Posted by kcg on 8/24/07 6:59am
Msg #207395

Cost of Recieving and Printing Docs Elsewhere

During these crazy storms we're having here in the midwest, people are, of course, losing their electricity, etc. Ours went out about 9pm. Anyway, I laid awake for a good part of the night wondering where I would have to go to have docs for 2 siginings today printed out. And what is the cost? Luckily the power came back on this morning but what if.........

The closest Kinko's is 14 miles - another one at 32 miles away. Do you have the docs sent to your mailbox of theirs? What is the average charge per page? Once during a snow storm last year, I had a revised HUD that came in with enough time for me to get home to print out but considering the weather, I didn't want to drive all the way home to get it so I had it sent to and printed out at a UPS store. That cost was close to $5 for 4 pages....so obviously I shall never do that again. I have seen Kinko's being choices for some people on here to print out their docs. So to be ready for the next power outage (which could be this afternoon) , I would like to get some input.

And I truly pray that those of you in the affected flooded areas are doing ok....what a mess in here in the Midwest - we are only dealing with a little water in the basemen and power outages - many are dealing with flooded homes and loss of lives. God bless.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 8/24/07 7:33am
Msg #207396

Two other choices

are Office Max and Office Depot. Also check Staples. They should all run about .08 - .10 per page. Not cheap, but better than not being able to do the job.

Reply by Vince/KS on 8/24/07 7:42am
Msg #207397

Consider downloading to your laptop with wi-fi in a nearby

hotspot then taking your laptop to wherever you can get them printed for the least amount. In addition to those mentioned, several places are likely listed in the yellow pages under "printing" and local printshops may need the work. If I was in a hurry, the closest place to me would be UPS (it's possible they'll work with you on a package deal for the docs). They have the ability to use my file to print directly from my micro disk (if need be or a cd could be cut to print from). I would not transfer the files to the UPS computer due to privacy requirements.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 8/24/07 7:47am
Msg #207398

Re: Consider downloading to your laptop with wi-fi in a nearby

I once have downloaded at McDonald's before, and received permission to bring in my printer and print the docs there, before I got my inverter.
It was during a storm-related power outtage.
Now, with my mobile office, I am able to print from my vehicle.
I can't say enough positive things about having a secondary form of power at my disposal.
Here in the lightning capital of the USA, power outtages are common and frequent.

Reply by DebbieT on 8/24/07 7:55am
Msg #207401

Re: Consider downloading to your laptop with wi-fi in a near

I hear that Misty. My power goes out when the sun is shining. Hubby is shopping for my laptop now . Then after a couple more additions I will also be fully mobile. Come on rain. Bring it on.

Reply by Barbara Fillinger on 8/24/07 8:03am
Msg #207403

Re: Cost of Receiving and Printing Docs Elsewhere

I had to have my docs printed by Kinko's twice when I first start out, before I realized I had to install the PCL5e printer in order to successfully print out the image docs. Each time they charged me $.08 per page, but looking back, it appears that one of those times I was given a $.01 per page discount; the other time I was not. The latter package actually had more pages than the first. Maybe I had to ask to get it, or maybe the first employee knew I was entitled to it and just gave it to me. So the first lesson is, if you do have to use someone like Kinko's, ask if there's a discount based on the number of pages.

I emailed my docs to Kinko's each time.

Once while I was there, I looked over their work spaces so I'd know what's available in that respect should I ever need to download and print documents there. They had several types, from just a place to connect your laptop to ones using their PCs. They charge per minute of use at varying rates, depending on what you're using. I currently don't have a laptop, so my plan, should I lose power at home (and they still have it), would be to take my USB drive/memory stick up there, download my docs by retrieving my email off the internet via their PC, then give them my stick from which to make copies. In theory, then, I take my electronic and print versions of the docs with me, leaving nothing behind for misuse.

I do recall both times they efficiently and accurately executed my print jobs, and they looked too busy to have perused the information within the docs.

Hope you're able to get and stay dry. My sump pump failed after running all day back when we have torrential rains in April. I lost all my carpeting in the finished area, which was covered by insurance, but what an upheavel that was temporarily.

Reply by MelissaCT on 8/24/07 8:14am
Msg #207407

Re: Didn't leave anything behind

did you clear the cache after using the internet-based email? Did you delete the temporary files left behind from your download? You most likely did leave something behind, but unless tech savvy and looking, it's likely that no harm was done by anyone else from your data.

Just wanted to point out (this is internet safety week, or something like that) that even accessing internet-based email isn't completely safe, especially on a public computer.

Reply by Barb/MO on 8/24/07 8:26am
Msg #207410

Very good points, Melissa. Thanks for posting them. n/m

Reply by Stamper_WI on 8/24/07 8:39am
Msg #207414

Re: Very good points, Melissa. Thanks for posting them.

I once needed to reprint part of a package in a very small town. The signing was in the bar the borrowers owned and their computer there was not online. Across the street was an independent print shop. I was able to access my email from their computer and print the needed pages. They charged me .08 pag for legal.

Reply by Margaret_FL on 8/24/07 1:22pm
Msg #207510

Re: Cost of Receiving and Printing Docs Elsewhere

Kinko's woud not let me download anything to their computers. I tried the same thing because I was having trouble getting my wireless internet at the time. Then I went back out to my car and tried again and it was working.

Reply by Barb/MO on 8/24/07 1:49pm
Msg #207515

These were work stations set up for public use at a fee

They had internet access, etc. Different uses/set ups at different per-minute rates. When I go back there I'll verify that my back-up plan is feasible there. Thanks for the heads up to check that out.

Reply by Mindy_WA on 8/24/07 10:26am
Msg #207452

Re: Public Library

Fast, cheap, easy as pulling up your e-mail, secure

Just remember to bring LEGAL paper, and reconfig the printer settings.

Reply by BetsyMI on 8/24/07 11:15am
Msg #207480

Re: Public Library

I didn't think the PC's in libraries were secure, at least that was my experience near my home.

Reply by Mindy_WA on 8/24/07 2:50pm
Msg #207534

Re: Public Library

Suppose it would depend on the library. Couldn't be any worse than Kinkos IMHO

Reply by SharonMN on 8/24/07 12:10pm
Msg #207488

I've found that places like Kinko's charge differently depending on who you talk to. A friendly UPS store I use charges something like 10 cents a page. Other UPS stores (like the ones that make you bring your own UPS label) are probably different. At FedEx/Kinko's, I once called to check to see if I could print there and was told 10 cents a page, but when I arrived it was $1.50 per page, which was obviously not possible for me to pay for two copies of a loan package. I might consider paying that to print an updated HUD if the alternative was driving 15 miles home and 15 miles back, though.

I wouldn't want to email docs to a printer without letting the hiring agency know due to privacy concerns. It's one thing to have someone print for you in an emergency while you're standing right there (put the docs on a flash drive and ask to make sure the printer didn't save a copy - and for heavens sake don't lose the flash drive and delete the docs from it ASAP) and another thing entirely to email the file, which could be saved, forwarded, copied, or posted to the internet.