Receipt Printers For Your Credit Card Terminal

To operate a credit card terminal you will need a printer to print out receipts and slips for customer signature and store records. Printers come built into the unit or as a stand-alone piece. They vary in price, size, reliability and speed.

Perhaps the most common type of receipt printer is what is called a dot matrix printer.  These are also called impact printers. They use pins and an ink ribbon to printer on regular paper, much like a typewriter. These printers are durable and low priced, but have lower speeds than other models.

Another type of printer, although rare, is ink jet.  Ink jet receipt printers can print in multiple colors, but are only moderately quick and are more expensive than dot matrix.

Thermal printers are faster, more reliable, and quieter than dot matrix and ink printers. They are slightly more expensive, but generally last longer than other types of printers. Thermal printers utilize heat sensitive paper to generate receipts. Although this paper is more expensive than the traditional kind, the fact that ribbons and other parts do not have to be replaced as in the dot matrix model, make thermal printers an economical choice.

Be sure when selecting your printer to choose a model that has a “drop in” paper loader. This will keep your line moving and keep customers happy, as they won’t have to wait around for a paper change.