Author: Ancaster Office Equipment

A copier or multi-function printer is one of the hardest-working machines in any office. When it’s time to replace one, the first question usually isn’t which model to choose. It’s how to pay for it. Leasing, short-term rental and buying outright each have a place, and the right choice depends on how your office works.

Buying outright

Buying makes sense when you know your print volume, plan to keep the machine for years, and would rather not have a monthly payment. You own the equipment from day one and you’re free to service it however you like.

• Best for: steady print volumes and offices that keep equipment for the long run
• Lowest total cost over the life of the machine
• A refurbished machine can cut the upfront price considerably

Leasing

A lease spreads the cost over a fixed term with predictable monthly payments, which helps with cash flow and budgeting. At the end of the term you can usually upgrade, renew or buy out the machine.

• Best for: growing offices and businesses that want newer technology on a schedule
• No large upfront payment
• Read the term carefully, especially early-cancellation and end-of-lease conditions

Short-term rental

Rentals cover a gap: a busy season, a temporary project office, an event, or a stand-in while you decide what to buy. You pay only for the months you need.

• Best for: temporary or seasonal needs
• Flexible and quick to set up
• Costs more per month than a lease, so it isn’t a long-term answer

Questions to ask before you decide

1. How many pages do you print and copy each month, and how much of it is colour?
2. Do you need scanning to email or shared folders, faxing, stapling or large paper sizes?
3. How long do you expect to keep the machine?
4. Would a reliable refurbished model do the job for less?
5. Who will service it, and do you want to be tied to a service contract?

We’ll help you find the right fit

Whether you need a lease or a short-term rental, or want to buy new or refurbished, we’ll help you choose a machine that is cost-effective and can handle your workload. Our repairs come with no term service contract. Call us at 905-304-6340 or send us a request.

Most printer breakdowns don’t come out of nowhere. Laser printers and copiers usually give plenty of warning before they stop working, and catching the signs early often means a simpler, cheaper repair. Here’s what to watch for.

1. Paper jams that keep coming back

An occasional jam is normal. Jams that happen every day, or always in the same spot, usually point to worn pickup rollers or separation pads. These parts wear out with use and are routinely replaced during service.

2. Streaks, lines or smudges

Vertical lines, grey backgrounds or toner that rubs off the page can come from the toner cartridge, the drum or imaging unit, or the fuser. Try a new cartridge first. If the problem stays, it’s time for a technician.

3. Pages come out creased or wrinkled

Wrinkled pages or envelopes can mean worn rollers, damp paper or a fuser that’s on its way out.

4. New noises

Grinding, squealing or clicking that wasn’t there before usually means a worn gear, bearing or roller. Turning the volume up on the radio won’t fix it, and parts that grind can damage other parts.

5. Maintenance or fuser messages

Many business printers count pages and display a maintenance message when it’s time to replace the fuser and rollers. Don’t keep clearing the message. Book the maintenance and the machine will run like it should.

6. It’s getting slower

Long warm-up times and slow first pages can point to a tired fuser, a network problem or settings that need attention.

7. Error codes that won’t clear

Write down the exact code and message. It saves time, because a technician can often tell what’s wrong before arriving.

Quick checks to try first

• Turn the printer off, wait 30 seconds and turn it back on
• Check for small torn pieces of paper inside the paper path
• Use fresh paper from a sealed ream that hasn’t been stored somewhere damp
• Remove the toner cartridge, rock it gently side to side and reinstall it
• Make sure the paper guides in the tray are snug against the stack

Service without the service contract

We repair laser printers, copiers and multi-function centres across Ancaster, Hamilton, Burlington and area, with no term service contract. We service all manufacturers. Call 905-304-6340 or book a service call.

Toner is one of the biggest ongoing costs of running a laser printer, so it’s worth knowing your options. Most offices choose between new OEM cartridges and remanufactured cartridges. Here’s how they compare.

What is an OEM cartridge?

OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer. These are brand-new cartridges made by the printer’s manufacturer for that model. You get consistent quality and the stated page yield, but you pay top price.

What is a remanufactured cartridge?

A remanufactured cartridge starts life as an empty OEM cartridge. It is taken apart and cleaned, worn components are replaced, and it’s refilled with toner and tested before it goes back in the box. A quality (Class A) remanufactured cartridge is built to perform like the original.

How they compare

• Cost: remanufactured cartridges usually cost noticeably less than new OEM cartridges
• Print quality: a well-made remanufactured cartridge prints comparable text and graphics for everyday office work
• Environment: remanufacturing keeps empty cartridges out of landfill and reuses most of the original parts
• Availability: OEM cartridges are available for every current model; remanufactured options depend on the model

Will remanufactured toner void my warranty?

Warranty terms vary by manufacturer and model. If your printer is still under warranty, check its terms before switching, or ask us and we’ll help you find out.

Which should you choose?

For most everyday office printing, a quality remanufactured cartridge is a smart way to cut costs. OEM cartridges make sense when a machine is under a specific manufacturer program, or when you want maximum consistency for critical colour work.

Keeping it green

We carry new OEM supplies and also offer our “keeping it green” program using Class A remanufactured cartridges. We make cartridge recycling easy, too. Ask about toner and ink for your printer by calling 905-304-6340 or sending us a request.

A good business laser printer can run for many years. Most of what shortens its life is avoidable: dust, damp paper, ignored maintenance messages and cheap supplies. This checklist takes a few minutes and keeps your machine running smoothly.

Every week

• Wipe dust off the outside, the paper trays and the output tray
• Check that paper trays aren’t overfilled and the guides are snug
• Keep the area around the vents clear so the machine can cool

Every month

• Clean the scanner glass and the document feeder strip with a soft, lint-free cloth
• Check toner levels so you have a spare before you run out
• Print a configuration or status page and look for warnings
• Look for small torn bits of paper in the paper path

Every year (or when the printer asks)

• Replace the maintenance kit (fuser and rollers) when the printer shows a maintenance message
• Have a technician clean the inside and check worn parts
• Install firmware updates from the manufacturer

Habits that make a difference

• Store paper flat in its wrapper, somewhere dry
• Use the right paper weight and type for each tray
• Don’t force jammed paper out; follow the steps on the display
• Use quality toner, either OEM or a good remanufactured cartridge
• Leave the printer on standby rather than switching it off and on many times a day

When to call us

If jams keep happening, prints are streaky or the machine is making new noises, it’s time for service. We repair laser printers, copiers and multi-function centres across Ancaster, Hamilton, Burlington and area, with no term service contract. Call 905-304-6340 or book a service call.

Salesman at his finest. Everyone has met a salesperson like this one, and this classic cartoon pitch makes us laugh every time we watch it. Grab a coffee and take a minute.

No fast talk here

Funny as it is, nobody wants to be on the receiving end of a pitch like that when they’re buying office equipment. We’d rather keep things simple:

• We recommend printers and copiers with a proven track record, not whatever has the biggest margin
• We’ll tell you when a reliable refurbished machine will do the job for less
• Our repairs come with no term service contract
• We offer remanufactured toner that saves money and keeps cartridges out of landfill

Looking for a printer, copier or multi-function centre, or need yours repaired? Call us at 905-304-6340 or send us a request. No sales pitch required.

When you invest in a product you want it to serve its purpose and last a long time. You look for brand names that you can trust and want the product to be backed by a manufacturer when it fails to operate as advertised. How does buying a refurbished (or reconditioned) product fit into your decision making process?

What is “refurbished”?

Any product that has been returned to the factory when a customer returns the product to a retailer, for a variety of reasons, will go through a rigorous refurbishment process to be certified by the manufacturer before re-entering the retail market, and carries the same manufacturer warranty as a “new” product.