Cardinal Cartridge, Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions...

Is there a customer service representative I can contact with additional questions?

When should I consider upgrading my printer?

Why does paper keep jamming in my printer?

New Cartridges vs. Remanufactured - What is the difference?
The primary difference is price. A remanufactured cartridge is comprised of recycled components and often costs 40% less than a new cartridge.

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What cartridges do you buy back?
Empty laser and inkjet printer cartridges are subject to current market supply and demand. Call for a current list of Cartridges we buy back. This list is updated regularly.

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How much do you pay for cartridges?
Empty laser and inkjet printer cartridge prices are dependent upon current market conditions and can change on a daily basis. Call for our current list of cartridges we buy back for prices.

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How and when will I be paid?
After we sort and count your shipment, we will dispatch a check payment within 15 business days.

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When I sell cartridges to Cardinal Cartridge, who pays for the shipping?
For one hundred or more cartridges, CCS will pay for the shipping costs. For less than one hundred cartridges, shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer. Generally CCS will only purchase empty cartridge in batches of 100 or more. Exceptions will be made only for specialty cartridge empties.

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How do I ship my cartridges to Cardinal Cartridge?
If you are selling 100 or more cartridges, just call Cardinal Cartridge and we will coordinate shipping with the appropriate carrier. Usually we will send you prepaid UPS shipping labels. If you are selling less than 100 cartridges and paying for the shipping, you can use the carrier of your choice.

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When should I call Cardinal Cartridge to sell my cartridges?
Whenever you have toner cartridges ready to ship, contact us. We will send you prepaid UPS shipping labels which you will receive in seven to ten days. If you have a large order (over five hundred cartridges), call us when you are ready to ship. In most cases, we can arrange a pickup for the next day.

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I don't have a loading dock. What should I do?
The ideal way to send us your cartridges is to stack them on a skid and shrink-wrap them. But this method does require a loading dock. If you don't have a dock, you can tape them in bundles or bulk pack them in larger boxes which can be easily lifted onto the truck. Our primary concern is that the cartridges are protected.

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What if cartridges are broken during shipment?
If cartridges are broken because of the way they were handled by the freight company, Cardinal will file a freight claim for the damage. If the cartridges are broken because they were improperly packaged for shipping, we will be unable to reimburse the customer for the cartridges.

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What is your shipping address?
862 Industrial Drive
Elmhurst, IL 60126
Phone (630)379-2525
Fax (630) 379-2533

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Do you guarantee your remanufactured cartridges?
We stand behind every cartridge we produce and offer the most comprehensive 100% guarantee in the industry. If you are not completely satisfied or have any problems with our cartridges, we will replace the cartridge.

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What if I receive a defective cartridge?
Contact us and we will replace the cartridge immediately.

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Where can I get drivers for my printer?
Printer drivers are available as free downloads at Hewlett Packard and Lexmark.

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What can I do if I have a problem with my printer?
For common printer problems, call for our free Printer Troubleshooting Guide. This valuable resource is provided to further meet the needs of our customers. In addition, our friendly technical staff is available to answer any questions.

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Do you sell new printers and supplies?
Call Paul Paquale for information concerning printers and supplies at 630-379-2525

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Do you run any form of testing on the cartridges?
Cardinal Cartridge performs a thorough test for every cartridge it produces. We test a cartridge for print clarity and print density. Cardinal owns numerous printers for testing of every cartridge that we remanufacture. Every cartridge we build is tested; there are no exceptions.

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Will the use of Recycled, Remanufactured or Compatable toner cartridges void my warranty?
It is against the law (the Sherman and Clayton Anti-Trust Acts, to be specific) to tie the purchase or use of a particular supply to the warranty. In fact, if you want to see what HP has to say about it with your own eyes, check this out (but don't be surprised at the "marketing-speak" and scare-tactics they employ to try to convince you that you should only buy their over-priced, name-brand, brand-new cartridges):

http://www.hp.com/cposupport/printers/support_doc/bpl03766.html

Think about it: Let's say your printer has a defective power supply. How in the world could the manufacturer refuse to fulfill their obligation and fix their defective component (assuming the printer was still under warranty to begin with) just because you are buying a different brand of toner (or paper, paper trays, memory, etc.)? They can't!

The manufacturer's ploy to convince you that you should only use their much more expensive cartridges is the same tactic the big automakers employ to try to get you to have your oil changed at the dealership instead of at your local "Quick-Oil-Change" shop (for 2 - 3 times more than the "Quick-Oil-Change" shop charges).

Why do those companies do that? Do they really believe that the tech at the "Quick-Oil-Change" shop can't unscrew the drain plug in the oil pan as well as the technician employed at the dealership? Of course that isn't their concern... Their main concern is getting the repeat business and the huge profit to be made on the routine maintenance of your car... and the big printer, fax and photocopier manufacturers feel the same way about you and your toner cartridges!

As a case in point, we have over 50 HP laser printers in-house that have "consumed" a steady diet of our non-HP toner for their entire lives and not a single one has ever had a problem. These cartridges have been used in thousands-upon-thousands of customer laser printers with the same results.

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Why have I heard using a remanufactured cartridge will void my warranty?
If the very sincere, very helpful salesperson tells you in all sincerity that using a remanufactured cartridge will void your warranty, you would probably believe them, right? Most people do. Then, based on that salesperson's warnings, they buy an over-priced, brand-name, brand-new cartridge.

Why would they tell you the use of a remanufactured cartridge would void your warranty if it isn't true? The choice is yours - You can give them the benefit of the doubt and believe they are just misinformed or you can believe (what is more likely the case), that they are saying the words they know will convince you to spend 2 - 4 times more money than you have to on a brand-new, name-brand toner cartridge on which they make considerably more commission or profit!

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Are there any hazards involved with the handling of toner?
Here is how HP describes toner. "Toner is a nontoxic substance composed of plastic, iron, and a small amount of pigment."

Even with that very benign description, still use your head when handling toner. Use the same common sense you use when you are filling your car with gas (i.e., don't eat it, drink it, purposely inhale large quantities of it, etc). If you want to see what else HP has to say about toner, take a look at this:

http://www.hp.com/cposupport/printers/support_doc/bpl02957.html

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What’s the difference in Cardinal Cartridge remanufactured toner and the toner I can get from the original manufacturer (i.e. Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, etc)?
Both have been found to use new and recycled components and contain equivalent grams of toner. In our opinion, both have the same quality and performance. However, in most cases Cardinal Cartridge cartridges are less expensive. All Cardinal Cartridge cartridges carry a 1 year warranty just like the OEM.

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What happens if there is a problem with my cartridge?
It’s as simple as giving us a call. We may ask you a few questions to try and trouble shoot your problem with the cartridge. But, basically, if there is a problem, we will send you a replacement and pick up the "problem" cartridge. We will test it to determine the problem with the cartridge and fix it.

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Does a Cardinal Cartridge remanufactured cartridge have the same yield as a new OEM cartridge?
You should receive as many copies from one of our cartridges as you would from the OEM cartridge. We gauge (as does the original manufacturer) that the average page coverage is 5%. A 5% toner coverage on a page is equivalent to a standard business letter.

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How do I get my cartridges?
We have free next day delivery for the Chicagoland/Suburban area on our remanufactured cartridges which are delivered by UPS, Airborne, Common Carrier or our own delivery drivers. Our other products may have shipping costs added to them, but for exact shipping prices or questions, contact your Cardinal Cartridge Sales Representative.

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How do I place my order? How do I pay for it?
You can place you order many different ways. You can call, fax or use our on-line ordering system.

Phone: 630-379-2525

Fax: 630-379-2533

You may pay for your order by using cash, check or credit card. Terms are available upon filling the necessary credit information. All tax-exempt customers will need to submit their tax exemption form with their credit application when filing for terms.

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How much can I expect to save using a Cardinal Cartridge cartridge?
Generally, we see about a 20-40% savings over a new OEM cartridge depending on the type cartridge used.

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My printer needs service, does Cardinal Cartridge do that?
Yes, Cardinal Cartridge has a superb service department. We repair all major brands of printers if you are located in the Chicagoland area. We can either come to your facility to perform the necessary service or you may bring the printer to the Cardinal Cartridge location for service. Generally, the rates for the "in-house" work are a little less than if we came to your place of business. However, it is usually more convenient for one of our trained service technicians to come to your place of business. Please call our service department for rates and availability.

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I've tried compatible toner cartridges before and experienced quality problems. How are your cartridges different?
The compatible cartridge industry and product standards have undergone significant changes in recent years. In the early days of the industry, too many manufacturers with limited technical training were selling low-quality cartridges at discounted prices.

More recently, compatible cartridge manufacturers have made substantial investments in research and development to discover new techniques for improving cartridge quality. Patents and contracts have also expired in recent years, so that companies previously restricted from selling important aftermarket parts can now do so. In fact, some of those companies have made even better aftermarket parts than the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Today, compatible toner cartridges represent one of the technology industry’s fastest growing segments. R&D investment, product quality, page yields, etc. have never been better. So much so that industry heavyweights such as HP and Xerox have been remanufacturing their "new" cartridges for the past several years.

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Does using compatible toner cartridges help the environment?
Absolutely. Compatible cartridges use a recycled "core" that greatly reduces the amount of non-biodegradable waste in our landfills. Discarded laser cartridges on the other hand, add four pounds of non-biodegradable waste per cartridge. It is estimated that 100 million laser printer cartridges and 400 million inkjet printer cartridges are produced each year. Recycling these 500 million cartridges will save an estimated 4 million cubic feet of landfill space.

The manufacturing process used to create new cartridges also depends heavily on imported fossil fuels. For this reason, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mandated the use of remanufactured cartridges for all federal agencies.

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Can a compatible toner cartridge damage my printer?
A compatible toner cartridge that has been properly manufactured cannot cause damage of any kind to your laser printer. It is important to find a compatible cartridge vendor that is experienced in the proper methods of remanufacturing.

Cardinal Cartridge guarantees its customers print quality and quantity equal to brand name cartridges. We test toner formulas and manufacturing techniques to ensure that our customers receive superior quality products

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Why are businesses still using brand name cartridges at all?
The compatible cartridge industry is relatively new and is still working to educate consumers about the value of compatible cartridges. Fortunately, the industry has made major inroads in recent years. Today, more than one-third of all American businesses use compatible cartridges. Compatible cartridge manufacturers replace worn parts and upgrade others in the cartridge with parts that are often superior in quality and performance to those in a new cartridge.

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How do I know if I can use a compatible cartridge with my laser printer?
The vast majority of the printers on the market today have been designed to use compatible cartridges. More than eighty percent of today’s laser printers use a Canon-based engine. That means these printers all adhere to a similar design standard, which compatible cartridge manufacturers have been working with for the past decade.

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Does the manufacturer recommend compatible cartridges?
They don’t necessarily recommend it because they have built very profitable brand-name cartridge businesses. The ironic thing however, is that most major OEMs are remanufacturing their respective cartridges. These "new" brand-name cartridges are more profitable for the major OEMs, so they strongly advocate their use.

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Are compatible cartridges inferior to new ones?
Absolutely not. There should be no difference in the print quality or page yield of a compatible cartridge. Cardinal Cartridge cartridges use only the highest quality toner and replacement parts that meet or exceed the OEM standard. Cardinal Cartridge guarantees its products to perform as well or better than brand name cartridges.
Using compatible cartridges saves money, helps preserve the environment, provides as high a quality product and helps support local small businesses.

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What does OEM mean? What is an OEM cartridge?
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. OEMs, such as HP, Lexmark, Xerox, etc. are the companies that manufacture your printers. OEM cartridges are cartridges that carry the branded name of the given company. All Cardinal Cartridge products are fully compatible with OEM standards and we guarantee our customers print quality and quantity equal to OEM cartridges.

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What is your return and exchange policy?
Cardinal Cartridge, Inc. is committed to providing its customers with superior customer service. Our cartridges carry a 1 year guarantee and we have a simple and streamlined process for returning products if necessary.

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Is there a customer service representative I can contact with additional questions?
You can contact us via email or use our 630-379-2525 number (between the regular business hours of 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. PT, Mon-Fri). We are more than happy to answer any questions you might have.

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What if my question is not listed here?
If you can't find the answer to your questions, then please ask us. You can contact our office at 630-379-2525 or send an email to our Customer Service Department.

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Is it better to buy new or used printing equipment?
There are advantages to both. A dependable, properly reconditioned printer can provide a valued service to its user. It really depends on your individual needs. Factors to take into consideration include number of copies, type of cartridge used, and quality of documents desired. Is the printer primarily used for internal communication memos, or is it used to represent the company to outside clients? For a free evaluation of your printer needs, call us.

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I understand that ink jet printers are available for a fairly small investment, sometimes as low as $200. Why, then, would a laser cartridge be a better purchase?
Though an average ink jet printer can cost as little as $200 new compared to a new laser printer on sale for $700, (refurbished laser printers with full warrantees cost as little as $300), ink jet cartridges come as high as $45 a piece and only print around 500 pages each. Whereas the laser printer’s toner cartridges can be easily recycled, cost about $50, and print between 4,000 and 10,000 copies per cartridge. Printing cost is as low as 1/3 of one cent per page saving thousands of dollars in the cost of operation without producing any environmental cartridge waste.

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What does the fuser assembly do, and what does it need periodic replacement?
The fuser assembly is located at the back of your printer. After toner has been deposited on the paper, the fuser (which gets very hot) melts the toner that it adheres permanently to the paper. If the fuser is not cleaned properly and regularly, it could need to be replaced as early as 3,500 prints. Dirt and debris can damage the fuser by scoring its surface. If you notice a ring around the roller, it may be time to replace the mechanism.

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Should I adjust my density control setting?
If your printer is too dark or too light, you may be able to correct the problem by adjusting the print density control inside your printer. You might also want to print at low density to conserve toner. Open your printer and look for a numbered dial, usually located on the left side. The lower the number on the print density adjustment dial, the darker your print will be (and the more toner you’ll use). A setting of "1" will print the darkest while "9" will give you the lightest copy. For Series 4 and up printers, the print density setting is a software adjustment; check your user manual for instructions or give us a call if you need further help.

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What’s the difference between a new toner cartridge and a remanufactured one?
If you buy remanufactured toner cartridges from us, you won’t notice any difference in print quality compared to the output of new cartridges. When we recycle cartridges, we replace more than half of their internal parts with new parts, reusing only those long-life components that are in good condition. Many new OEM (original equipment manufacturer) cartridges, such as Hewlett-Packard’s, are also built from new and used parts. What you will notice is a difference in price; our remanufactured cartridges cost up to 40 percent less than OEM cartridges. Over time, you’ll achieve substantial savings with remanufactured cartridges, while maintaining high-quality print output.

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When should I consider adding more memory to my printer?
If your printer isn’t printing as fast as its rated engine speed, adding more memory can help close the gap. You’ll also need to add more memory if you frequently receive "memory overload" messages when trying to print documents. Those messages indicate that your documents are too complex, sending more data to your printer at one time than your printer’s memory can handle.

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When should I consider upgrading my printer?
As good as your printer may be, there will come a time when upgrading makes sense. For one thing, printers do wear out eventually, getting to a point where the cost of repairs approaches the cost of a new machine. You may even want to upgrade before your printer’s useful life has come to an end. No matter how much memory you add to your printer, it will never print faster than its rated engine speed. If you or your staff frequently has to wait for the volume of pages you need to produce, then upgrading to a faster printer would contribute to the efficiency of your operations. As your business changes, you may develop printing needs that your current printer simply can’t handle-color, high resolution, odd paper sizes, full-bleed capability, etc. That’s when it’s time to upgrade.

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Why does paper keep jamming in my printer?
There are simple reasons and complex ones. You’ll experience paper jams if you use the wrong kind of paper in your printer-paper that’s too thick, too thin, or coated with an unacceptable chemical finish. Consult your printer’s user manual for guidance on the types of paper that work best with your printer. If paper jams occur at the front of your printer, the problem may be more serious- a worn-out pickup assembly. The pickup assembly is responsible for feeding paper from the paper tray into the printer.

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What do my printer’s error codes mean?
Your printer can produce an amazing assortment of error codes in two-digit format. Please call us when an error code appears on your printer’s display. In most cases, we can diagnose the problem right over the phone.

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Our printer can get very warm during printing. Does this indicate a problem?
Most printers are sturdy enough to operate for many hours at a time. In the process, they do get warm. After all, the fuser mechanism reaches nearly 400° in order to melt toner to paper. That said, it is possible for your printer to get too hot. If its air intakes are blocked or its air filter is dirty, your printer won’t be cooling its self properly and could overheat. Very serious overheating will occur if your printer’s fan fails. If you suspect your printer is overheating, refrain from using your printer until we can take a look at it. Consider too, whether your printer’s room is too warm-air conditioning or a fan blowing across your printer can help keep it cool.

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Are remanufactured cartridges supported by the Environmental Protection Agency E.P.A.?
The E.P.A. states that remanufactured products are "As good as new". They also help protect and support the environment by keeping unwanted plastic and waste out of our landfills. A plastic used in typical cartridge is industrial-grade and takes at least 1,000 years to decompose (paper takes two weeks) and cannot be recycled efficiently. Remanufactures help in providing a way to reduce waste, help divert, on an annual basis, almost 4,000 tons of engineering-grade polymers from our rapidly diminishing landfill capacities. If fact, numerous Government Agencies procure remanufactured laser, toner, and ink cartridges for their requirements.

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