# Printing one or two sheets--no printer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 22, 2022, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490 "2022-03-22T10:29:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/1 "2022-03-22T10:29:45Z")
I hate home printers. I print very little, only a very few sheets a year. And every printer I have ever owned goes bad, very quickly. Ink costs a fortune. How can I get stuff printed? BTW-- my local Kinkos declined to let me put a flash drive in one of their computers. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/2 "2022-03-22T10:36:35Z")
If you only need black and white, buy a laser printer. Toner doesn’t dry out. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/3 "2022-03-22T10:39:17Z")
I am exactly like you. I just email whatever file I need to the UPS store, they print it out, I go there & pick it up. Consumer printers are such a horrible product, that even thinking about the things makes my blood pressure rise. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/4 "2022-03-22T10:41:01Z")
I’ve had the same issues with my printer drying out. I wonder if it would help to put the ink cartridge in a Ziploc bag between uses? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/5 "2022-03-22T10:41:39Z")
UPS is just a pain in the @ss. And a major part of why I’m posting this Thread. So, no. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/6 "2022-03-22T10:43:32Z")
At least in my area, the public library offers printing. So does Staples, at quite reasonable cost. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/7 "2022-03-22T10:55:11Z")
Kinkos refused to let you print something? I thought that was their whole thing. I know Staples does printing for .10-.15 a page for black and white. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/8 "2022-03-22T11:07:13Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > BTW-- my local Kinkos declined to let me put a flash drive in one of their computers. I don’t blame them. Kinkos (FEDEX) does online printing. Have you tried that? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/9 "2022-03-22T11:37:54Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > UPS is just a pain in the @ss. My point was to email it to your preferred store and have them print it out for you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/10 "2022-03-22T12:08:15Z")
UPS also does online printing. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/11 "2022-03-22T12:40:34Z")
So, the local library, or e-mail to UPS, or e-mail to Staples, or bring a flash drive to Staples (but not UPS??). Also, if you happen to know anyone who works in an office, they will probably print something for you. Or, if you know someone with a working printer – I print stuff for my friends. But, other than that, what have the Romans done for us? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/12 "2022-03-22T12:44:08Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > But, other than that, what have the Romans done for us? - They gave us those damn numerals. \< spits \> ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/13 "2022-03-22T12:50:34Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > If you only need black and white, buy a laser printer. Toner doesn’t dry out. This is what I’d suggest. A laser printer has a bit higher up front cost but you can get a good wireless model for under $200 that will work for an extended period of time with no maintenance. I print maybe once every other week and can’t think of the last time I had any issues. ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/14 "2022-03-22T13:23:34Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > I’ve had the same issues with my printer drying out. I wonder if it would help to put the ink cartridge in a Ziploc bag between uses? I’ve done that, and it does help (I also put a damp paper towel in the bag too). The trick is to make sure the print head and the contacts aren’t touching either the bag or the paper towel, which isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Blowing the bag up with some air before sealing it helps. The problem is that if you have a multifunction printer/scanner, many won’t even scan without the print cartridges, so you’re putting them in and taking them out more. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/15 "2022-03-22T16:28:13Z")
My wife and I have purged ourselves of a lot of old or underutilized technology over the last few years and that included a printer that took up a large amount of space but was rarely used. > [@Seanette](#): > > At least in my area, the public library offers printing. Yep, our small library allows a limited amount of free printing. On the rare occasions I need to print something, the library is a short bike ride away (I go near it on my daily bike commute as well). ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/16 "2022-03-22T16:46:01Z")
It sounds to me like many of the complaints about home printers are really about issues with inkjet printers. So I’ll add my vote to the recommendation for a laser printer. HP used to have an excellent reputation for their LaserJet line, but that was a long time ago and not sure if they still do. But I’ve had a low-end HP LaserJet for maybe 15 years now or more and it’s been absolutely solid. I only use it maybe once every two to four weeks, but it’s very convenient when I need it. Also, with low usage, the toner cartridge lasts practically forever. Even the low-capacity cartridge included with the printer lasted a few years; the full-capacity one I put it a few years ago will probably last a decade. I also had a colour inkjet for a while. It was handy for producing colour prints, but the paper for photo-quality printing was expensive and it was indeed frequently clogging, streaking, or otherwise malfunctioning. YMMV, but you can’t beat the reliability of a good laser printer for day-to-day office document printing. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/17 "2022-03-22T18:44:10Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Also, if you happen to know anyone who works in an office, they will probably print something for you. That was my thought; if you only need a few sheets, you probably know someone who could print it at work, or someone with a printer of their own who could print it for you. It’s like fax machines are for me; something I always did at work because who actually has a fax machine at home in the 21st century? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/18 "2022-03-22T20:07:09Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > This is what I’d suggest. A laser printer has a bit higher up front cost but you can get a good wireless model for under $200 that will work for an extended period of time with no maintenance. I print maybe once every other week and can’t think of the last time I had any issues. I agree. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/19 "2022-03-22T20:25:38Z")
For “… very little, only a very few sheets a year”? I would just go to the library, Staples, or ask a friend. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490/20 "2022-03-22T20:57:30Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > For “… very little, only a very few sheets a year”? I would just go to the library, Staples, or ask a friend.   Sounds eminently reasonable, except that as I and others have noted, good laser printers (like the HP LaserJet series) are extremely reliable, can actually be very cheap to buy if you don’t need high printing speeds, and in any case the cost amortized over a decade or so is negligible. Literally. And although I rarely need to use my laser printer for essential documents, it does happen once in a while and I’m glad to have it. Other times, just because I have it, I’ll use it to print out all sorts of random stuff from recipes to Google Maps directions. It’s really one of my cost-effective investments, despite how infrequently I use it. I would never be without it. YMMV. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-one-or-two-sheets-no-printer/961490.md?page=2)