This past week three clients called with the same copier repair problem.  They had bad images on their digital copiers and required copier service help.  Their copier was producing gray images and in some cases no images at all. All the digital copiers problems had one thing in common: they just replaced the toner cartridge.

In the Ricoh repair copier service call it was determined that the toner caused the problem and it cost them $467 to solve the copier repair issue.  The Canon IR copier  required $567 in copier service parts and repair labor. And the Sharp ARm450 required a copier drum developer change.

Why so much copier repair service costs?  Simple the client purchased the cheapest toner possible trying to cut costs.  Compatible toner cartridges are just like used cars: there are some cost effective good ones and some very bad cheap ones! If you go with the cheapest compatible toner cartridge then expect that the people doing the toner cartridges are cutting corners.

In the case of the copier repair service the toner used was the wrong type and caused the failure of the developer and damaged the copier drums unit too. The copier creates an image by mixing the with the developer and then transfers the toner/developer mix to the drum unit. Wrong or bad toner ruins the developer and then causes problems with the drum too.

Some compatible toners are ok. However, if you look for the cheapest you my soon pay through the roof in copier repairs.  There are many copier repair companies, one man shows copier service (single employee repair companies) and some just supply companies that take chances with your digital copier equipment.  If you are not sure ask.

It’s better to to call a quality repair service companies that has many years of supplies knowledge than looking for the cheapest price in town.