Using non-oem toner - replacing chips and filling cartridges

[Z3Dreamer]

Purchased a new Color Laserjet. The original toner cartridges lasted a few months. I purchased off brand replacements. $150 for off brand. $500 for OEM. Only the black needed replacement, at that time. The replacement black worked fine, so I decided not to replace the 3 color cartridges as they still had ink. Now that the Amazon return window has closed, I need to replace the color cartridges. Only 1 out of the 3 cartridges worked. My printer says that cyan and yellow are blocked because they have the wrong chip. I have contacted the off-brand toner company about this.

Of course, the printer manufacturer releases firmware updates. Do those updates give me new functionality? Of course not, they just block more non-OEM chips. So, I have not updated the firmware since purchase.

I found Youtube videos explaining how to remove the chip from the OEM cartridge and install in off-brand cartridges. Problem is that OEM chips are glued onto the cartridge. Have not tried removing yet. I also see that I can buy chips for about $5 each.

I see that you can buy toner to put in cartridges.

I use 1 set (4 cartridges) a year, so the savings of using off brands is $350 a year.

Does anybody do any of these procedures above or do you just test those cartridges within the return window?

 

[Jerry1]

After trying to deal with non OEM cartridges and having less than acceptable results, I now suck it up and by the OEM HP cartridges. I've found that while they don't go on sale, Staples and Office Depot will give pretty generous rewards points and I work those to the best of my ability.

My last straw was when a non-OEM cartridge leaked in my printer and caused a terrible mess that I had to clean up.

To answer your question, if I was buying non-OEM cartridges, I would buy individual cartridges and install them immediately. Good luck.

 

[Z3Dreamer]

Jerry1 - For years, I did the Staples thing. If I go back to OEM, I will play that game. Wait till they have 30% rebates on toner purchases, stockpile those points, and use them for something. Thanks for bringing that up.

 

[target2019]

I only use OEM cartridges.

The first set of cartridges supplied with the new printer are probably starter, and don't last long.

As time goes on my color laser gets less and less use. I'm guessing that in 15 years I've used 3 sets of carts.

Edit: I have a Canon multi-function B/W laser too.

 

[Qs Laptop]

I found Youtube videos explaining how to remove the chip from the OEM cartridge and install in off-brand cartridges. Problem is that OEM chips are glued onto the cartridge. Have not tried removing yet. I also see that I can buy chips for about $5 each.

Does anybody do any of these procedures above or do you just test those cartridges within the return window?

I don't have a color laser printer so I can't answer your questions.

Since you've already got $150 invested in the non-OEM cartridges I might try buying one of the $5 chips and try it on one of the non-OEM cartridges. If it worked I'd buy more of the same chips from same seller to outfit the remaining non-OEM cartridges.

Meanwhile, deny any firmware updates since you don't want to block those $5 chips you just bought.

Once the non-OEM cartridges run dry I'd bite the bullet and go with the OEM cartridges.

What brand of printer did you buy?

 

[Z3Dreamer]

Q's Laptop - Cheapest thing is to rip the chip out of the starter cartridges that are now empty. They are glued in so I might break them in the process. Wanted to hear from some who have done this. Next step is what you say - Buy some of those chips.

Yes, auto-firmware updates set to "No".

If I can't figure this out, I go with the off-brand but test as soon as they arrive. If that don't work I go with the OEM from Staples as they give rewards points.

Sound like a plan?

Of course, I was hoping to hear from those who had replaced the chip.

This would all be on my HP 3201DW.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

You could perhaps put some acetone round the chip that may loosen the chip. If the chip is not plastic this method may work.

 

[easysurfer]

After trying to deal with non OEM cartridges and having less than acceptable results, I now suck it up and by the OEM HP cartridges. I've found that while they don't go on sale, Staples and Office Depot will give pretty generous rewards points and I work those to the best of my ability.

My last straw was when a non-OEM cartridge leaked in my printer and caused a terrible mess that I had to clean up.

To answer your question, if I was buying non-OEM cartridges, I would buy individual cartridges and install them immediately. Good luck.

This is kind of the reason why I went the inkjet (with the risks of clogging and all) route.

I once had a laser that printed great with OEM cartridges. But the printer was a toner hog with obscene prices and replacement OEM cartridges didn't have acceptable results.

 

[Z3Dreamer]

You could perhaps put some acetone round the chip that may loosen the chip. If the chip is not plastic this method may work.

Chip appears to be standard circuit board. Is that plastic?

Here is what Google AI says: "carefully prying or cutting the small green chip (or the plastic housing holding it) from the original cartridge using pliers, a small screwdriver, or specialized tools"

I just found a video that refers to a "Chip removal drill". Looks like it is by a company that sells replacement toner cartridges. They can include such a drill with your purchase. Trueimmagetech.com

 

[Sunset]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ url has typo, should be: True Image Premium Ink & Toner Cartridges - US Official Website

 

[Z3Dreamer]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ url has typo, should be: True Image Premium Ink & Toner Cartridges - US Official Website

What do you think of the chip drill? $8?

 

[Qs Laptop]

You could perhaps put some acetone round the chip that may loosen the chip. If the chip is not plastic this method may work.

I was thinking heating with a hair dryer and then use a razor blade to get underneath the chip and pry it off. But yeah, if the chip is not plastic, acetone might help loosen the glue.

[edited to add: after reading the description of that chip removal tool, it appears that the chips are pressed into place, so my advice likely will not work.]

 

[Jerry1]

We need something like they have with phones - I think they call it the right to repair law. That the OEM can substantially prevent the third party market of these supplies is cow manure. Maybe something like prescription drugs where the patent expires after a certain time period.

 

[ERD50]

Slight topic drift ahead: Can anyone recommend a color laser that easily accepts 3rd party toner?

I've been satisfied with the cheap 3rd party toner (B&W) that I've purchased for my Brother B&W laser (HL-2270DW). We don't print a lot, 6400 pages since 2014, so ~ 1.4 pages per day, and have only used 3 toner carts since then ( so ~ 2100pages per, rated High Yield @ 2600 so close). All seemed to work fine except one had some jammed up gears, but I didn't realize until long after I purchased it as part of a 2-pack. But I was still money ahead, these cost just $12 ~ $18 each.

 

[Walt34]

Slight topic drift ahead: Can anyone recommend a color laser that easily accepts 3rd party toner?

I've been using aftermarket toner in a Brother MFC-L37800CDW printer with no major issues. Once in a while it balks at the new cartridge and I have to reset it in the printer. It also gives you the tired old warning that using aftermarket toner is not covered by warranty.

I figured out that by the time I've used two or three sets of aftermarket toner I've saved enough to buy a whole new printer so I ignore their drivel. The price differential between the aftermarket toner and the OEM brand is that much. What a rip.

 

[CP Soon]

Op, you did the right thing in contacting the Amazon seller with your issue. Most Amazon sellers will make it right and replace bad product regardless of Amazon return window. If they don't make it whole, then open all flood gates and leave a scathing review on their poor product and refusal to stand behind their product. You should NOT have to jump thru any hoops to use an aftermarket product. I have an older Canon Pixma Ink Jet Printer where I have been using aftermarket cartridges for many many years and only once have, I had an issue. I had one cartridge that while recognized, would not print reliable pages. Seller replaced the product. I can purchase aftermarket cartridge's (250XL & 251XL) in the $3-5 each while Canon charges $20 each!! I will admit that the aftermarket cartridges DO NOT print accurate photos, so I don't print my own photos. I have two recommendations: 1) if printer is doing what you want then don't upgrade any firmware, 2) don't buy any HP Printer as they are the worst in ink cost and locking their printer to their overpriced OEM cartridges.

 

[sscharf]

I am not on top of the current market, but I think of HP as the worst of this bunch. They make your life miserable if you go third party. I'm using a Canon D570 b&w laser.

 

[Al18]

Current HP AIO is 8 years old and still printing fine. I never bought an ink cartridge, but subscribe to HP Instant Ink. The 50 page per month plan used to cost $4 per month, but the current cost is $5.50 per month. Any unused pages roll over to a maximum of 150 pages.