Posted by Linda Juenger on 5/28/12 9:46pm Msg #422078
Broke down and bought a new printer and I'm sorry I
bought a Brother 5370 and an extra tray. Although its my fault that I don't have a replacement toner on hand, with my HP I could just take out the cartridge and shake it a bit and get a lot more pages. Not with the brother. If I'm wrong here, I apologize. I've tried a couple times and it does not work. This printer prints ok, but its not an HP and never will be, doesn't even come close. If you've never had an HP, you won't know this and those that have, you know exactly what I mean. This brother is as flimsy as they come. The paper curls, and yes I have put it in both ways. I used to take the docs out of my HP and they were neatly stacked. This brother just flips them out any ole way. Every time I pull a tray out to put paper in it, I'm scared to death I'm gonna break it, its that flimsy. I may sell this on ebay and buy me a decent HP again. I hate this thing. I've had it about a month now and thought I would get used to it, but I can't. I want my HP back.
Reply by HisHughness on 5/28/12 10:41pm Msg #422083
I run three printers.
An inket. HP.
A B&W laserjet. HP.
A color laserjet. HP.
There's a backup B&W printer in the closet. HP.
Bought a Canon once, years ago; paid something like $94. The cartridges were somewhere around $238 each. Never again.
In 1998 I was CEO of a small non-profit. Our laserjet was an HP Laserjet 4. It is the Model A of laserjets: Relatively inexpensive, sturdy, reliable, durable, and cheap to operate. That was 14 years ago, and you can still find offices running the Laserjet 4. The cartridges are still available.
Every now and then American electronics manufacturers get it right. HP has done that in spades with it its printers.
Reply by JanetK_CA on 5/29/12 1:47am Msg #422089
Re: I run three printers.
I agree, Hugh. Picking the right printer for the job can make a big difference - and it doesn't have to mean spending a lot of $$$$.
BTW, I think it's also important to look at monthly duty cycle when selecting a printer (although what that means varies from company to company). With the volume many of us do, we really need something that's a workhorse. So far, I've not been disappointed in any HP equipment I've owned (but some HPs aren't really up to the job, either). I bought my primary printer used (an HP 2430dtn) for relatively cheap, and it has no problem handling whatever I throw at it.
When you think about it, if someone averages just 3-4 signings a day, that could easily be 15,000 to 20,000 pages per month or more. Lots of printers aren't designed for that much use - and I know some do more volume than that.
Reply by Dorothy_MI on 5/29/12 9:29am Msg #422097
Now on my 3rd HP printer in 10 years
Started out with an HP4+ (12 pages a minute) which I had from one of my former business. Did loan signings for about 2 years with that (of course, then a lot of the docs were O/N). Then I upgraded to an HP 4100 (29 pages per minute -- thought I'd died and gone to heaven). It is still working, but I just upgraded to an HP 4350 (59 pages per minute -- now know I am in heaven). The 4350 also came with a duplicator (which I need for some of my extra curriculum activities. (I really do have a life outside of signing and even outside of politics)!
Reply by Jessica Ward on 5/29/12 11:24am Msg #422099
three HPs here too
I have 3 HP 2015 printers that I purchased refurbished or surplused all for between $25-$75. I get toners from LD (extended capacity) for about $70, as I understand it, the drum is built into the toner on that one, making the toner a little more expensive but you never have drum maintenance issues that are bigger than swapping out the toners.
I realize these are smaller/slower printers than many people are using, but I love that they're *almost* portable--I can move them around myself if they need to go in to be serviced, or if I just want to take one with me, which I often do in foul weather, in case docs are likely to be late enough that I can't get back and print them in a reasonable time.
I also have one HP color injket multifunction machine (HP officejet pro 8500). It's a little slow as a scanner and the fax buttons are small, but those are my only complaints.
I recently retired an HP color laser printer when I realized that it was only being used for the kids arts and crafts projects.
Reply by Deborah Breedlove on 5/29/12 11:31am Msg #422100
Re: I run three printers.
I have an old dual-tray HP Laserjet 4050 that I bought used in 1999 for $400. After 200,000 pages, we installed the maintenance kit and it's still going strong. It's fast and reliable. Toner cartridges that last 10,000 pages are $59 online. No drum replacement needed.
I wonder how many "cheaper" printers I would have gone through in 13 years if I hadn't bought this one.
Reply by anotaryinva on 5/29/12 6:37pm Msg #422135
You have 3 printers and none can n/m
Reply by anotaryinva on 5/29/12 6:38pm Msg #422136
NO way
You posted about printing on all legal.
Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 5/28/12 11:23pm Msg #422085
AMEN! to every word you wrote about the 5370! You can also add endless drum problems (to come). However, there are a couple of good things about it compared to my HP: it prints super fast, which is great when you gotta get on the road in a hurry, and it can handle the screwy scans we sometimes get from the screwy TC scanner people that completely befuddle the HP. That said, I'm going to continue to try to live with the monster until it croaks or I just throw it against the wall in a death purge. Also the print quality never was and never will be anything like HP's.
I know what you mean about the toner, too. Whenever it decides not to print because of "low" toner, that's it. You gotta replace the cartridge. I checked a rejected LD cartridge the other day and it had plenty of toner stuff in it. I shook out a ton, and put it in another rejected cartridge til it was full, and the printer accepted it. So at least I'm going to get my toner $$ out of it, more or less. As far as curly paper, roll it the opposite way and sit on it. That sort of flattens it out.
Anyway, at the risk of infuriating the loyal Brother camp, I am now done with Brother. I have had a Brother sewing machine (peice of junk; the sewing machine store wouldn't even take it off my hands, let alone consider it a trade-in); a junky Brother fax machine, and now this nightmare printer. And I haven't even mentioned "tech support." You'd have a better chance of getting through to President Obama than ever getting real live help from Brother.
Go get another HP, which I'm going to do soon, and consider the 5370 an emergency back up.
Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 5/29/12 5:42am Msg #422090
I agree with you Linda. I have a 2420 HP that has over 300,000 pages and keeps on truckin. My husband talked me into buying a Brother as a back up instead of another HP. Very noisy and I have to be careful not to let too many finished pages sit in the printer or they will start falling on the floor. Never again.
Reply by 101livescan on 5/29/12 7:24am Msg #422091
I live and breathe by HP...it's an industry standard for folks like us in this business. Four years ago, I received 10 sets of edocs for two days of signings, I was pulling my hair out with my HP1320. I bought a 4250DTN refurbished online and received it the next day. I've never regretted it.
I realized that if I was going to grow my business I needed to have the best tools to be able to perform signings unfurled and unagitated. Very much appreciate the speed and perfection of this work horse printer.
Trying to save money by buying inferior equipment in this business is not the way to do it. These other "home use" printers are not made to support the volume or quality we need to print documents. You end up spending more in toner and repairs, and the printers won't last as long or perform as well as HP's products.
Reply by Linda_H/FL on 5/29/12 7:30am Msg #422092
I agree about the difference in construction
Brother printers do seem flimsy compared to the HP...
Reply by ValleyGrl/VA on 5/29/12 8:53am Msg #422093
Linda J. - all is not lost
Linda... since you do have the Brother printer - there is a fix for the toner issue. I have a Brother (not sure of the #'s right off) - I knew there had to be more toner in the cartridge, mainly because the last page printed as clear and dark as the first page. What I found out - after doing some internet research is that the toner cartridge, as well as the drum can be "tricked"... you can google "tricking Brother toner" or something along those lines. There are a few YouTube videos that show you how to cover the "eyes" in the printer and on the toner cartridge with black electrical tape - allowing you to use the cartridge until it runs out. We went through a bunch of cartridges before I found this out - luckily I was slow to get the cartridges to Staples for recyclying - and I was able to put the "empty" cartridges back in the printer and use all of the toner they held - which was quite a bit. Hopefully this will help you!
Reply by jba/fl on 5/29/12 9:19am Msg #422095
Re: Linda J. - all is not lost
Reply by Yoli/CA on 5/29/12 10:18am Msg #422098
Thanks, jba/fl
for the link. Just happened to have an "empty" toner that I changed out last week. Didn't have electrical tape. So, tried regular Scotch tape. It works! Printed 20 pages crisp and clear.
I have a wonderful Brother MFC3220 that I've used since starting my NSA business in 2006. It's a workhorse! Also great for scanning those "faxbacks" to TC/SS.
Reply by MW/VA on 5/29/12 12:27pm Msg #422103
Yes, there are a couple of tricks you need to know if
you use Brother printers. The toner cart trick in an important one. Also, clean the corona wire on the drum (slide it back & forth about 30 times) every time you change toner. It extends the life of the drum. I agree that Brother printers are a bit flimsy & can sometimes be noisy. They really weren't built for the volume of printing we do. I have a 5240 and it's a workhorse. By buying remanufactured toner carts & drums it is very cost effective to operate. I actually prefer Brother printers over HP, but that's me. Good luck.
Reply by OR on 5/29/12 9:24am Msg #422096
Re: You took the words right out of my mouth Linda
Here is another reason. Try and call for help to get anything fixed. I think I was told about 7 or more times "Me no talka to you" (did not spell that wrong) in one weekend. I would never own a brother.
Reply by Barb25 on 5/29/12 12:37pm Msg #422104
To all you HP 4250 etc users...
I agree with you. I have always been an hp user and upgraded to the 4250 when it was very expensive and I was doing lots of work in 2005/2006 and needed it for volume and speed. It paid for itself in no time. Coming up to maintenance kit time. Anyhow my question for you guys. What driver are you using with windows 7. Believe it or not, I am now using Lasetjet 5PCL. Supposedly wrong driver but works great. Also have PCL6 Universal driver downloaded but don't see advantage and can't output less than 1200dpi... (I prefer 600 for toner savings)... Any input I would love to hear.
To Linda J. I hope you can get your issues resolves with the Brother. Good luck
Reply by snowflake/PA on 5/29/12 12:39pm Msg #422105
Re: I have the Brother 5370 and I actually
prefer it over the HP's I've owned prior. My HP's gave me alot of problems. Constant paper jams, streaking of pages. Since owning my Brother 5370, I truly haven't had one problem. Just my preference over the HP.
Reply by Jose Gutierrez on 5/29/12 12:58pm Msg #422107
Re: I have the Brother 5370 and I actually
My experience with brother has been different. In 8 years I have burned 2 hp's and only 1 brother. The brother had almost 200K pages the other hp even though were basic models died so earlier. The brother was a basic laser model too. HP has very good print quality but the brother is not bad either.
Reply by JanetK_CA on 5/29/12 1:29pm Msg #422109
Re: I have the Brother 5370 and I actually
Which HPs did you have? As I said above, not all of them have the duty cycle to handle the kind of volume we do.
Reply by Irma Mendez on 5/29/12 2:21pm Msg #422111
Re: I have the Brother 5370 and I actually
My Brother 5370dw is louder and, before it prints out it sounds like it is going to start to rock.I prefer the HP which I also have one need to go buy a new cartridge for it.
Reply by Linda Juenger on 5/29/12 2:26pm Msg #422112
Thanks for all the replys. I did use the tape and it worked
Thanks Julie. I used to have the HP 4100, had 2 of them and one of those I bought refurbished and it lasted almost 4 years. I was so sad when I finally had to recycle it. I guess I have made my mind up to keep this as a back up and look for another refurbished HP. I have another HP 3050 that is a copier/fax but only 1 tray. I have used it as a back up and printed all legal, but hate doing that. Just kind of stinks when I paid almost $300 for this brother and I don't like it. oh well, live and learn. I should have known better, but I kept reading all the comments about this particular brother 5370 so I said, what the heck, I'm going to give it a try. It's a preference issue I guess. To me, there is nothing like an HP in performance and quality in craftmanship.
Reply by Carolyn Breckenridge on 5/29/12 5:09pm Msg #422123
Re: Thanks for all the replys. I did use the tape and it worked
I just bought a reburbished HP 4350dtn. It is awesome. I was running a single tray HP and having to baby it everytime I printed a package to avoid a jam. Now I print and walk away from it. At 55 pages a minute it becomes no stress. Which is worth it to me.
I have owned anything but HP so I can't give an opinion about the Brother. I think it is all in what you are used to using.
Reply by MW/VA on 5/29/12 6:47pm Msg #422137
Why not return it to the store if you dislike it that much? n/m
Reply by Luckydog on 5/29/12 7:17pm Msg #422139
Re: Why not return it to the store if you dislike it that much?
I have 2 brother MFC-8460N all in ones. I run 2, and are my work horses. I get my toner less than $20.00 ea. on line and print 8,000 sheets. Maybe replace the drum once a year for less than $20.00 online, and that is doing 5,000 sheets per month legal on each printer. No complaints, and have had no problems what so ever.
Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 5/29/12 11:44pm Msg #422164
Re: I have the Brother 5370
I bought it used and the 2nd tray was under the printer but it was never installed. Brother says to call them and they will lead me through the actuall installing of the 2nd tray.
I can never get through to them on the phone. Any help on the actual steps to install the tray would be greatfully appreciated.
thanks
Reply by MW/VA on 5/30/12 8:30am Msg #422173
It should be like my 5240. Go to your Printer Properties &
then the "Accessories" tab. It's probably an LT-5300 tray. You should be able to just set the printer on top of the tray. You can set the trays for the paper size you choose for each one. It's easy. Good luck.
