Printer Ribbons, Toner & Drums & Other Supplies

Printer Ribbons, Toner & Drums & Other Supplies

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Consumables are where dealership printing costs actually accumulate. The printer is bought once; toner is bought for years. Two things decide what you spend: buying on cost per page rather than cartridge price, and knowing which Lexmark purchase program applies to you.

Cartridge price alone is misleading. Divide price by rated yield and the range here runs from about 5.5 cents a page on a 3,000 page cartridge down to roughly 1.4 cents on a 55,000 page one. The constraint is compatibility rather than preference, so start from your printer model and take the highest yield it accepts. Separately, Lexmark sells the same cartridge as Return Program, priced lower in exchange for sending empties back for recycling, or as Corporate and Contract without that obligation. If empties go in the bin, the Return Program saving is theoretical.

Two things beyond toner. The imaging unit is a separate consumable rated to 60,000 or 75,000 pages, and it is usually the answer when print quality drops right after a cartridge change; it costs a fraction of a high yield cartridge, so it is worth keeping on the shelf. And colour toner is sold per colour, so a full set is four times the listed price. We also stock Okidata cartridges and ribbons for impact and label printers, including the Bixolon, Zebra 3200 and ProMinder systems, which are not interchangeable.

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Printer Ribbons, Toner and Drums

Consumables are where dealership printing costs actually accumulate. The printer is bought once; toner is bought for years. Two things decide what you spend: choosing by cost per page rather than cartridge price, and knowing which of the three purchase programs applies to you.

Buy on Cost Per Page

Cartridge price on its own is misleading. Divide price by rated yield and the picture changes sharply.

Figures are list price divided by rated yield, and actual yield varies with page coverage. The constraint is compatibility, not preference: each cartridge fits specific printers, so start from your model and choose the highest yield that fits it.

Return Program, Corporate, or Contract

Lexmark sells the same cartridge under different terms, and the price difference is the terms rather than the toner.

Return Program cartridges are priced lower in exchange for agreeing to return the empty to Lexmark for recycling. Corporate and Contract cartridges carry different conditions and pricing, typically without the return obligation.

If your dealership already has a process for sending empties back, Return Program is the cheaper route. If empties go in the bin, the saving is theoretical. Ask us to confirm current terms before a large order, since Lexmark sets them.

Colour Toner

Colour cartridges are sold per colour, so a full set costs four times the listed price. Budget accordingly.

The CS/CX331 high yield covers the CS331dw and CX331adwe, the CS/CX431 extra high yield gives up to 6,700 pages per cartridge across all four colours, and the CS531/CX532 toner runs to 8,800 pages for the CS531dw and CX532adwe.

Imaging Units

The drum is a separate consumable from toner, and the reason print quality sometimes degrades right after a cartridge change. The 56F0Z00 is rated to 60,000 pages, and the 66S0Z00 to 75,000 for the MS531dw and MS631dw. Both cost a fraction of a high-yield cartridge, so they are easy to keep on the shelf.

Ribbons for Impact Printers

Plenty of dealerships still run impact printers for multi-part forms, because a laser cannot print through carbon. The Dascom 990029 fits the 4347-i06w, and the Okidata 321 self-inking cartridge fits the Microline 321 Turbo.

Ribbons for Label and Sticker Printers

Three different systems, three different ribbons, and they are not interchangeable.

The Bixolon thermal transfer ribbon serves the XD5-40t and SLP-TX420EG used with the Autosoft LOF label system. The Zebra 3200 ribbon, twelve per box, fits the GC420t and the older TLP Static, both used with the 5-in-1 oil change sticker printer. The ProMinder black wax resin ribbon is for the GoDex RT-200i, which calculates and prints service reminder stickers without needing a DMS connection.

Okidata

Cartridges for the B721 high yield, the B721 standard, and the B412DN and B512DN at 7,000 pages. Fuser maintenance kits for these are in printer accessories.

Related Technology

See printer accessories for trays, stands and fuser kits, Lexmark printers, all printers, and computer hardware supplies. For the oil change systems these ribbons feed, see Autosoft LOF printers and supplies and 5 in 1 oil change sticker printers. Browse all dealership technology.

FAQ

Which cartridge does our printer take?

Read the model number off the printer itself and match it to the cartridge listing, since yields and part numbers are model-specific. The 66S1000 fits the MS531dw and MS631dw, while the 58D1U0E serves the MS823dn and MS825dn. If you are unsure, call us with the model and we will confirm.

Which cartridge is genuinely cheapest to run?

Divide price by rated yield rather than comparing sticker prices. Across this range the cost per page varies by roughly four times, with the 55,000-page cartridge the lowest and small cartridges the highest. Buy the highest yield your printer accepts.

What is the difference between Return Program and Corporate cartridges?

The terms, not the toner. Return Program cartridges cost less in exchange for returning the empty to Lexmark for recycling. Corporate and Contract cartridges carry different conditions, usually without that obligation. Choose based on whether your dealership actually returns empties.

Print quality dropped and the toner is new. Why?

Usually the imaging unit. The drum is a separate consumable rated to 60,000 or 75,000 pages, and it wears out independently of toner. It costs considerably less than a high-yield cartridge, so it is worth keeping one on the shelf.

Why do we still need impact printer ribbons?

Multi-part carbon forms. A laser printer cannot transfer through to a second and third copy, so any department still running carbon repair orders or invoices needs an impact printer, and that needs ribbons.

How many colour cartridges do we need to order?

Up to four, since colour toner is sold per colour. A full set of CS531/CX532 cartridges is four times the single price, and colours deplete at different rates depending on what you print. Order the one that runs out rather than replacing the set.

Which ribbon does our label printer use?

Depends entirely on the system. Bixolon ribbons for the Autosoft LOF label system, Zebra 3200 for the 5-in-1 oil change sticker printer, and the ProMinder wax resin ribbon for the GoDex RT-200i. They are not interchangeable, so identify the printer before ordering.