Printer re-fills - IT'S COMPLICATED
I was given a crappy monochrome laser printer but it's better than having no printer, even if it doesn't really work, so I set about making it work. Turns out it was easy to fix - a little bit of dismantling and some cleaning and some swapping of parts. Now I have a working laser printer but - oh noes! it's out of toner.

Just around the corner from my house is a printer cartridge shop. They have a big sign up saying "Beat the Credit Crunch! Help the Environment! Toner Refills!". Now, I had looked online and had seen bottles of the toner I needed for a mere £5 but my urge for immediate printing was great, and so I ventured forth into the shop.

I explained my printery needs. The bloke behind the counter said: "Well, where's your cartridge so we can fill it?".

"And how much might that cost?" I asked, fearing a bit of a sting.

"£32," he replied, which was exactly £32 more than the printer was worth.

"Oh no," I replied, "Just sell me the bottle and I'll fill it myself."

He looked at me as if I were as special as a big yellow minibus. "You can't do it yourself," he stated.

"Er, I'm pretty sure I can," I replied.

"It took me three months to learn," said bloke behind the counter.

Yes, bless you, and that's why you're Captain Minimum Wage.

I hope they go bust.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 13:56, 14 replies)

Printer refills are usually a false economy
Vastly increased chances of getting toner everywhere, be warned!

I just nick toner cartridges and paper from work, to refill the nice laser printer that work bought me. And inkjet cartridges and paper to refill the inkjet all-in-one that they also bought me.

I also have cut my spending on PCs and components, blank media and batteries by 100% using similar methods, since I have the authority to buy things 'for the IT department'

I'm very tempted to get work to purchase the new Xbox I'm planning, but I'm not convinced I'd get away with it.

Edit: gaz me if you work for an IT supplier and would be prepared to sell me an Xbox on an invoice labelling it as network hardware.
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 14:03, closed)

Nah, twas easy
£5, next day delivery, and I filled it myself without spilling a drop.

Now I'm let down by a fucking software problem: can't get the frickin' printer driver working properly on my Mac.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 14:05, closed)

They're easier than the inkjet refills, definitely
Ha, serves you right for not buying a proper computer.

What printer have you got? There's usually workarounds for Macs, I've managed to get quite a few working when there's no official Mac drivers.
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 14:06, closed)

Samsung ML-4500
I've found a workaround using a Lexmark driver but I just can't be arsed spending an hour or two setting it up.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 14:13, closed)

What sort of Mac are you connecting it to?
Just found a review saying it's parallel only, not USB...?

I have a Mac Mini and several virtually identical Samsungs in my office, I will have a play. I find fixing problems for b3tans more stimulating than my actual job.
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 14:20, closed)

Yeah,
I have a parallel to USB cable (and therein may lie the problem, though it should be fine). iMac.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 14:25, closed)

Most Boring Thread Ever
Well done.

;)

How's your beautiful cock?
( Bert Monkeysex is waiting for the mods to delete him, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 14:27, closed)

glistening
at the tip, thanks Sexmonkey.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 14:33, closed)

Excellent, glad to hear it
and I hope you're keeping up the tromboning.

*parps*
( Bert Monkeysex is waiting for the mods to delete him, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 14:39, closed)

Everything I've found refers to using it on a parallel print server box
so it appears to the Mac as a network printer - haven't found any reference to using a parallel to USB lead, although I'd expect it to work the same.

As with anything Mac where you're going off the beaten track, it seems ludicrously overcomplicated, but these seem to be what you're looking for:

macosx.com/tech-support/mac/samsung-ml-4500-linux-driver-installation/21572.html
broodingaboutit.blogspot.com/2006/12/samsung-ml-4500-printer-on-mac-os-x.html

Depending on how much you feel your time is worth though, it might just be simpler to spend £44 (could probably find it for less, that was just the first place I looked) on a USB Samsung!

Failing that, I have an ML-1610 you can have if you pay the postage. The paper tray is slightly borked but it works alright if it's on a flat surface. I just scored a replacement from work cos I'm lazy and it was free. The toner's run out but it does have the empty cartridge in it.
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 14:36, closed)

I would suggest that nicking stuff from work is a false economy
Not to comment of the morality of doing so but is it really worth the risk of losing your job and a criminal record for at best a couple of hundred quid of office supplies?
(Richy_T hundreds if not thousands of dollars, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 15:40, closed)

Given that you know nothing about the circumstances of my employment
Is it really worth making such sanctimonious comments?

I wouldn't do it if I was going to get caught, I'm not an idiot.
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 16:30, closed)

I'm sure most every person with a criminal record thought they weren't going to get caught.
(Musuko, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 17:04, closed)

Enjoy your well-deserved click!
And thanks for making me giggle out loud
(purplegod counting down for Christmas!, Fri 23 Jan 2009, 20:58, closed)