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troubles replacing printers

I've had an excellent HP m551DN network and Duplex postfix color laserjet printer.  It really died and needed servicing but servicing seemed to cost more money than replacement, assuming I could even get a call to the office.

So I replaced it with a refurbished model from B&H Photo - the replacment being an m554DN.  It sat for a couple of months, still boxed,  in my office floor because it is just too heavy for me to recycle the old printer and set up the new one.  I am really feeling old at this point.

Unfortunately. the new refurnished one is not working.  It has an error with the fuser 50.4F00 which implies some electrical problem.  The paper tray is not lifting either.  It cost me over $400 and at this point it seems worthless.

I need a replacement printer, and you would think after almost 10 years that the technology might advance, but it doesn't seem to have.  I need a color laser printer (just to print) and network ready (not wifi - and not depenent on cellphoes - I don't even OWN a cellphone).  And I am struggling with a reasonable alternative.  And these new HPs a locked into the cartilages.  So I am very frustrated with the situation.  They are twisting my arm so badly to force shit on my that I don't want that my arm is coming off at the shoulder.

I am fielding suggestions.

Re: troubles replacing printers

Reply #1 –
@mrbrklyn , I recently bought a Brother HL-L2460DW Laser printer. It's only Black and White but works perfectly. I know Brother makes a Color model so maybe check it out and check the reviews on it. If it's as easy to set up as my under $200 B/W printer was, you have a winner. All I did to set the printer up was to connect the network cable from the printer to my router, setup a IP Address reservation on the router, and used CUPS with the IPP Everywhere driver instead of trying to futz with their Linux driver. Works great! Just don't fall for their free month of toner replacement... That's how they scam you for more money.

Re: troubles replacing printers

Reply #2 –
Things change but back when I had a smallish online retail business, and printed a lot, Brother were the way to go imho as the use of third party toner (cheaper) was easier than with the other brands.

Also, if I remember rightly the supposed 'feature' whereby internal counters (based only on # of pages printed) would tell you various printer parts needed replacing (and the printer refuse to print until you did) could be reset if you knew the semi secret 'magic' button presses.

The slightly crazy thing was that due to frequent and very generous cashback schemes that Brother UK used to offer, when print quality did actually start to suffer, due to worn out parts, it was cheaper to buy a new printer than replace the part.

None of the above might be the case now ?

Re: troubles replacing printers

Reply #3 –
You can still find an HP M551 in used condition, from $129.99 upwards on eBay.com looking just now. If you were happy with that model you still have the option to continue with it for a few years yet I expect, as it was introduced in September 2011 so they should be around for a while yet. Old printers often have really cheap listings for old out of date ink / toner cartridges coming up now and again too. Although I know you are not that short of $ there are probably more exciting things to spend it on!  :D

Re: troubles replacing printers

Reply #4 –
Quote from: ####### – on
You can still find an HP M551 in used condition, from $129.99 upwards on eBay.com looking just now. If you were happy with that model you still have the option to continue with it for a few years yet I expect, as it was introduced in September 2011 so they should be around for a while yet. Old printers often have really cheap listings for old out of date ink / toner cartridges coming up now and again too. Although I know you are not that short of $ there are probably more exciting things to spend it on!  :D


Well, I thought I solved that with the refurbished printer from B&H.  B&H is a reliable source, normally.   The problem is, these are big heavy printers.  Returning them is nearly impossible for me if there is problem.  I do like that model.  Would you trust a random ebay user to ship you a working M551DN because returning the thing if it fails to work is very hard and you can't even trash them.  They need to go to the recycling local 20 blocks away.... 60 pounds of printer without a car.

I can always save the money.  Rich I am not... I struggle more than most. 

Re: troubles replacing printers

Reply #5 –
Quote from: HighBridge – on
@mrbrklyn , I recently bought a Brother HL-L2460DW Laser printer. It's only Black and White but works perfectly. I know Brother makes a Color model so maybe check it out and check the reviews on it. If it's as easy to set up as my under $200 B/W printer was, you have a winner. All I did to set the printer up was to connect the network cable from the printer to my router, setup a IP Address reservation on the router, and used CUPS with the IPP Everywhere driver instead of trying to futz with their Linux driver. Works great! Just don't fall for their free month of toner replacement... That's how they scam you for more money.


I am going to look at this.  I've always avoided Brother Printers.  At work they always break down.  But I don't see HP giving me any choice here.  Thereir cartridge policy and tech in non-starter.  I will not be exploited by these abusers.  I had enough trouble with the server and I swore them off after their lockdown of the UEFI.  I see no reason to repeat that.  They have become abusive scandals... and you know what, they are going to go out of business and are headed for the same door as Sun.  And it is a pity.   

Re: troubles replacing printers

Reply #6 –
Quote from: gripped – on
Things change but back when I had a smallish online retail business, and printed a lot, Brother were the way to go imho as the use of third party toner (cheaper) was easier than with the other brands.

Also, if I remember rightly the supposed 'feature' whereby internal counters (based only on # of pages printed) would tell you various printer parts needed replacing (and the printer refuse to print until you did) could be reset if you knew the semi secret 'magic' button presses.

The slightly crazy thing was that due to frequent and very generous cashback schemes that Brother UK used to offer, when print quality did actually start to suffer, due to worn out parts, it was cheaper to buy a new printer than replace the part.

None of the above might be the case now ?


yeah - this is depressing.  Camera's and printers are two tech areas that are completely fix extortion schemes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqypaqLEfM8

Re: troubles replacing printers

Reply #7 –
Quote
  Returning them is nearly impossible
No, very simple, and very unlikely anyone will intentionally send you a faulty or not as described  item because they will have to pay for the return shipping!
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210
Keep the packaging it arrived in until you are sure it's OK to make life easier. If it was faulty or broken, contact the seller for a return or refund. While not essential, it might help speed the process if you had photos or videos of the issue. If they don't just refund you outright and say bin it, which happens sometimes, you'll be sent a return label to print (you might need a friend with a printer if yours is no good) and stick it on and wait for the collection or take it to the drop off point, whichever applies. Just keep calm and follow the procedure and you'll be fine, if the seller refuses or doesn't respond eBay can step in and will enforce a decision if you have a genuine problem.

Re: troubles replacing printers

Reply #8 –
Quote from: ####### – on
Quote
  Returning them is nearly impossible
No, very simple,


No  it is not - I don't have room to keep 27 cubit foot boxes  in the kitchen and it takes time before my son comes to help pick it up and install it, like a month or more.  I have no time or resources to deal with this and ebay has sent me broken things before.  ***It has to come, and it has to work*** and I can't drag it to the post office or UPS to return it when it is inevitably broken.  I know you are trying to be helpful but this is not realistic.  I work 14 hours a day taking care of patients and don't have the time or __the physical strength__ to keep shipping back and forth 60 pound printers.  And I also have no space.

I need to get something that is highly likely to work out of the box.  I already have 3 full sized workstations that are useless from shlock suppliers of refurbished junk.

This printer was sent in a box that had the integrity of paper bag, held together with broken Styrofoam.  I am sure it worked when they idiots shipped in and it was wrecked in the shipping because it wasn't adequately protected.  And even so, the workmanship is crap. 

I can't do this again. 

Re: troubles replacing printers

Reply #9 –
Anyone seen this printer on Linux?
https://www.bestbuy.com/product/brother-hl-l3280cdw-wireless-digital-color-printer-with-laser-quality-output-and-refresh-subscription-eligibility-white/J7CJ38Z5PX/sku/6565466

Brother - HL-L3280CDW

Emulation

PCL5e, PCL5c, PCL6 (PCL XL Class3.0), BR-Script3, PDF Version 1.7, XPS Version 1.0

Re: troubles replacing printers

Reply #10 –
Quote from: ####### – on
Quote
  Returning them is nearly impossible
No, very simple, and very unlikely anyone will intentionally send you a faulty or not as described  item because they will have to pay for the return shipping!
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210
Keep the packaging it arrived in until you are sure it's OK to make life easier. If it was faulty or broken, contact the seller for a return or refund. While not essential, it might help speed the process if you had photos or videos of the issue. If they don't just refund you outright and say bin it, which happens sometimes, you'll be sent a return label to print (you might need a friend with a printer if yours is no good) and stick it on and wait for the collection or take it to the drop off point, whichever applies. Just keep calm and follow the procedure and you'll be fine, if the seller refuses or doesn't respond eBay can step in and will enforce a decision if you have a genuine problem.


I just wanted to say, I appreciate your input, I was just trying to explain that within my life currently, things that at one time seemed simple, are no longer.

Re: troubles replacing printers

Reply #11 –
That's fine, I only mentioned it as a possibility to consider because you seemed to be fond of your original printer. The only color laser printer I've laid hands on was when a friend asked me to clear a paper jam and clean the rollers on some big A3 size one, I never actually used it and can't even remember what make it was as it was a while ago now, so that's why I haven't made any further suggestions. Technology doesn't always advance, at least not in all aspects, Concorde and the space shuttle make good examples.

Re: troubles replacing printers

Reply #12 –
This printer, nearly ten years old spec'ed out at

    Up to 33 ppm
    1200 x 1200 dpi Black Print Quality
    Ethernet 10/100/1000BaseTX (RJ-45)
    Up to 75,000 pages monthly
    1 GB Memory, std.

These numbers almost a decade later STILL can't be routinely beat.  It is frustrating.  The industry is hellbent to rip off the public

Re: troubles replacing printers

Reply #13 –
Quote from: mrbrklyn – on
Anyone seen this printer on Linux?
https://www.bestbuy.com/product/brother-hl-l3280cdw-wireless-digital-color-printer-with-laser-quality-output-and-refresh-subscription-eligibility-white/J7CJ38Z5PX/sku/6565466

Brother - HL-L3280CDW

Emulation

PCL5e, PCL5c, PCL6 (PCL XL Class3.0), BR-Script3, PDF Version 1.7, XPS Version 1.0

Yes. I bought one last week off of Amazon. I works just fine both as a Linux printer and as a cat bed. Be sure to get a dust cover if you plan to use the cat bed function...
 

Re: troubles replacing printers

Reply #14 –
Quote from: nohbody – on
Quote from: mrbrklyn – on
Anyone seen this printer on Linux?
https://www.bestbuy.com/product/brother-hl-l3280cdw-wireless-digital-color-printer-with-laser-quality-output-and-refresh-subscription-eligibility-white/J7CJ38Z5PX/sku/6565466

Brother - HL-L3280CDW

Emulation

PCL5e, PCL5c, PCL6 (PCL XL Class3.0), BR-Script3, PDF Version 1.7, XPS Version 1.0

Yes. I bought one last week off of Amazon. I works just fine both as a Linux printer and as a cat bed. Be sure to get a dust cover if you plan to use the cat bed function...


Did you need this? https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/brother-hll3280cdw