). Sure the labels from Brother are expensive, just buy the generic ones! All you have to do is look for ones that are compatible with this device (I bought BETCKEY brand and I don’t see a difference). I bought TEN rolls of 4” wide continuous rolls for 4x6” shipping labels, and after 3 months and MANY labels printed, I still have some left on the first roll! Buying 10 rolls at once cut the individual roll price in half, so I figured I could resell some if I wasn’t going through them quickly. I also don’t understand why other customers had issues with printing. I first downloaded the driver directly from Brother’s website. I select the option on eBay and Etsy to print 4x6 labels in PDF form. After I purchase the labels, the PDF opens or downloads, I plug in the usb cord to my laptop, click print and make sure to select the right printer and size of labels (with the Brother sample labels it came with, I had to select something like 4.06” wide, whatever it was it was slightly over the 4x6, because it wouldn’t print with the 4x6 option selected. It would say the size of labels in the printer and what was selected didn't match. When I switched to the generic, it wouldn’t print with the same setting and I found I just had to go back to 4x6. If you get the message that the size doesn't match, but pick some other similar sizes until it does). I’ve even made my own custom labels with Microsoft Word for the 2.4” wide labels. I just set up the size in page setup and plug and print. Super simple. The printing is dark, super clear, excellent quality. And no smearing! And no having to buy ink or toner. Occasionally the blade starts not cutting all the way through, but that's the only problem I've had. This little printer was definitely worth the money and then some. I save so much time buying my labels in bulk, hitting print once, having each print and cut SUPER fast, and just peel & slap them on the envelope. If you do a decent amount of online selling and find yourself spending a lot of time trying to fulfill orders, I recommend you get this printer. You’ll thank me!Update: About one year later and this printer is still going strong with no issues!

Works GREAT! I have a new Mac desktopI had bought a zebra label printer to find out after spent an hour in the phone with tech support that their software is not compatible with a MacAlthough you can print with some of these other label makers (that swear they’re Mac compatible) the quality might be fuzzy and the minimum print dpi can be is 203 to ship out.This brother’s dpi is 300!!!! It prints so crisp, clear, fast and I love the auto cut feature!I love that it doesn’t waste any labels when calibrating! If you’re not worried about it being wireless then I suggest you get this model!I have an Etsy shop and it works great with Printing my shipping labels.