Toner cartridges FAQ
Quick Answers To Your Most Frequent Questions :
Purchase Notice
How do I know which cartridges I need?
You can search for your toner by the type of printer you have or look on the cartridge itself for the model number. We have several brand and models on our product page, just click “toner cartridge” and choose the brand or model number of your printer. If your printer is not listed, e-mail us, listing as much information about your machine as possible including; engine type and model number. We will check with our vendors if they are available and e-mail you as soon as we could.
What is Supermediastore's warranty on compatible/ remanufactured toner cartridge?
Supermediastores warrants their compatible/ remanufactured toner cartridge to be free from defects in material and workmanship during their useful lifetime. If a defect is found, our entire liability and your exclusive remedy shall be, at our option, free replacement or a full refund. This warranty does not apply to cartridges that are empty as a result of normal use or damaged due to abnormal use, misuse, neglect or accident.
Product Info
What does OEM stand for?
OEM is "Original Equipment Manufacturer". OEM cartridge is referred to cartridge bearing the same brand name of the printer, such as Canon, Epson, Hewlett Packard, and Lexmark are the companies that produce your toner printer as well as cartridge that is used in them. Except for OEM toner cartridge, there are also compatible and remanufactured toner cartridges in our store.
What is a compatible cartridge?
SuperMediaStorei??s compatible cartridges are designed to be the economical replacements for your OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) inkjet cartridges. Our compatible cartridges are manufactured by a highly qualified (ISO 9001 certified) and respected manufacturer with strict quality control and innovative technology.
What is a remanufactured cartridge?
Remanufactured toner cartridge is made by third party manufacturer who take empty toner cartridge and remanufacture it so that it works like new. The Remanufactured toner cartridge product we sell has no holes cut or drilled into it and never requires that you add toner and tape it up, like some other cartridges on the market. With a cartridge purchased from Supermediastores, you just pull the tab and print, same as a new one. You will get genuine guarantee compatible toner cartridge, not fake imitation toner cartridge.
Also by using remanufactured cartridges or refills, you help protect the environment. You can help the environment by using a remanufactured toner cartridge. An empty toner cartridge adds approximately 3-5 pounds of unnecessary waste to landfills. Over 75 million pounds of plastic and metal are saved from landfills each year as a result of printer cartridge re-manufacturing. The plastic used in each printer cartridge will take over one thousand years to decompose. The manufacturing process used to create new cartridges depends heavily on fossil fuels, imported fossil fuels. More than three quarts of oil are required to produce each new laser cartridge. This year alone, cartridge re-manufacturing will save over twenty million gallons of oil.
Will the use of compatible/ remanufactured toner cartridge VOID my laser printer warranty?
ABSOLUTELY NOT. Using a compatible/remanufactured toner cartridge will not void the manufacturer's warranty. It is illegal for the manufacturer to prevent you from using toner cartridge from other sources than the original manufacturer. Similarly, it would be illegal for Radio Shack to mandate that you only use their batteries in their products. You are the consumer, and you have a choice.
It is stipulated in "MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY IMPROVEMENT ACT" passed by the US Congress. MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY IMPROVEMENT ACT United States Code Annotated Title 15 Commerce and Trade Chapter 50 Consumer Product Warranties 15 Section 2302 (c)
No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer's using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade or corporate name; except that the prohibition of this subsection be waived by the commission if:
- The warrantor satisfies the Commission that the warranted product will function properly only if the article or service so identified is used in connection with the warranted product
- The Commission finds that such a waiver is in the public interest
What is Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)?
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition, or MICR, is a special kind of optical character recognition technology that was adopted mainly by the U.S banking industry to facilitate the processing of checks. Almost all U.S. checks include MICR characters at the bottom of the paper in a font known as E-13B.
Are all compatible toner cartridges the same?
No. Compatible toner cartridge can be made in a number of different ways, which will have an effect on print quality and page yield. Both issues are extremely important to most users. Supermediastore make sure your compatible toner cartridge give you proof of testing which will assure you that you are getting a true compatible toner cartridge that will last as long as the original manufactured brand.
What kind of damage can a compatible toner cartridge do to my printer?
Compatible toner cartridges made by qualified companies have the same specifications as the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). A small possibility exists for ANY toner cartridge to leak toner into the printer causing unwanted stray marks on the paper. Having the printer cleaned and replacing the toner cartridge can easily correct this. It is highly unlikely that a toner cartridge will actually damage the printer itself.
Why do I get fewer pages out of my toner cartridge than the manufacturer claims I will get?
A toner cartridge is rated for a certain number of pages at 5% page coverage. 5% page coverage would be comparable to a very brief memo with a salutation, small body of text, and closure. Most users print pages with graphics, gray scales, lines, and larger amounts of text, which use more toner (On average 6.5 - 7% page coverage) to produce the image. Like gasoline in your car, more fuel is used when the load is heavier on the vehicle. Additionally, rated yields and actual yields often vary due to the operating environment. When you buy a new car the manufacturer states that it will get X miles per gallon. This ESTIMATE is based on optimal laboratory conditions and is usually not exceeded in normal usage situations. The typical user prints between 6.5 - 7% page coverage, which reduces the yield by about 30%. Therefore, if your toner cartridge is rated for 10,000 pages, you will most likely get 7,000 pages on average.
What is the shelf life of your cartridges?
The cartridge's shelf life is the same as the Original Equipment Manufacturer, 12 months from the time you purchase them. Properly stored (kept in original packaging in a cool and dry location), cartridges may last longer.
What is the procedure for exchanging the toner unit?
- Make sure you had removed the paper on the right/left side of the toner
- Please try to print 10 to 20 testing pages at the first time
- Please try to take the cartridge out from the printhead and re-install it again to ensure the contact points on the cartridge or clean printhead
If the above methods still not work, you may feel free to contact our customer service department for RMA.
Email: RMA@supermediastore.com
Copier Toner Information
Copy machines have become extremely popular and almost every office has at least one. Most companies rely greatly on their copiers and they get used many times a day. Choosing the right toner cartridge will help ensure that your copy machine will continue to perform in top condition.
copier's reproduction process involves two main items: the toner and the drum. Toner is a powdery substance made up of tiny particles. When the laser beam from the copier hits the drum, its surface collects the copier toner and transfers it to the paper. A permanent image is created when the toner is melted onto the paper by the fuser. Over time the drum deteriorates and cannot collect toner as well. As a result, blank lines begin to appear on your pages.
Fax Toner Information
Like copiers, toner cartridge is also used in most fax machines to create the documents. The printing process used by a fax machine is very similar to the one used by copiers. There are several different kinds of fax machines; here we only talk about one most popular one. A fax machine's reproduction process involves two main items: the Ribbon (toner) and the drum. Toner is a powdery substance made up of tiny particles. When the laser beam from the fax machine hits the drum, its surface collects the fax toner and transfers it to the paper. An image is created when the toner is melted onto the paper by the fuser. Over time the drum deteriorates and cannot collect toner as well. Also you need to replace it after a period of time.
What is the advantage of separate drum/toner cartridge arrangement?
- n the arrangement used by HP, for example where the toner cartridge and drum are combined, if the drum is scratched, or otherwise damaged, the cartridge is ruined. That's the end; it must be replaced. In arrangement used by Brother, however, it is possible to fix the drum. Should a splotch appear, it's possible to wipe it off and even vacuum out the drum, if necessary.
- Sometimes when a cartridge is about to run out of toner, for example, it burps out a little extra toner. Because you can separate the drum from the cartridge, it's possible to clean this up instead of just throwing out the whole cartridge before it's really worn out.
- Another advantage is being able to remove pieces of paper that get stuck inside the drum should a paper jam occur.
Quick Tips
I am getting poor quality images from the printer, how can I tell if it is a problem with the printer or a problem with the toner cartridge?
Change the toner cartridge and print several pages. If the problem persists, it is most likely a service problem with the printer. If the problem goes away, it is most likely a problem with the toner cartridge.
My printer says "LOW TONER" and I just put a new toner cartridge in - What should I do?
Have you ever put a "new" cartridge in the machine and the low toner light goes on. You may have mistakenly put an empty cartridge in the machine. If your office is like most, the toner cartridge is usually stacked near the printer. Mark your boxes as empty to avoid the frustration of running out of toner when you have to get that document printed!
Also, you can remove the toner cartridge and inspect it for a seal that needs pulled prior to operation. Often the seal has not been pulled and the toner is not detected in the printer. If this fails, you may contact our RMA department for a replacement.
Horizontal white line
The HP Laserjet II/III model has a habit of vibrating the inside screws to the point that they will fall off into the cartridge. If you've ever seen a horizontal white line in the center of the page-it's probably a loose screw in the cartridge shutter!
Small black dots
Small black dots on the page can be due to a nick in the drum or PCR roller. Foreign objects in the printer or paper dust can scratch the drum. There is no fix for this as the drum is ruined-change the cartridge.
Thin black lines
Thin black lines that seem to move from page to page could be a piece of hair in the cartridge. Thicker black lines that look like someone splashed ink on the page and has a "dripping" effect is probably due to static electricity. This is common in the winter months on the HP Laserjet II/III and the IBM 4019 as they use corona wire technology. Newer models use PCR rollers which eliminate this problem. Clean the corona wire in the cartridge using the machine tool in the Laserjet II/III. In the IBM 4019 simply pull the blue tab on the cartridge.
The Color of Print is light
- The printer setting is use "toner save" mode, please renew the default mode
- Opc is aging. Please replace it
- The mirror of laser scanner is blur with dust. Please clean it
- The LBD of laser scanner is aging. Please replace it
Scratches on your print
- If you're printing on glossy paper, prints may be scratched if not handled properly. Don't place objects on top of your prints, and be careful not to scratch them with your fingernails. For best results, frame your prints under glass
- The film for fix image is attaint and need replaced
- The temperature of heat the potsherd is too low, you may replace the potsherd
- The toner in the cartridge is disqualification, please use the regular one
Your printout is blurry or smeared
- Make sure your paper isn't damp or curled, or loaded face down (the printable side should be face up)
- Replace the OPC
- Load a new sheet of plain paper and press the paper button to eject it. Do this several times. If you still have a problem, ink may have leaked inside the printer, and you need to clean it
- Align the print head
- Remove each sheet from the output tray as it is printed
- Avoid handling printouts on glossy paper for a few hours to allow the ink to set
- If ink smears on the back of a printout, clean the inside of the printer
- If you are using double-sided paper and printing heavily saturated or dark images on the front side of the paper, you may notice that smudges or marks appear on the front when you print the second side. If one side of the paper will contain a lighter image or text, print that side first to eliminate marks or smudging
