Posted by mswa on 8/3/07 1:44am
Msg #203703

laser?! the law or ink jets just fine?

I've bought and rejected several (lasers). Then I asked my 'mentor' and was told that my mentor had never used a laser in 3 yrs and now employs 5 other people.

So. are laser printed docs' the legal way to go, or do the banks, s and others really care?

I will add that I asked several notrot'ers about fees etc who were not in my area and no one had any comment. I set my own fees and took in to consideration the number of pages in each and every package. I have some 150 pages and then I have some 4 pages--I just try to be fair and price accordingly.

Reply by John_NorCal on 8/3/07 1:52am
Msg #203704

Not too sure about your mentor, but laser printers are the rule. Try sprinkling some water on something printed from your inkjet and see if you like the results. Documents printed on inkjet will not last as long as those printed on laserjet.

Reply by RalphNC on 8/3/07 5:13am
Msg #203708

If you have 3 signings in one day and are trying to get all the docs printed before hitting the road, you'll find ink jet waaaaay tooooo slooooow. ;-)

Reply by kcg on 8/3/07 6:49am
Msg #203716

When I get instructions for a signing, I always think - "what do they think we are? Idiots? - Why do they have to keep repeating things like - don't wear jeans, don't be late and USE A LASER PRINTER"

Laser is the standard in this industry - I am very surprised that your mentor not only uses inkjet but recommends it. On sites where you advertise (such as NR) there is always a box to check IF you have a laser printer. Do you check that box? Because if not, I cannot imagine any company giving you an assignment. When a company sends you a packet to fill out for their files they always ask if you have a laser printer. I am assuming that those of you who do NOT use laser are honest with the hiring companies.

Mortgage documents are supposed to hold up for 30 years.....laser toner will, ink jet powder will not. As said above, let a drop of water touch the print and see what happens.

And beside all that - laser is much more economical, you'll get so much more out of a cartridge of toner......laser is faster - laser is required by every company out there in this industry.

I am not trying to be rude - you are new and have lots to learn but there doesn't seem to be a reason your mentor is passing down this bad information. I hope you are not paying for her services!

Reply by MelissaCT on 8/3/07 8:06am
Msg #203733

Re: There are ij's that print 30ppm on the market now n/m

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 8/3/07 7:04am
Msg #203720

I would certainly re-think my choice of a mentor. If you've been given this kind of misinformation on something so basic, I dread to think what else you've been told. Best mentor you can have is this board -- Start reading from today backwards and ALL of your questions will be answered. Skip the OT subjects on the first go round. Sometimes some real gems are hidden in there, but it's a little like panning for gold. You will spend a lot of time and not get any nuggets. First suggestion is to go to "search" and type in message #33325. Read the ENTIRE thread. A great many of your questions will be answered there. Learn to use the search button -- it is your second best friend.

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/3/07 7:07am
Msg #203721

**I would certainly re-think my choice of a mentor.**

Exactly. The mentor is not exactly shooting straight, either by purpose or by not having a sighted-in shooter.

To my knowledge there is no inkjet printer on the market is built for the kind of durability necessary. It would cost a fortune to operate; it would not be acceptable by industry standards.

Reply by Julie/MI on 8/3/07 7:29am
Msg #203727

The truth is that there is no smude testing police either from the county recorders office nor likely the lender.

Ink is too expensive to be profitable and it can breakdown if wet.

There are a few companies that insist on laser printing.

But if you want to go the route of your mentor and the mentor's 5 other people, you go right ahead and use your inkjet, but then you will hear us say "we told you so" and no one ever wants to hear that, especially coming from.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 8/3/07 7:48am
Msg #203728

Pardon me if I am incorrect, but the original post does not sound real ....

****I've bought and rejected several (lasers)****

There has been much discussion on printers on this board and any one of the one recommended are more than up to the job. I would be interested in how much experience you have on a computer.

********I will add that I asked several notrot'ers about fees etc who were not in my area and no one had any comment. I set my own fees and took in to consideration the number of pages in each and every package. I have some 150 pages and then I have some 4 pages--I just try to be fair and price accordingly.*******

You probably got no response because they could not believe you actually waited for 150 pages to come out of an inkjet. Did you print copies for the BO . then that's 300 pages?? If you even try to send a document printed on an inkjet to the county recorders of my home or neighboring counties, it will be rejected. Lasers operate at light speed and at a fraction of the cost of inkjets. If you search the site, there is plenty of info about fees. It must be too early in the morning or something, but my BS detector is going off ...

Reply by Loretta Reed on 8/3/07 8:34am
Msg #203741

I didn't even know they still made inkjets....

I am a microwave woman and my laser is as fast as lightning. Time is money and I'm not waiting. Get rid of the inkjet and get with the new century.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 8/3/07 9:43am
Msg #203764

Re: I didn't even know they still made inkjets....

I still use one to print photos ... Only use now. They are fast becoming museum pieces ......

Reply by MelissaCT on 8/3/07 9:56am
Msg #203771

Re: I don't use one for document printing, but while

shopping for a new AIO, I found some really cheap (by comparison) 30ppm AIO printers. Then I looked again & saw they were inkjets!! That's the only way I know this.

Reply by mswa on 8/3/07 4:32pm
Msg #203870

I don't use an ink jet, I just asked if it was the 'law.'

And I command higher prices than many b/c in a year I've never had a document returned, a no-sign and still am paid top $$.

And the best mentor is one who sends you 10 jobs a wk or so and who's recommendation allows me to charge top dollar.

And everyone hates being undercut, b/no one wants to say what they make, so I just set my own prices and have never had to bargin down or have been turned down. So those people who wanted to keep the 'secrets', well it worked out fine for me.

So, don't assume anything. Many of us just like to do our work and not chat around, b/c the chat is sometimes so catty. And reading the board from start to finish is tirung and tedious--I know, I did that last year and that's when I decided not to become a 'regular' b/c the people who employ me read these postings also.

Reply by Loretta Reed on 8/3/07 4:51pm
Msg #203872

touchy, touchy

I hope your top $$ is not 2 digits

Reply by kcg on 8/3/07 5:21pm
Msg #203874

Re:MSWA - you stated that you bought...

and rejected several laser printers and then contacted your mentor who said in a nutshell that inkjets are just fine. That led me (and everone else) to come to the conclusion that you are also using an inkjet

The companies who hire you DO care what type of printer you are - and if someone is NOT using a laser than, IMO, that signing agent should tell the hiring entity that. Docs produced on inkjet WILL smudge - laser will not. If someone says they have a laser printer then the hiring entity makes the assumption that THAT type of printer will be used.

I'm glad your fee schedule worked out for you....everyone needs to set their own fees according to what it takes to do the work and eke out a profit. Coming on here asking for a fee schedule isn't recommended because everyone has their own individual overhead and after you figure out what yours is, then you set the fees for your own business.

Good luck

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 8/3/07 7:59pm
Msg #203905

Wow, then if this post is reality, then the first post made absolutely no sense .........

Reply by mswa on 8/3/07 11:41pm
Msg #203933

1st-I've never represented myself as anything more than I am and have always gone out of my way to explain slow downloads, slow Internet connections, what printer I use-and FYI, I've never printer a doc on anything b/a laser, whether @ home or @ a commercial establishment--in fact, I always bring my own laser paper, just to be sure...

And 2nd--$$ or $$$$ or $$$-why would I tell anyone what my fee schedule is. my posted fees are always up for negotiation....

And 3rd--no one ever really says what printer, etc is best....I have order from Amazon and Costco each laser printers that upon inspection, after lengthy enquires, did not really live up to expectations. So I returned them w/o ever a problem.

My hp 3005 had a faulty load door and a faulty power cord connection-again from Amazon-I've sent it to be repaired...

b/the question remains--how important is a laser and how picky are the companies that hire us.?!?!

I've turned down jobs b/c my laser was in transit when perhaps, fro short small easy jobs, my ink jet would have been fine.

Whenever I cost a job out from acceptance to completion, if I'm making less than minimum wage, I don't do it and explain why and almost always get a call back for my $$$ b/c I'm slow b/good!!!

Reply by DogmongerCA on 8/4/07 9:15am
Msg #203953

Your mentor is wrong and doing potential harm to her

clients by printing documents on a inkjet.

1.Theoretically loan documents should last thirty years.
2. Inkjet ink is water souluable. Try a drop on any page and watch it run
3. Most importantly, ink from a injets becomes britlle, and will crack and lift from the page.
4. Lasers use toner, not ink that is thermally fused to the paper. Will not run or crack over time.
5. Simple economics, you can print with a laser for about one tenth of the price of a inkjet.(In these times, that alone should be enough to convince any mentor.)
6.I don't know of any inkjets that have all the required PCL drivers to print all the various packages.
7. Perhaps it is your turn to be the mentor and help your friend into the 21st Century, and save her some possible liability over disappearing loan packages

Reply by kcg on 8/4/07 10:02am
Msg #203961

I think your question has been answered as to what the benefits of laser printing are and what the downfall of inkjets are. As to whether or not the company that hires you is "picky" then what you must do is ASK THEM. When one calls, ask them if it's ok to use an inkjet or not. They are the ones who have instructions you must conform to. Whether it's a regular sized package or a "short, small, easy job", the company should be informed if the signer intends to use an inkjet. They have standards and it's up to us to follow them.

As far as the brand of printer is concerned, I love HP - some on here love Brother and still others have different brands they are happy with. Do a search on printers and you'll be able to pick up some opinions. I bought my first laser HP in 1993 and that little puppy churned out 3ppm - it's still going strong tho now occupies a corner next to my husband's computer. I love my HP1022 little workhorse and my HP3055 all in one.

I hope this answers your question.