Anyone use a mini-printer that you take with you??

I don't know if they have an actual name... but I was wondering if anyone uses a printer to print out quotes/ests while at the clients house... maybe kept in your work vehicle...

I use a regular Dell inkjet in my work truck. Just hook up to a 8 amp inverter.

Use your laptop, hook into their network, and email the quote, from the kitchen table. PDF your quote sheet and your good to go. No printer, paper, power, ink $$$

I was going to do that at one point, but they arent very cheap to buy...at least the good ones anyways.

spend the $1200 cdn and buy a small MacBook. Depending on the number of quotes, you can spend that on ink. Then you can pitch your contribution to environment by saving trees and squids.

You'll look real pro

I've been thinking of doing this too, having one in the company vehicle to print out the estimates on the spot instead of faxing or emailing them.

Hopefully this weekend I'll take a run down to the store and see what's out.... but like OBX does - I figure at the very least I could just take my inkjet with me.... I was just looking for something a little more compact.


The only thing with emailing them the pdf quote on the spot - if their network is locked down or something.... I wouldn't want to have to deal with that... but it is a neat idea.



-R

Anytime I have had a quote for work on the house, they just hand write it.

Which is how I do it now... I just think having something printed out on=site would look more professional.

I use a small HP printer Last one I bought cost around $300.00.

I always use a laptop and printer to give quotes.

Customers always comment on how professional the quote looks.

I can't read my own handwriting so I know my customres would'nt be able to read a hand written quote

$40 HP printer here with my laptop....

Canon IP90, fast colour has battery charger cradle etc.

With the exception of commercial work anyone that wants a written estimate is price shopping. How many times have you had a customer pull out the other guys estimate and say "well they are charging this, can you beat this price?" you say ok, then they say they will call next week, then they say "well he is gonna do it for this much now, can you beat their price?".............and it goes on.......and on................and on.............

But I do leave written estimates when asked.

i have the ip90v...with bluetooth.

i also have a converter that hooks up to my sig lighter that i can plug in my printer to.

So if they don't ask, you only give them a verbal quote?

Do you leave film samples with them?

I often feel out the customer. I do email estimates, but if they want an estimate at that time a hand written one is what they get. I have a very high close rate on residential jobs and in the past 2 years I had no redos because of quality or film for that matter. I did redo a deco job, because some people in the office didn't like the obstruction, and was paid to redo it with stripes of the same film. In the past I have gotten many jobs even being the higher cost, and once I even had someone say we went with you even though your estimate was higher, I said really why is that? "the other guy said some of the windows can't be done and we really want them all done" (why would he give a price on something he could not do is beyond me)

HP 450wbt bluetooth mobile printer. I leave mine in the van and print my bids from my laptop in the home/office.