FAQ- Am I saving money with compatible card printer ribbons?

A current trend in the plastic card printing market is the use of compatible ribbons instead of genuine branded plastic card printer ribbons. These compatible ribbons are used in Evolis, Datacard, Zebra and Fargo machines and are advertised to save the client 25-60% in consumable costs. We have investigated this claim by interviewing several clients (and repairing their printers) and found that despite a slight decrease in ribbon costs, the end user is receiving less value and a more expensive cost per solution than when using original branded ribbons.

Here is what we found:

Reasons to Choose Original over "Compatible" for plastic card printer consumables

1. Voids Warranty
Whether your printer is Zebra, Evolis, EDIsecure, Datacard or Fargo brand, your warranty is voided the moment you use non branded (compatible) ribbon or plastic card. Take care to purchase your consumables from reputable companies- if the consumables are non-branded or compatible ribbons (even hiding in original boxes), your printer brand manufacturer will not fulfil your warranty.

2. Higher operating temp/faster print head blow out
Compatible ribbons require a higher operating temperature to print correctly. While it is possible to increase the heat settings in your printer drivers- the increase in temperature will effectively run your print head at a higher temperature and make it 'work harder' to sublimate your ink. This increased temperature puts strain on your print head and will ensure a shorter lifespan. Should you wish to keep the default settings asnd not increase your heat settings, the colours will be washed out and may graduate in colour intensity across the length of the card.

3. More Manufacturing Defects in Compatible Ribbons
Clients who use compatible ribbons are more likely to have a damaged print head from a manufacturing defect in the compatible ribbon. We have seen ribbons that are too narrow and do not stretch the full width of the card. Other ribbons have burrs or scratches in the film. In minor cases, the ink does not sumblimate into the plastic in those areas, causing a blotchy print, or, in more major cases, the burrs can scratch the printhead directly.


There is simply no value is saving a couple of Rands per ribbon if using a compatible ribbon will cost you thousands in printhead or driverboard replacements.

CardsPlus only sells genuine branded ribbons. We believe that they continue to extend more value to our clients than a compatible ribbon will. With so many companies getting burned from the increase in compatible plastic card printer consumables, CardsPlus is proud to take a stand against inferior products and misadvertising.

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FAQs- As a reseller, what questions should I ask to best determine what type of plastic card printer my client needs?

An excellent reseller is set on providing intelligent solutions to their client base.

Much like a doctor needs a thorough knowledge of the symptoms of illness and it's relationship to the body to diagnose an illness, resellers need a good understanding of their client's needs and the relationship of those needs to what the market offers.

We have compiled just three questions that will help you assess which plastic card printer will be best for your client.

1. What type of cards are you planning on producing?

Knowing the application for the machine will help you determine which level printer you need to focus on:

For instance if your client answers:

ID Cards with low security: You can start thinking about a simple direct-to-card printer might be suitable

Loyalty or Gift cards: you may need to ask if a printer with a magnetic encoder will be needed

RFID/Prox: You can recommend Retransfer printing as it is the only recommended method for desktop colour printing on smart cards.


2. What monthly volumes are you expecting?

The answer to this question would indicate which line of printer your client would need. Different card printer brands have different spans of use, but for EDIsecure, we judge that a DCP240+ or DCP340+ is perfect for small volumes ( up to 5000) while the DCP360 and XID 8300 is great for large volumes.

3. Budgetary Concerns?

There are two schools of thought in the finance of plastic card printing. One wants the cheapest cost per card. The other, wants the lowest cost for the solution.

There is a significant difference between a cost per card, and a cost per solution.

A cost per card is the simple calculation of ink+plastic=cost per card.

A cost per solution calculates the total inclusive cost of the solution. It includes the cost of the printer, the software, the consumables to print the cards, the ongoing maintence, the speed of the machine and the down time that the printer will require changing ribbons, mantaining the printer etc.

Finding out what your client needs for their budget will help you address the total solution (instead of just the cost per card) and save your client some serious money!


Still aren't sure which printer to ask for? CardsPlus offers free consultations on 086 16 CARDS (22737) or +27 (0)11 894 3914.

Do you think we we missed something important? Go ahead and comment below.

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Why Cards Plus?

With a growing number of companies in South Africa who having offerings to the Plastic Card industry, perhaps you are wondering why you should buy from Cards Plus.

What would be the advantage you would have in our being your supplier?

1. We are a South African Manufacturer of Plastic cards -we do not bring our preprinted
cards from China or the United States -we print and manufacture our own at our factory in Johannesburg. What is the advantage to you, the client?

a. Speedy service – our standard turnaround time, express and next day service all have set new benchmarks in South Africa
b. Flexibility – need to check if your colour looks the way you want on your card? You can
run a sample – or better yet, utilize our standard and speedy Hard Copy Proofing service –
then make adjustments if it isn’t the way you had dreamed.
c. Quality Control – if there should be any issues with your cards after approval of the hard copy, you have immediate recourse for addressing the issue - and (see point 2b) we will stand by our product and if we have made a mistake, we will fix it!
d. We are creating jobs in South Africa and keeping your money in our economy
e. Come and visit us for a tour!

2. We only represent the best quality products

a. From our equipment to the type of plastic we print on – we do not buy junk! What we
offer our clients is tried and tested by us to be of excellent quality. We don’t cut corners to
increase our margins or decrease our pricing.
b. We believe so strongly in our product that we offer our own guarantees on our products.

3. We have a variety of solutions to meet every need – are you budget sensitive, time critical or need a flexible solution? We have products and services to meet each of these.

4. We offer full support and training if needed
Having trouble getting your software to work? Does your printer need to be serviced? We
can help. Perhaps you need a new printer but don’t know how to work it? We will be very
happy to train you.

5. Our Brain Trust – a great resource for consultation

With over 23 years in the auto ID industry, and a vast amount of experience and knowledge, we have trained up knowledgeable staff and have the resources to assist you with deciding what the best solution is for your requirement.

We believe strongly that you deserve the best, and we strive to offer you what you need.

Please feel free to contact us if there is anything we can do to assist you
0861 16 CARDS (22737) or +27 11 894 2914 www.cardsplus.co.za

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Client FAQ: What do I need to start a card orientated loyalty programme?

Card orientated loyalty programmes for retailers is a popular solution for companies looking to increase revenue and client loyalty.

There are just two key steps that we recommend to clients who are ready to start their own highly effective loyalty programme.

Back-End software:
The software can be as simple as RewardsPlus or as complicated as hiring a loyalty provider.

This back end software will manage the rewards and keep track of all details of the clients. Think of it as your heavy lifter that will do all the hard work for you.

Plastic cards:

Once you determine your system and are ready for implementation, you will just need some cards to round off the system. You can use barcodes, magnetic stripes or even contactless technology– depending on the system you choose. At CardsPlus, you can be up and rolling in just 10 days or fewer.

There you have it! Just two step to a highly effective loyalty programme in your retail
establishment.

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Client FAQ: I want a card that my clients will feel special having. How can I make my membership card special?

Client FAQ:
I want a card that my clients will feel special having. How can I make my membership card special?

We love the new designs that are coming out this summer!

What’s IN?

· Embossed lettering with silver tipping— An attractive solution for adding some serious dimension to a card



· Colour! Vibrant colours make your card stand out from all the others in your client’s wallet.




· Foil stamped designs offer a touch of class and sophistication!




What’s OUT?

· Platinum, silver and gold cards—Trends sway towards fabulous designs over the clichéd gold/silver card

· Large blocks of a single colour– with the photographic quality of digital offset– companies are choosing ‘big message’ images for backgrounds instead!

· Boring typeface—As seen in FIFA’s 2010 logo, fun and funky fonts are making a come back

Thanks for asking & Print on!

image via looneybeancoffee & hardware wholesalers

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Client FAQ: Why does the Datacard SP35 look JUST like the EDIsecure DCP240+?

The SP35 and DCP240+ have similar bodies and look similar on the outside.

However, the two printer brands do not operate the same.

Why we prefer the DCP240+

• Advanced print driver gives the ability to enhance print graphic quality
• The powerful printer drivers have access to every parameter of the card printing job- so you can change any aspect in one central place
• Unmatched Graphic User Interface (GUI) ensures better colour matching from screen to print.
  

To quote a long term Datacard user, “The DCP240+ is like the SP35 except better!” What a great compliment!

Thanks for asking & Print on!

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Client FAQ: What makes a Printed Card “High Quality”?

Good Question! Using printed cards for branding in a loyalty, membership or access control programmes speaks volumes your company. Ensure that the card in your user’s hand will uphold the name you have carefully established.

These are a few features to look for in your offset cards to indicate their quality:

· Print Quality Are your colours crisp and sharp? Or do they bleed into each other? Colours shouldn’t bleed into other colours (unless your design requires it!)

· Lamination Does the top lamination bubble or peel straight out of the box? This is called de-lamination and occurs when the plastic isn’t given enough time or pressure for the molecules to bond sufficiently.

· Gloss Are the cards are reflective and glossy? A glossy card indicated the quality of plates used to bond your card.

Thanks for asking & Print on!

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