The office supply shop across the street from my office has the Brother. Their stamps cost 3 times as much as the ones available at the print shop a block away. But they are available while you wait instead of having to wait several days at the print shop.

I suspect that if you're doing wholesale or volume orders, the Brother is not the way to go. The stamps are way too expensive.

Dave,

I didn't look at the pricing of supplies, for either system, but I suspect what you're saying is true.

Have you seen the Brother in action?

Shari,
We have a Brother stamp making machine that is quick and easy to use. I don't have any problems with the machine at all. For a straight 3 line stamp it takes under 10 minutes from start to finish. Our problem has been with the cost of the components. We have not been able to compete price wise against the catalog companies and or the Staples of this world. I would recommend the machine but I would add a warning to make sure you can make money with it.

Dee

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

Shari
I just started with the Maxlight flash mounts from Millenium Marking. I looked at the Brother and M&R systems as well but since I was looking for a wide range of sizes and lower inventory costs I ended up with the MM mounts. There is a learning curve with the Z system but not really that bad.
The MM flash unit is pricey but ask about a reconditioned unit. They are a lot cheaper if you can get one.
The margins for the MM mounts were fairly good as well, even with competitive pricing. Way better than the Brother.
I also sell trodat selfinker's but wanted to do my own pre-inked instead of outsourcing for the old pre-inked mounts. They were too messy to do myself.

Good Luck
PM me if you need to!

Brian

Brian,
Thank you for your information. I have a stamp order for 150 stamps. They do not want the self-inking stamps. They simply want the ones you use an ink pad for. May I ask what the cost was involved in the machine? I don't have any info. on these machines. I did go to the MM website but did not see any prices. I would also need to find a supplier for the mounts/handles. With an order of this size, do you think it would be a wise purchase? Was there any training offered with your purchase?

Thanks for your help,
Shari

The Brother unit works as advertised, but I would not recommend it.

Aside from the cost of the stamps being very high, The consumables are very expensive. It uses a small roll of transfer toner, similar to the plain paper fax machines, but very expensive. So is the carrier sheets. You use one carrier sheet per stamp, you cannot reinsert it for a copy of the stamp. You must print a label through the machine also, at least they come with the stamps, but no spares.

The flash unit is timed for 2000 stamps and must be replaced after that time, also very expensive.

The unit must be covered at all times when not in use. Dust and grit will get in due to the poor design and need to be cleaned out with a special sticky sheet. You only get two with the roll of transfer film, (I believe it is with the transfer film.)

To recap, it is a good unit that does what is advertised, but too expensive to maintain and make money with.

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

My only objection to the machine is the cost of stamps and consumables. As a unit it is well made and does a good job. But you must remember to leave it covered and off when not in use.

I used to use a small vulcanizer and Ideal stamps and did well with it, went to the brother and due to the cost of the stamps lost almost all business. I currently have no room for the vulcanizer for the money generated. It takes about an hour to produce the stamp and the matrix board, (mold), eats up cutter bits fast. Ideal stamps are a self inking stamp, contains a stamp pad inside the mech. The brother stamps are the ones with the self contained ink in the stamp material.

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

Shari
This is even better. You don't have to buy any equipment. If you are descibing hand or what used to be called wooden stamps.
MM can supply them as well as Trodat. You raster the rubber dies on the laser, the same as for the self inkers.
The wood (actually plastic) mounts come in 18 inch strips (and different widths) which you then cut to size. They have an adhesive mount the same as the self inkers. Then drill a hole for the handle and glue it in. Index the image and then you are done. I use a chop saw and a small drill press for this.
Decorative stamps can be produced much cheaper. They only require a flat piece of wood (preferably maple).

Brian

Shari,

You may want to consider outsourcing this job while you do some additional resource. Here is a company that does great work and offers free shipping.

http://www.rubberstampman.com/rubber-stamps/rubber-stamps.html