LBP632CDW Toner issues

[polymath]

Not sure if  this is an office printer, but it's not an inkjet.  I have this LBP632CDW.  I was having some issues using generic toner with leaving spots on the paper so I upgraded to the 4x the cost canon toner.  But sometimes the cartridge works, and sometimes it doesn't and I have to swap it out with amazon.  I'm trying to see if there is anything I can do different or haven't thought of.  I don't see any orange strip to remove like on some toners, nothing, but it looks like the magenta I just put in isn't working.  It shows full on the screen.

If it's user error, I'd like to "fix" me.  Any thoughts?

[mreg]

Okay.  1.  I suggested a week ago that you remove the everything from the printer and take a look inside.  Did you do that?  If you remove the cartridges you should be able to get a good view of the inside and the transfer belt.

2.  Why will it be expensive to repair?  If what you have said is true, IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.  Do you know what a warranty is?  And I say "if what you have said is true," because first you said a bought it a few months ago, and now you're saying it's almost a year. Eleven months is not a few.  A warranty means that Canon will repair or replace the printer FOR FREE.  And it's not your problem whether they're still making it or not, if it is under warranty.

3.  My suggestion is to contact Canon support, and TELL them, don't ask them, that you're making a warranty claim. 

[polymath]

1.  I did remove the cartridges and also opened up from the back, yes.  I don't visually see anything, and I ran the transfer belt utility.  Is there a good product to clean it with?  I think I asked, but maybe not:  is using one of those air compressor cans a good idea.  I can still try this while I also do what I say below.  ↓↓↓    

2.  I did call 2 days in a row.  Once the 800 # & once a local number for Canon I found.  It's for a "Canon Solutions America" locally.  Used a headset just so I could wait as long as possible.  for 60 minutes each time.  (I waited a full hour), I kept getting the message that someone would be with me.  No queue like some do.  If I knew 17 were ahead, for example, I would wait.  I will definitely try again this week, b/c it is true.  I just can't find an email to email them, and I can't get anyone on the phone.  If you know an email I can send, a way to submit a ticket, a number that someone will answer, that would be amazing.  

I will definitely *tell* them it's under warranty.  a. b/c it is  b. b/c that's a good approach.  I haven't had this thing for 5 years & I'm trying to "get one over on them".  I just want what's reasonable.

I've just never had issues like this in the past.  I also never had a Canon.  

[mreg]

I haven't had a need to use their support yet.  But the number I find is 800-652-2666.  If you have created a Canon account you can also chat with technical support.  All of this is Mondays through Fridays only.  Chats are usually much faster.  Have your proof of purchase ready.  They'll probably go through troubleshooting, but try to insist on replacement rather than repair.  Your only possible problem with getting warranty support is the printer's history with generic toner.  Good luck.

[polymath]

Of course, not to be too "covert", but since I've used genuine Canon for months, I may or may not choose to mention it.  If they hadn't run out of yellow for a while, I probably never would have looked.  I'll at least try.  I'm surprised no one else on this forum has ever seen this though.  I figured someone could have commented.  Maybe I'll reddit too.  Calling is great, but I have printing needs that are piling up.

[mreg]

The only problem is that it's like going to the doctor.  You don't give the doctor all the facts, you don't get a good diagnosis.  Garbage in/garbage out.  Use of generic toner is not, in and of itself, grounds for denial of a warranty claim, but if they replace or come to repair the printer and they determine that the problem was caused by generic toner they can charge you for the repair or replacement.  

[polymath]

If I believed - even at 1% level that me using some generic months ago would cause problems with genuine toner 2+ months later, I would.  I only started having issues very recently.  I need to check the timeline & see if it's when I switched to high yield, b/c that is a recent decision.  But here are just a couple of pages from September.  So I'm just not sold that generic is even remotely related.  I *am* sold on going back to HP when I do decide to get a new printer.  This printer was cheaper out the gate, but the toner is a lot more, the print quality is not better, getting service is harder, and if generics really can just destroy a printer that wouldn't destroy its competitor, then that's a serious design flaw to run from. 

[mreg]

HP printers are not what they used to be.  If you read all the reviews, they have become unreliable.  Look, any printer can be a lemon, but if you're saying that Canon print quality is not one of the best you'd be inaccurate.  And as for service, I am not totally convinced that you have taken advantage of the Canon support options available.  From your first post you didn't even know that you had a laser printer, and have been complaining about the cost to repair a printer that now you say is under warranty.  If you're printing so many pages that the cost of cartridges is important I assume it's not for personal use -- I can tell you that I have never used generic toner or ink in any printer that I use to generate income, and I have never had a problem.  Penny wise/pound foolish.  

You're so worried about the cost of cartridges but you're ready to dump a printer that's under warranty, which can include a fast advance exchange. Buy an HP if that's what you want -- but if you think that will guarantee a better printer and white glove customer service you'll likely be very disappointed.

[polymath]

I didn't say I was going to dump a printer under warranty.  I said that the next time around, I will go back to HP.  But since you said they have gone downhill, maybe I'll pick something else.  What I won't do is get another Canon.  That's not going to be tomorrow.  I will see what I can do with this, and luckily it happened before November.  But whether it gets fixed or not, I have yet to receive any meaningful explanation.  That's a factor as much as anything.  No one can tell me anything.  No one knows anything.  The only comment is clean it and it must be the fact I used generics in the distant past.  That's not user friendly.  I wouldn't mind the money if it came with quality, ease of use, and longevity.  The quality is ok.  I've never been impressed, but until recently it wasn't terrible.  It has never been easy to use.  The menu itself is convoluted, so I have to look up every little bit of the menu.  Never had to do that before.  And it doesn't look to be very durable.  I've had printers for years, beyond Canon & HP.  I'm not a techy, but well versed enough to know that the void in which I find myself is abnormal.  I appreciate that you love them.  Good for you, but that doesn't mean they are the end all, be all.  

No need to take it personally.  I saw on reddit people having issues, so clearly I'm not alone.  I wouldn't mind any of that if someone - anyone - could say what's happening & why.  Instead, it's the sound of silence.  No clear answers.  Very, very odd.

[mreg]

I'm not taking anything personally.  I simply did my research before buying.  I know what I buy, I know what my warranties are, and I know how to use those warranties.  I don't think you did or know any of those three.  You can find online complaints about every brand.  I have had Brother, HP, Epson and Canon printers.  When I need a printer I buy whatever printer I think best fits my need at that time -- I don't "love" any brand.  Along the way to my purchase I see all the complaints about all of the brands and all of the printers.  Complaints will always happen when companies like Canon, HP and Epson sell billions of dollars with of printers per year.  I was trying to help you get your printer fixed.  It is a fact that many problems are often attributed to operator error or the use of cheap generic supplies.  It is simply not credible that you could not access customer support -- I have to question almost everything you said here.  There are no clear answers for you, because you provide no credible premise.  But it doesn't matter, because I'm done.  Good luck.

[polymath]

Understood.  Printers, computers, cell phones; everybody has their own opinion, and things that they care about or don't.  I think it's wonderful that the product works for you.  Of course it works for some people, or they wouldn't stay in business.  Best of luck to you as well.  Nothing's perfect so it's always about what imperfections we can and cannot live with.  Cheers!