Generic Laser Toner - Sound or Unwise?

[eirik]

Hi All,

I've got a Brother MFC 9840CDW (color) on the way. Though, I think owners of other printers would benefit from some discussion on this subject.

I've noticed multiple offerings of generic or compatible toner. Printer manufacturers always recommend against this. However, they get fatter margins from toner replacement than from the printers they sell. With this conflict of interest, I'm reluctant to accept their word. I've had little luck in finding credible information searching the web.

So, I open this question to you all. What is known/observed (as opposed to speculated) about the use of generic/compatible toner replacement? Cartridge vs. bottles of toner?

Cheers,

Eirik

 

[Pixellated]

I always have the toners on my Epson AcuLaser C900 refilled at a shop called Cartridge World in the UK. Costs be about £20 as opposed to £100 and they work perfectly.

 

[nanofrog]

I have had problems with refilled units in the past, but they were toner + drum units for HP lasers (usually bad drums, though there have been occasions that they may have forgotten to reset the chip - Brother doesn't chip their toners, and there were a couple they forgot to replace the fill plugs - what a mess).

In the case of Brother (I switched from HP to a MFC-9450CDN), I've not yet tried refilled units, but as they're just a plastic box with toner in it, it should work properly.

 

[VPrime]

My brother has his HP laser filled by a 3rd party. No issues his printer works fine and the prints look as good as the original HP toner.

 

[Gonzo3333]

The reason printer companies recommend not using 3rd party toners is because they loose out on the profits from selling a toner kit for 5 times what it actually costs. I would definitely say that Cartridge World does a fantastic job with the inks I use in my inkjet printer. As far as toner goes I don't see it being too much different than factory toners. Maybe people that demand perfect quality every time would be able to tell the difference between them.

 

[OldMacs4Me]

Reviving an admittedly dead thread.

Recently purchased a generic Toner for my Brother 2320. I am noticing that it is fairly easy to rub off whereas the original is quite permanent.

Question is: Is it doing any harm to the printer?

NOTE: Heating the page with a hair dryer does solve the issue should I need a permanent print.