Posts made in May 2021

Whether you use an inkjet or laser printer, you want to get the most life out of its toner or ink. While quality printers come in both styles, your Xerox dealer in Montgomery, MD, can help determine which one will work best for you. A laser printer uses toner, a powder heated and pressed onto the paper. An inkjet uses a liquid to print. Inkjet cartridges are less expensive but don’t last as long as toner cartridges.

But what are your replacement options, and how do you know which to get?

Recycling

Recycling refers to converting used cartridges into reusable material. Although a cartridge is recycled, the term doesn’t indicate how it recreated the cartridge, only that it is not new.

Refilling

Refilled cartridges are a good alternative to buying new ones. However, when purchasing refilled cartridges, be sure to ask about the process. Some companies drill into the case and inject the ink or toner, which can result in leaks. Look for cartridges that are disassembled and filled, for a more reliable product.

Remanufacturing

Remanufactured cartridges are disassembled, inspected, and cleaned. Suppliers will install a new drum, wiper blade, and magnetic roller, which preserves printing quality. They’re then refilled and sealed for resale.

Toner Pirates

Toner pirates will try to sell you inferior toner and ink and sometimes even charge you for products you never receive. Always order from a trusted Xerox dealer so you know you’re getting what you need and the quality you expect.

All businesses need dependable office equipment to remain productive. When you are upgrading your printers, it helps to consider your options. In these instances, it may help to find an authorized HP dealer in Prince William County, VA. Today, we will discuss why it is advantageous to buy from an HP Gold Partner.

Advantages of an HP Gold Partner

Many office equipment resellers are encouraged to join HP’s partner program, as membership entitles them to specific benefits that they can pass onto their customers. A popular affiliate option is the HP Gold Partner status. The program has the following features, each of which benefits customers in some capacity:

Authorized Distributor: HP dealers with Gold status are authorized sellers of HP-branded printers and digital imaging products. When you buy equipment and supplies from them, you can be assured that you are purchasing authentic products backed by the manufacturer’s warranty. When you buy from them, you are getting products that will last.

Service and Support: HP Gold Partners also receive direct support and training from the manufacturer. The repair technicians with the partner business learn about HP’s full suite of products, ensuring they can provide adequate services to clients.

Promotional Offers: Business partners with HP also receive preferential status with distributors. As a result, HP Gold Partners can sell printers, equipment, and supplies at discounted rates. Clients who buy from an HP Gold Partner can expect to save money.

When shopping for new office equipment, it helps to look for an authorized HP dealer. When shopping for HP printers and digital imaging equipment, confirm whether your preferred dealer is an HP Gold Partner.

Multifunction printers in Prince William County, VA, can optimize your workflow and fill many roles in your office. These models can provide printing, scanning, faxing, and file uploading in one device, and can even communicate with your business’s network.

However, an everything-in-one solution isn’t suited for every organization. Here are a few things to consider when shopping for a new multifunction printer. Knowing what you need and how a new addition might affect your workflow can make a difference–both in productivity and costs.

Define Your Needs

No two multifunction printers will have identical specifications and feature sets. As such, you will want to define what you expect from your new equipment so you can keep it within your budget and expectations. Evaluate what your business needs beyond printing, copying, and faxing capabilities. Will your team take advantage of cloud uploading or wireless technology? Are eco-friendly features important? Knowing what you want and what you don’t will help refine your search.

Prioritize User Friendliness

When your employees know how to use the multifunction printer, it streamlines your workflow. Try to find a model that has intuitive interfaces, minimal training requirements, and easily accessible documentation. You may also want to buy equipment that is backed by a maintenance program from the manufacturer or its service partners.

Communication is Key

Your multifunction printer should be able to quickly and efficiently communicate with your business network–which means your IT crew and other users should be able to access its controls remotely. A printer that your network can’t recognize will impede workflow and complicate your troubleshooting efforts.

Having a multifunction printer can make your work easier and more productive, but it is equally important to know what you are buying. Visit your local printer dealer to begin discussing your options.

We’ve all sent a document to the printer to wait for it to appear. When it doesn’t, the first step is to investigate. Sometimes we can fix the problem ourselves, and sometimes we need to call for printer repair in Vienna, VA.

But how do we know when to make the call? First, we start by learning what causes paper jams and how to avoid them. Some common issues you may encounter include:

Damaged or Warped Paper

Paper that is wrinkled, warped, or damaged doesn’t feed correctly on the rollers. When it goes sideways, everything stops moving. It’s best only to use new sheets of paper for printing.

A Paper Traffic Jam

Sometimes paper just gets stuck. Yanking it out is not recommended, as you can pull the parts out of alignment and cause more problems than you solve. Follow all the instructions on locating the jam, and you’ll be printing again in no time.

Incorrect Paper Size

Paper that’s the wrong size for the printer is bound to get stuck. Whether too small or too large, not using the correct dimensions can cause your print job to go off the rails in a hurry.

Damaged Parts

If any part of the printer experiences damage or wear and tear, it won’t function as expected. When this happens, it’s time to call a printer repair technician to remove the paper and find and address the issue.

Problems affecting the functionality of multifunction printers in Prince William County, VA, can significantly impact your team’s productivity and leave them feeling frustrated. In time, all printers are going to stop performing at their best levels, whether it means slowing down, experiencing errors, or just refusing to work at all. How do you know if repairing or replacing multifunction printers is the best option when these events occur?

There a few points to keep in mind when deciding to replace or repair your printing device:

Age of the Device

Consider when the device model was released and not just the date that you purchased it. If you’ve had a printer for five years but the model was released two years before that, it can impact its expected lifetime and the availability of parts. If a device is nearing “legacy status” over seven years old, replacing it is your best bet.

Lifetime Volume of Multifunction Printers

The second factor to consider is the lifetime volume of your device. Printing a configuration page from the device will show the lifetime volume. This is similar to considering the overall mileage on a car. If it has been heavily utilized, then even a newer device can “burn out” quickly and be beyond the manufacturer’s recommended monthly volume.

Labor Costs for Repair

Some repairs for multifunction printers can be completed on-site; other repairs will require a print service technician. It’s always smart to ask for a quote upfront. The bill for repairs can quickly skyrocket if there are high labor costs. Compare the cost of the total repair bill to the cost of getting a new device.

When it comes to fixing common issues in printer repair in Falls Church, VA, many issues can actually be resolved by you. There is no need to wait for a printer repair technician to squeeze you into their busy schedule if it’s not necessary.

If you’re wondering whether to call the IT department or a printer repair specialist, try to troubleshoot a printer problem on your own first. Here are the top three most common ways to troubleshoot the issue so you can get back to work quickly.

Fix a Paper Jam on Your Own

Paper jams are frustratingly common. Before jumping straight into the action, take a moment to read the device’s screen instructions (if it has one). They typically have images or descriptions of where the printer is jammed. The printer or copier has various tabs, levers, and knobs, which are usually colored bright blue, orange, or green. Avoid printer repair by using fixtures that can be adjusted without tools. This is helpful in finding and then clearing the paper jam.

Remove Scanner Streaks

If you regularly scan using the Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) on top of your printer, then you’ve likely dealt with annoying lines or streaks that muck up pages. Lift the scanner lid. This is what most devices use to scan via the ADF. There is a narrow strip of glass along with the main scanner glass that gets dirty quickly, so chances are it doesn’t need printer repair, just a quick cleaning.

If All Else Fails…Reboot

If you are still experiencing irritating issues after trying to troubleshoot your printer; it’s time to try rebooting:

• Turn the printer off by unplugging it
• Unplug the power cable for at least 30 seconds
• Plug it back in
• Turn the device back on
• Once everything is running, try printing or scanning again