» Lexmark C530DN Color Laser Printer

Lexmark C530DN Color Laser Printer Reviews

Customer Rating:
Summary: Fast single paper type printer- terrible for different paper types and users
Comment: This printer has a driver that allows you to specify where to source the print material from such as Multi-purpose feeder or maintray, and also specifiy the paper type which is required to avoid jamming for thicker paper stock. This printer doesn't read the instructions in these menus, consequently the only way to change tray type and paper stock is to manually make the changes on the printer itself which makes the printer useless in a conventional office setting with multiple users. After extensive discussions with Lexmark, they refused to fix the problem. At one point they said they would exchange my c530 for a c532 because it would work, then they retracted and said none of the c530x line works correctly with those menus. Other than that its very fast,and provides accurate colors,

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Amazing!!
Comment: Amazing!! I have read all the other reviews and find myself amazed at the problems covered. I have had the Lexmark C530dn for over a year (after having a Lexmark C750) and have printed thousands of our product labels, thousands of 3 fold brochures, thousands of business cards, thousands of post cards and have only replaced the cartridges once in a year. The cartridges that come with the printer are only partial cartridges as with any other laser printer. They print only about 2,000 copies. I purchase the rebate high yield cartridges and they last for over 5,000 pages each. NEVER replace the cartridges when the printer indicates they are low or need to be replaced. Remove the low cartridge, shake it up and it is still good for about 1,000 more pages or more. Keep doing this until your copies start getting light after shaking the cartridge over a period of time, then replace the cartridge. I have 4 different laser printers we use, from Dell and HP and this is true of all of them.

I have not experienced a single problem the other reviews complain about and have never had to contact customer service on a single issue. I highly recommend this printer and would definitely purchase it again.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Black Fog - UPDATED
Comment: I like Lexmark printers in general. I have a Black and White Lexmark laser that has lasted for a long time. However, I've had this one for one month now and on the 200th print I began getting the dreaded "black fog" all over the page that others have reported (basically a 5% black "wash" over the entire page). As a designer I simply cannot show clients prints like this.

Indian Technical support was no help, had never heard of this issue, and will be calling me right back. That was three weeks ago. I'm just waiting by the phone.

On a sort of plus side: At first it printed perfect color right out of the box on Leopard OS X, but it didn't have clean lines or edges. Though when I turned on the "enhance fine lines" pref (which is necessary unless you want ragged edges on boxes) the color is no longer reliable.

Ink is consumed very fast and is expensive. Unless you don't use color - then you're golden.

UPDATE #1:

After reaching Indian technical support again and speaking with them about the "grey fog" they are sending me a new part. Now, it's too early to report that this corrected my issue, however, it was better than nothing. If I receive this part and things change then I will report.

UPDATE #2:

A Technician came and exchanged some parts and we got a clean (no fog in bkgrnd) print, but after one day it returned. After calling customer service again we actually switched the black Photoconducter (thing attached to the front door that you pull down to open) with the Magenta one and now everything is fine again. Weird, but working without the black fog now....

UPDATE #3 (9/15/2008):

The "Grey Fog" returned after 30 outputs. Switching out photoconducting unit is no longer of any help. The good news is that my girlfriend is enjoying her new Lexmark color laser printer that I just gave to her. She doesn't mind the color issue or the "grey fog." I purchased a Xerox Phaser 8560/N and it's great.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Multipurpose tray is a problem - Gray areas on white
Comment:
I got the C530dn Friday and loved the vibrant color. When I had to use the multipurpose tray to print an envelope, it did not work. I went the Lexmark's webpage but did not find any help there. The printer does not come with a "Getting Started" instruction manual on how to load the paper.

I sent an e-mail regarding my problem on Friday, and received two automatic acknowledgments, but that was it. The problem is that the top guide wheel is not heavy enough to move the envelope, or paper, to the feeder, and when it does not feed, the printer makes a very loud beep, beep sound. When you add pressure to the wheels, they will feed the envelope or paper through.

I called Lexmark's technical support March 18, 2008, and was told that manual paper tray on this model is not designed to grab the paper by itself, and even though the documentation states that the multipurpose tray holds 100 sheets of paper, each sheet must be individually feed into the printer.

UPDATE -
I called technical support on March 19th, and spoke to the same person. I wanted to know if the C532dn would automatically feed envelopes, since the C530dn would not. She did not know, and when she researched it she discovered that the C530dn SHOULD automatically feed from the multi-purpose tray. I was advised to return the printer.

I also printed on glossy paper for the first time on the 19th, and, as everyone else has noted, the white areas had gray specks on them. Today, the 25th, the gray specks are appearing on the white areas on plain paper too.

The printer is being returned today, and I would not recommend it to anyone. I have read reviews that state that it is impossible to reach the technical support. I did not have a problem with that, but the person I spoke to obviously is not knowledgeable about the printer. The first call on the 18th lasted about an hour, and the second call 52 minutes, before I was told to return the printer.

I am reducing my recommendation to 1 star

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Awful Printer
Comment: This printer is a total piece of crap. You will burn through cartridges, deal with constant jams and spend a great deal of time trying to repair it. The Customer Service is awful as well. It also demands to take paper from the Manual Paper tray even when that is not selected anywhere. Then, it will decide to constantly jam when it does take from the manual try. Awful, awful, awful.

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