Tools, Tips & FAQ's Inkjet sign and poster
Tools: We made this sign for you to attach to a inkjet recycling box that reminds people to recycle their inkjet cartridges. Click it to enlarge it then print it out now (You can also copy the sign and paste it to your word processor for printing.) When the inkjet recycling box is full, use our mailing label & we will recycle them.
Click this Poster to enlarge it, then print & post the poster on your bulletin board, lunch room, etc.. (You can copy the poster, paste it to your word processor & enlarge it for better printing.)
Why Recycle your inkjets (Click Here for an in-depth published article we wrote)
Tips (Tech tips are further down the page.)
Money saving tips:
TIP #1 - PRINT IN BLACK: (saves expensive ink)
Tri-Color cartridges are expensive. Most experienced users only print in color for special final documents. They always set their printers for printing in black, until that special occasion. Always try to save your color cartridges for printing the final document. Doing this will save money, as the cartridges with black ink are least expensive.
Here's how you can change your printing from color to black with most printers using Win98. From the File menu select Print, then select Properties, then select print in Black in White or Grey Scale. When you want to return to print in color, just reset the settings reversing this procedure.
TIP #2 - REDUCE FONT WHEN PRINTING WEB PAGES: (saves paper and ink)
CHANGING FONT SIZE ON WEB PAGES (MS INTERNET EXPLORER):
To change the font size select View, select Text size and select the font size that will work best for you. Making this change can help in printing web pages.
TIP #3 - It is wise to always have a spare cartridge on hand: (Murphy's Law)
Why is it that we always run out of ink, when we need it to print just one last page. Also, occasionally you will get a defective cartridge, even brand new cartridges from the OEM.
FAQ's: FAQ=Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which cartridge I need for my printer? Before you contact us about your printer or a cartridge, it will save you & us a lot of time if you specify the exact inkjet cartridge you need. There are many printer manufacturers, thousands of printer types & new ones are introduced almost every day. Most of them use many of the same cartridges. We recycle 87% of all of them. The best place to find what you need is in your printer operations manual, or you can look at your cartridges. Chances are good, you can answer your own question when you know the cartridge number.
My cartridge is not empty yet and I would like a spare. Can you send me one? Sure we can. It's wise to keep a spare on hand. It always seems that you run out of ink just when you need your printer the most. Just go to our store Recycle. You'll have your order in 3 to 5 days.
Under "Payment Methods" you have only listed Credit Cards. Will you accept personal, business or company checks? Yes, we do accept company and business checks through our parent company Ribbon Recyclers. Inc. (as long as they don’t bounce). There is a $10.00 processing fee to order from Ribbon Recyclers, Inc. To order from Ribbon Recyclers Email us! or call 800-477-3465 (if you get our voice mail when you call, make sure you leave your number and a good time for us to return your call).
Why don't you charge Sales Tax? We do collect & report sales taxes in Colorado. We do not collect sales taxes in any other state. If you have a tax exempt status in Colorado, we will process the order through our parent company Ribbon Recyclers. Inc. Email us! or call 800-477-3465 (If you get our voice mail when you call, make sure you leave your number and a good time to return your call). You will normally get faster service when you Email us.
Could you please send me a current price list for your cartridges? Yes, just go to our Recycle. There are no more current prices than these.
Is there a minimum number of cartridges (or maximum) that can I can order? NO. We will recycle one or millions of cartridges for you. There is NO minimum nor maximum. However, if you need several thousand, you should Email us. Our ship time may change.
Will your recycled inkjets hurt my printer or void the warranty? No, we are refilling your cartridge, which was manufactured by the same company that made your printer. We refill thousands of cartridges every month and have never had a customer have a problem with the operations of their printer. Your warranty cannot be voided, USA anti-trust laws prohibit it.
What about the ink quality? How does it compare to OEM Ink supplied with new cartridges? People have had bad experiences with cheap ink used by some recyclers. The refill kits (using syringes) and some methods do have problems and have made people cautious about recycling. RecycleUS.com DOES NOT use a universal ink for any cartridges. We use a specific ink for each specific cartridge type. Many factors are considered in the ingredients of each ink, including viscosity, pigments and many other details. We guarantee your cartridge will print just like a new one from the manufacturer.
How many pages will my cartridges print? We refill the cartridges with the same amount of ink (measured by weight) as the manufacturer. Your recycled cartridge should last just as long as a new cartridge. The industry measurement is normally: number of printed pages @ 15% coverage per page. Here are some Lexmark examples:
Cartridge Yield @ 15% page coverage (approx pages):
Lexmark 12A1970 = 600 pages
Lexmark 12A1975 = 1,100 pages
Lexmark 12A1980 = 275 pages
Lexmark 12A1985 = 470 pages
Here are some HP examples, compared to RecycleUS.com fill levels and yield:
Your order form refers to the HP 51629A/G. I have the 51629A. Is there a difference? We list the HP 51629A/G. HP sells the 51629A cartridge and the 51629G. The cartridges are exactly the same except, for marketing purposes HP has put only � the ink in the 51629G cartridge. They charge a few dollars less for the 51629G than the 51629A. We refill both of these cartridges and they both are filled with the same amount of ink as the 51629A. This type of suffix differences on cartridge numbers is also true with other HP cartridges. For instance the C6615D / DN / A. HP has put only 25ml in the C6615D and 42ml in the C6615A. MSRP is only a little less with the C6615D. We refill both of these cartridges and they both are filled with the same amount of ink as the C6615A (42ml). You can send in either and the price to us is the same. See the chart above.
How long does it take? You can help by using your Zip+4 (9 digit zip code) on your order. The USPS has told us that using the Zip+4 (9 digit zip code) can improve the delivery by as much as a week. If you don't know your Zip+4 (9 digit zip code) here is the USPS link: http://www.usps.com/ncsc/lookups/lookup_zip+4.html
Normally you will receive your recycled cartridge order in 3-5 days. If you don't have your order in 7 days, Email us. On the subject line of your email, please include the words status and your order number. We will respond PRONTO!
My cartridge is not on your price list. Can you recycle it for me? No, we only recycle the inkjets listed on the RecycleUSStore. We are always working in R & D to offer more cartridges. We are evaluating and are in development stages of several new cartridges including the HP C4844A and the C4841A. We are very pleased with the initial results. We can't promise though when they will be ready for production. The best we can say is for you to save your empties & periodically check our web site for updates or contact our parent company Ribbon Recyclers.
I live in Minnesota, & I was wondering if the ink in the cartridge could freeze or leak in the mail when you send it to me. We always send the cartridges in a padded envelope and ALWAYS take them directly inside to the USPS Office (We are in Colorado - so it can get cold here too). We guarantee your cartridge will operate like new when you get it, so don't worry about it freezing. If you do experience a problem with the cartridge, just follow the steps on this link: What if my inkjet cartridge has a problem? or if it is a laser, follow the steps on this link: What if my laser cartridge has a problem?
What do I do with my empty cartridges?
Inkjets: Included with each cartridge you order is a postage paid self addressed white plastic envelope. Simply keep the envelope and when you are ready, place your empty in it and place it in any USPS mail box. It is important not to send anything else in these envelopes. Only those cartridges that can be recycled will have the envelope. As a rule, most HP & Lexmark inkjets can be recycled. Only a few Canon, Brother, Compaq & Epson cartridges can be recycled. If your cartridges do not have the envelope, they can't be recycled, so there is no need to send them to us.
Lasers: If you would like to send us your empty toner cartridge(s), please follow this link: Return Label for empty Lasers
Do you buy empty cartridges? Sure we do. Lots of people & organizations sell them to us. Some even collect them and sell them to us for fund raisers. But we only buy selected empties cartridges in quantities of 100 and more. The cartridges must never have been recycled before & must be in good condition. As a rule, most HP & Lexmark inkjets can be recycled. Only few Canon, Brother, Compaq & Epson cartridges can be recycled. Empty cartridges are commodities and so the prices paid for them is volatile. Other factors also effect the value of empties, i.e. the number of defective cartridges & quality of the empties. The amount we pay depends on the cartridge type, it's condition when we check it out and the market value at the time.
Once you have over 100 cartridges, email us and we will email, fax or send you a "RecycleUS.com Buy 100+ Empty Cartridge Form". Once you complete this form & we sign it, it becomes a purchase order.
As soon as we get the cartridges we will evaluate them and send you a check for the ones that qualify. You can learn more about selling cartridges if you Click Here.Do you recycle laser printer cartridges, like the HP LaserJet office printers? Yes, you can buy them @ Recycle. If your laser is not listed, email us the mfg and cartridge model number. We possibly can recycle it. In some cases we may need your empty cartridge in advance. The laser recycling is through Ribbon Recyclers, Inc. (Our parent company Ribbon Recyclers does offer laser printer recycling. The best way to contact us is to Email us your name, phone number, cartridge refill order number. Someone will call you back with the details. Another option is for you to call 800-477-3465, leaving your name, phone number, cartridge refill order number and repeat your phone number
. Click here if your laser toner has a problemWhat is your return policy? Most merchandise may be returned within 30 days from the original invoice date for a refund. A 15% restocking fee may apply. DOA/defective products are returned for REPLACEMENT ONLY with the same product/model. Deviations from this policy may result in a 20% Returns Processing Service Charge. Defective product must be in original factory carton with all original packing materials. All miscellaneous materials such as manuals, accessories and cables must be included. If any of these materials are missing, your account will be billed accordingly. The Return Authorization number must be on the shipping label, not the carton. PLEASE DO NOT WRITE ON THE CARTON. Returns must be shipped freight prepaid. Products received freight collect, without an RA number, not approved for return, or in any way not meeting the above criteria, will be refused. Return Authorization numbers are good for fourteen (14) days only. Any products returned after the expiration date will be refused. If the product is found to be non-defective, an inspection fee of at least $25, or 15% per unit, will be billed to your account. RecycleUS.com credits are based on purchase price or current price, whichever is lowest. ANY DEVIATION FROM RETURN POLICIES WILL RESULT IN THE PRODUCT BEING RETURNED TO YOU WITH NO CREDIT ISSUED.
I used to send in my empty cartridges for refill. Why don't you offer this service any more? We have made some changes for several reasons. First, we have grown and the administration of receiving the empties, refilling them and returning them became too cumbersome and costly. Next, we depended upon the USPS & their service proved to be unacceptable. (We had orders that were mailed from less than 20 miles from our plant and it took as much as 6 weeks for us to receive the order.) Both our customers and we wanted dependable, faster service & the refill service was not feasible.
What is the relationship of RecycleUS.com and Ribbon Recyclers, Inc? Ribbon Recyclers, Inc. is a Corporation in Colorado. RecycleUS.com is a registered DBA (doing business as) of Ribbon Recyclers, Inc.
Can I have a link to RecycleUS.com from our web site?
Link your web site to RecycleUS.com.
Look & Link to our Affiliates and Friends.
Tech Tips:
The following inkjet cartridge replacement and troubleshooting tips are taken from various Printer Operations Manuals and apply to brand new cartridges and RecycleUS.com's quality remanufactured cartridges. We hope you find them helpful. Your printer operations manual is the best source for answering your questions.
This information is applicable to most Hewlett Packard, Canon and Lexmark inkjet cartridges. If you are not sure if this information is applicable to your printer email us before attempting them.
It is suggested you print at least one page a week to keep your cartridge fresh.
Inkjet Cartridge Replacement Tips:
1. Remove the empty cartridge from your printer.
2. If applicable, carefully remove the plastic clip from the replacement cartridge.
3. If applicable, carefully remove two pieces of protective tape covering the ink nozzle
and maze hole. NOTE: Two pieces of tape are not always used, if you only see one
don't worry.
CAUTION: DO NOT TOUCH THE INK NOZZLE OR COPPER CONTACTS.
4. Carefully install replacement cartridge into the
printers cradle.
NOTE: For detailed instructions refer to your printer manual or printer software.
Troubleshooting Tips:
If printer problems occur:
1. Perform up to three cleaning cycles and a prime cycle, if applicable, using
your printer software.
If the cleaning cycles fail to produce quality print it may be necessary to prime the
cartridge.
1. Hold the cartridge (nozzle down) and place
on a paper towel moistened with warm water & then on a dry paper towel until the ink
begins to siphon.
2. Remove debris and dried ink from the replacement cartridge nozzle plate with a
damp cotton swab. DO NOT wipe the nozzle plate. Use distilled or filtered water only.
3. Re-install the cartridge and perform cleaning cycles as instructed.
If your questions are not answered here, don’t hesitate to submit any question or special request via email, Contact us.
Thank you for your business!
All brand names and trademarks are the property of their respective holders. RecycleUS is NOT affiliated with any OEM. RecycleUS is a � DBA of Ribbon Recyclers, Inc. � 1997-2004-All Rights Reserved. Copyright and Disclaimer