Printing without a printer (update SOLVED)

[MikeT]

Got myself in a bit of an ebay pickle

Short story: I need to print an ebay returns label from a laptop with no printer access. Is there any way to print to file (I'm sure there is), transport it via USB or SD and then successfully print from that file off another system? It's this latter part I'm most unsure about.

Long Story: In my mind, I entered a contract to buy the item (mintex pads) and have it sent within 24hours. This is my main point of contention.
The "item" arrived today but was a bloody NSP-branded Water Pump!
Trying to contact the seller for a satisfactory resolution and ensure they meet their obligation asap: I was presented only with a multiple choice of which the "closest" choice was "Item not as described".
Following that option gave me a statement saying something like, sorry, we will refund you. Just "request" a return. No other details.
Nothing about how that refund and return will be acted out so I felt I had no choice but to agree to request the refund (presumably) by clicking the link.

Next thing I know, I've got a link to print a label (with no details) and given a deadline to package and post the item then wait for up to n-weeks for a refund - nothing about getting the bloody part I contracted to and paid for!!! No message at all from the seller... but Ebay did inform me the seller accepted my return request.

Called Ebay but for each objection I raised, I just got a script monkey simply repeating how the returns process works. I get so wound up by this and trying to be heard I hung up.
Am currently awaiting another callback from ebay to explain how much I charge for going out to purchase packaging, packaging the item, printing the label and couriering the package to a post office, if that's how they want to play it. But first, I'll try and get them to recount my steps so they can see how I was mislead by their limited choice options.

[Zelandeth]

Depending which browser you're using, you may be able to print directly to a PDF from there. Just a simple matter to then copy that to another computer.

Sadly I've not been using Windows now for so long I've no idea what the inbuilt options are.

If it does just open the label to be printed as a web page, other option might be to just do an old-fashioned screen print.

Depending on the deadline involved, I'd be quite happy to print it off for you and send you the label via special-delivery if next day (well, would be day after tomorrow by this point) would be quick enough.

[MikeT]

Sweet! You've solved that one for me Zel, thanks

I've never returned an item through ebay before and didn't think to try and print the label without a printer first (too wound up still).
Now I have, I found it opens a PDF which i've now downloaded and can transfer to a printer-linked machine.

Still waiting for ebay to call me back and see if they'll support me in my original purchase contract.

[Gibbo2286]

Only a couple of weeks ago I had an Ebay problem, the seller advertised a washing machine pump as 'Genuine Indesit' then sent a Chinese copy, I tried to get a returns note and was told "All our items are genuine and I have the receipts to prove it."
I went to Indesit's pump maker web page and asked, they said "Not ours, a Chinese copy."

Went to the Ebay resolution centre with the details and they immediately found in my favour and issued a returns label, prepaid and for tracked delivery, put the pump back in its original packing and handed it in at the post office, all done.

Payment arrived back in my Paypal account a couple of days after the post office tracking confirmed delivery.

I didn't have the printer problem though and my post office is less than three minutes walk away.

[myglaren]

Zel has it covered but local libraries can usually manage this, or a print shop if one is conveniently located.

[MikeT]

Surprise surprise, Ebay haven't honoured the 2nd callback I requested and the link to ask for another is now not being offered to me, instead I get a standard "Returns" procedure explanation with the question "Was this helpful" and two buttons Yes and No, of which clicking no responds with "Thanks for your feedback". Touche, Ebay!

I've also sent a plea to the seller to understand I don't want a refund I just want my pads.

[white exec]

If you hit Print on a PC not connected to a printer, you usually get a dialogue box which includes the option Save as PDF, or Print to File. The latter usually saves the file (in your chosen folder) as a PDF.

For utility work, monochrome (b&w) laser printers can be had new from £50, some even less. Perfect for very occasional use, and dirt-cheap to run.

[andy5]

If you hit Print on a PC not connected to a printer, you usually get a dialogue box which includes the option Save as PDF, or Print to File. The latter usually saves the file (in your chosen folder) as a PDF.

You could email the pdf to yourself, then log in to webmail somewhere else like the public library

[Stickyfinger]

CUTE Pdf....print to pdf file, save on SD card/USB, print in shop/Library

http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp

Used it for years.

[MikeT]

The Long Story also has a happy ending, I'm pleased to report.

I got a response from the seller who informed me they have a local branch near me so following a couple of phone calls, off I went and am now back home with pads I'd originally ordered.

And yes, they are also genuine Mintex

[white exec]

Result. Sorted. Brilliant. But what a chore!

[van ordinaire]

Still trying to decide which is the more difficult: trying to make any sense of the optionsn for printing (God knows it can be difficult enough when you do have a printer) or resolving any issue involving e-bay &/or couriers.

[Gibbo2286]

Still trying to decide which is the more difficult: trying to make any sense of the optionsn for printing (God knows it can be difficult enough when you do have a printer) or resolving any issue involving e-bay &/or couriers.

Resolving issues with Ebay I've found is usually a doddle if you're a buyer, not so if you're a seller, they always find in favour of the buyer in my experience.

Printers are cheap enough to buy now ( £27 my old neighbour paid for her new HP one) and you can print to them by wifi from pretty well any computer or Android phone or tablet

[Mandrake]

CUTE Pdf....print to pdf file, save on SD card/USB, print in shop/Library

http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp

Used it for years.

Or just use Google Chrome - built in print to PDF feature in the print dialogue.

Works very well too as it can even handle SVG - in fact I use Google Chrome's print to PDF function to convert SVG (scalable vector graphics) files used in Sedre wiring diagrams to PDF format - it's the only program I've found that does a good job of it, as it keeps them as vector diagrams where you can infinitely zoom in!

[MikeT]

Resolving issues with Ebay I've found is usually a doddle if you're a buyer, not so if you're a seller, they always find in favour of the buyer in my experience.

Printers are cheap enough to buy now ( £27 my old neighbour paid for her new HP one) and you can print to them by wifi from pretty well any computer or Android phone or tablet

Until this single event, I would have total agreement with you on Ebay supporting the buyer, but they didn't. Instead of supporting my contract to have said item delivered within 24hours, they insisted I was in a new "Returns" contract and was expected to send back the misdelivered item, postage paid, otherwise at my expense (packaging and fuel) and time - contrary to distance-selling regulations. (ie, it is the responsibility of the seller to retrieve the item at their expense).
I may take some responsibility of allowing this muddle to occur because when I clicked the link "Item not described" I was given limited multiple choice options of which I chose to "Request Return" which gave no detail other than "Sorry, we will refund you". Only after I'd clicked said link did it reveal the actual obligations of clicking it (print label, package item and post it back within a deadline) and there was no option to cancel it, hence the Ebay support being a total script-monkey and not actually listening to my objections. I DIDN'T WANT A REFUND.

As for cheap printers, again I would totally agree with you except you're not taking into account the facts that ink is more expensive per drop than Dom Perignon Champagne and the printers are designed to guzzle said ink (like Oliver Reed guzzles the shampoo) every time you turn it on or start a new print cycle after a long rest or need to "clean" the print heads as it's also designed to clog under infrequent use.