Help & Advice

Expert guidance on choosing the right printer, reducing costs, troubleshooting issues and keeping your machines running at their best.

Printer Selection

Choosing the Right Printer

What may seem like a good deal in store or online may prove costly over time. We all know the story of the ink costing more than the printer. As each customer is different, we work closely at an individual level to ensure you're getting the best value from your printer.

Are you constantly replacing your cartridges or spending a fortune on consumables? These are tell-tale signs that your printer may not be suitable for your needs.

Print volume — how many pages do you print per month? Under 500 pages suits an inkjet, over 1,000 and you'll want a laser.
Colour vs mono — if you mainly print documents and invoices, a mono laser will save you a fortune over a colour model.
Duplex printing — automatic double-sided printing halves your paper usage. Worth having as standard.
Connectivity — Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet, mobile printing? Consider how your team needs to access the printer.
Cost per page — the most important metric. We can calculate this for you as part of our free print audit.

Free Print Audit

Not sure if you're getting the best value? Our free print audits assess your current setup, print volumes and costs — then recommend the most cost-effective solution for your business. Book yours today.

Watch Out

The Hidden Costs of Printing

When purchasing a new office printer, make sure to check for hidden costs. Did you know that many office laserjets require more than just toner to run effectively?

Component Typical Life Typical Cost (OEM)
Toner Cartridge 2,000–5,000 pages £60–£120
Drum Unit 12,000–25,000 pages £80–£150
Imaging Kit 20,000–50,000 pages £100–£250
Waste Toner Container 10,000–30,000 pages £15–£40
Fuser Unit 50,000–100,000 pages £80–£200
Transfer Belt 50,000–100,000 pages £70–£180

Quick Tip

A printer advertised at £200 might cost you over £1,000 in consumables within the first year if you're a moderate to heavy user. Always check the cost per page before buying. We can help you compare models and find the most economical option.

Our Remanufactured Advantage

Switching to our remanufactured toner cartridges can save you up to 50% on every cartridge — without compromising on quality. All cartridges are individually tested at our base in Greater Manchester.

Quick Fixes

Common Print Issues

Printers, like any other machines, can malfunction — normally when you need them the most. Some issues can be fixed quickly with the touch of a button, while others may need further investigation. Here are some of the most common problems and what to try first.

Paper Jams

Open all access panels, gently remove paper in the direction of travel. Check for torn scraps. Clean the rollers with a lint-free cloth if jams are frequent.

Faded Print

Usually a sign that your toner or ink is running low. Try removing the cartridge and gently rocking it side to side to redistribute the remaining toner.

Lines or Streaks

Lines down the page can indicate a scratched drum unit or debris on the printhead. Try running the printer's built-in cleaning cycle first.

Smudging / Marks

Toner smudging on paper is often a sign your fuser unit is reaching end of life. This is the part that "bakes" the toner onto the page. Contact us for a replacement.

Flashing Lights

Error lights vary between manufacturers. Check your printer's manual for the specific pattern, or give us a call — we can usually identify the issue over the phone.

Colour Issues

Printing the wrong colours? Run a calibration or alignment page from your printer's menu. If one colour is completely missing, that specific cartridge likely needs replacing.

Can't Fix It?

Our industry knowledge and experience allows us to identify and solve most printer issues. If you're struggling with a print defect or flashing lights, get in touch — we can often diagnose the problem remotely.

Prevent Problems

Printer Maintenance Guide

Regular cleaning and maintenance is the best way to get optimum performance and maximum life from your printer. Here's what we recommend.

Weekly

Wipe down exterior surfaces and paper trays to prevent dust buildup entering the machine.

Weekly

Check paper trays are loaded correctly and fan paper before loading to prevent jams.

Monthly

Run the built-in cleaning cycle from your printer's maintenance menu to clear the printhead or fuser.

Monthly

Check toner or ink levels and order replacements before they run out completely.

Quarterly

Open the printer and carefully vacuum or blow out loose toner and paper dust from inside the machine.

Quarterly

Inspect rollers for wear and clean with a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water.

Annually

Have a professional service — check fuser, transfer belt, drum condition and overall machine health.

Annually

Update firmware to the latest version for security patches and performance improvements.

Extending Your Printer's Life

A well-maintained laser printer can last 5–10 years in a typical office environment. We offer great rates on replacement parts and servicing — often significantly less than a manufacturer's call-out. Get in touch for a quote.

Save Money

Reducing Your Print Costs

Most businesses are paying more for printing than they need to. Here are practical steps you can take today to bring your costs down without sacrificing quality.

Switch to remanufactured cartridges — save up to 50% on every cartridge with no drop in quality.
Enable duplex printing as default — cut your paper costs in half overnight.
Use draft mode for internal documents — it uses significantly less ink or toner per page.
Right-size your printer — an A3 colour laser printing A4 mono documents is burning money. Match the machine to the job.
Consolidate your fleet — replacing multiple desktop printers with one good MFP can reduce your costs and energy usage.
Consider managed print — we handle your consumables, maintenance and monitoring so you can focus on your business.

The Warning Signs

Constantly replacing cartridges? Spending more than 3p per mono page or 10p per colour page? Multiple printers sitting idle most of the day? These are signs you could be saving significantly. Contact us for a free assessment.

Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

The key metric is cost per page. If you're paying more than 3p per mono page or 10p per colour, your setup likely isn't optimised. Our free print audit will assess your volumes, costs and hardware to recommend the most cost-effective solution.

No. Under UK consumer law, using remanufactured or third-party cartridges does not void your printer warranty. Manufacturers cannot require you to use their own brand consumables as a condition of warranty cover.

We recommend weekly exterior cleaning, monthly cleaning cycles through the printer's menu, quarterly internal vacuuming, and an annual professional service. Following this schedule can significantly extend your printer's working life.

First, try turning the printer off and on again — this resolves many temporary errors. If the error persists, check your printer's manual for the specific code. Alternatively, get in touch with us and we can usually identify and resolve the issue quickly.

A print audit assesses your current printing setup — how many devices you have, what you're printing, how much you're spending on consumables, and where there's room for improvement. We do this for free, with no obligation. Most businesses we audit find savings of 20–40%.

Absolutely. We supply consumables and maintenance parts for all major brands regardless of where you bought the printer. We also offer servicing and advice on any make or model — there's no obligation to buy hardware from us.

Need Expert Advice?

Whether it's choosing the right printer, fixing an issue, or reducing your costs — we're always happy to help. No hard sell, just honest advice.

Get in Touch