Complaint Review: Lexmark - Internet

This is a really old post but I just wanted to add this for the record.

The issue you're not seeing as that sure, the ink cartridges don't need to be "full" but after they have become too low to print color properly, the printer will continue to print using the black-only option. BUT, at some point, the catridge is so low that you in fact do need to replace the catridge in order to print using black-only. 

I've attached a screenshot of the error message to confirm this is the case.

Thanks,

David

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It is not true that one can print in black only if the color cartridges are "full". I continue to print for a very long time while the color cartridges are very low, and can do so until they are completely empty.

Consumers CAN elect to print in black only in Printer Properties and therefore use only the color ink that the system requires in reboots, cleaning heads, etc.

With that said, I would like to have an option to set a black-only default instead of having to do so with each print job and to not have to replenish color cartridges at all in order to print in black. I'm considering a laser black-only printer for just the black jobs and will continue with the color equipment for those rare color print jobs.

I've been using Lexmark Platinum series All-in-One models for many years and they are definately NOT a Ripoff.

I have the pro901. I never print in color, I go to settings and select Black ink only. Somehow my color ink cartridges get empty. I called Lexmark today and was told that it doesnt matter that I choose use black only, it uses color ink no matter what. That should be illegal!! Also when one of my colored inks run out I cannot print at all. The guy said thats the way its set up!! Scam?? Deceptive practice??? I think so.

MY PRO 901 uses color ink evevthough the printer is set for black only. Color ink reduces to empty while never being used. So much for the $4.99 per 500 pages.

Also, I want to confirm that when I called Lexmark Tech support, they told me that my platinum 905 will not print black and white if one of the color cartridges is empty.

This is believable.  With my printer, I have had a color cartridge go dry while printing and the printer continues on.  I have resumed printing in black only and the printer continues on.

I notice that no one told you the color cartridges need to be full, as the liar I called out claims.

I can't explain why my printer will continue with an empty color cartridge.  Perhaps it is because I purchase my cartridges directly from Lexmark.  Or perhaps it's because the color cartridge goes dry before the printer indicates it's empty (indicates VERY LOW with an X on the ink level display.) I don't know-as soon as a cartridge goes dry, I replace it with a fresh one. 

I only know what my Pro901 does (I added the second paper tray, effectively making it a Pro 905.)  The Pro901 and Pro905 use the same FIRMWARE updates, so that isn't the issue-check the Lexmark website and you'll verify this.

I think that it has something to do with the kind of cartidge because I have the printer printed black and white while one or all the original color cartridges were empty (the color cartridges that came with my new lexmark 905). However, I ran into this problem when the replacement color cartridges got emptied (or al least one of them emptied even though they were lexmark brand). I wish I never got rid of my first emptied color cartidges. Also, I want to confirm that when I called Lexmark Tech support, they told me that my platinum 905 will not print black and white if one of the color cartridges is empty.

I think that it has something to do with the kind of cartidge because I have the printer printed black and white while one or all the original color cartridges were empty (the color cartridges that came with my new lexmark 905). However, I ran into this problem when the replacement color cartridges got emptied (or al least one of them emptied even though they were lexmark brand). I wish I never got rid of my first emptied color cartidges.

I can't stop laughing!

I see you still can't locate the "caps lock" key!  LOL!

I called you out as the liar you are and in expected childish fashion, you resort to name calling.  Typical of liars when they're caught.

No one from Lexmark told you the color cartridges have to be FULL for the machine to print.  NO ONE told you this.

Keep trying liar, it's funny!

YOU REALLY WENT OUT YOUR MF WAY TO COMMENT LMFAO! YOU DEFINITELY WORKED FOR THESE MOTHERF***ERS .. YOU JUST A LITTLE INTERNET THUG. BEST BELIEVE IF YOU WERE IN FRONT OF ME YOU WOULD NOT BE TALKING LIKE THAT BECAUSE I WOULD SMACK THE S**T OUT OF YOU WITH THIS BULLS**T A** LEXMARK PRO905. HAHAHAHAHHA,.

SEEN THIS POST THEN I COULDNT BELIEVE IT SO DECIDED TO CALL LEXMARK AND THEY DEINITELY DID SAY THE COLOR NEEDS TO BE FULL SMFH!!!!.

Bullshit!  You're a liar as well as the other poster who claimed to have been told that the color cartridges have to be FULL.  If this was the case, ding-dong, the printer would stop after printing one page because after printing one page the cartridges would no longer be FULL, would they?

There is a special telephone number for owners of the Pro 901 and Pro 905 to call for support.  This number is on the warranty document that comes with the printer-kindly post it.  You shouldn't have any problem posting the correct number since you claim to own one.

Try to keep your BS believable.

AND THE PERSON DEFENDING LEXMARK YOU PROBABLY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THEM RETART!!!.

Retart?  What is that?  Did you mean RETARD?  LMAO.  I'm not the one who can't spell.  I'm not the one who can't locate the "caps lock" key on my computer.  I'm not the one claiming to have been told that the cartridges have to be FULL in order to print (preposterous claim.)

And no, I don't work for them.

Go back to school, you need it dearie.

ITS SOO EXPENSIVE AND NOT WORTH IT!!!

$200 for a good business class printer is not expensive at all, and the $5 black ink cartridges cannot be beat.

SUCH A RIP OFF!! I WANT A FULL REFUND BACK BECAUSE BEST BELIEVE THEY ARE FALSE ADVERTISEMENT BECAUSE IF I WOULDVE KNOWN THIS I WOULDVE NEVER PURCHSED IT!!!! WTF !!!!!

Good grief!  Please go back to school!

SO TRUE! SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO ME , SEEN THIS POST THEN I COULDNT BELIEVE IT SO DECIDED TO CALL LEXMARK AND THEY DEINITELY DID SAY THE COLOR NEEDS TO BE FULL SMFH!!!!. AND THE PERSON DEFENDING LEXMARK YOU PROBABLY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THEM RETART!!!.

THESE PEOPLE ARE SCAMS..DO NOT PURCHASE THE LEXMARK PRO905!!! ITS SOO EXPENSIVE AND NOT WORTH IT!!! SUCH A RIP OFF!! I WANT A FULL REFUND BACK BECAUSE BEST BELIEVE THEY ARE FALSE ADVERTISEMENT BECAUSE IF I WOULDVE KNOWN THIS I WOULDVE NEVER PURCHSED IT!!!! WTF !!!!!

I called the Pro905 technical support and got confirmation that the printer does, in fact, need all four cartridges full in order to print.

Nonsense!  I don't believe that anyone at Lexmark support told you this.  All four cartridges have to be full?  They can't be half full, or a third full, or at 10% full?  Rubbish-I don't believe you.  I have had my Pro901 for almost three years and to date, it will print in black ink only and it will attempt to print if an ink cartridge is empty-I've had this happen many times while printing because I wait until a cartridge runs dry before changing it.

Make no mistake, this is not by accident. Nor is the false advertising about this printer having the lowest cost black ink prints. My color inks emptied over time even though I NEVER made any color prints.

This is possible and I'll tell you why.  If you don't use the printer for a while (7 days I believe) when you DO go to print something, regardless of ink setting, the printer goes through a lengthy "preparing to print-do not interrupt" sequence.  What the printer is doing is CLEANING the print heads.  This indeed will use all four color inks because the printer is cleaning the heads for ALL INK COLORS.  When the printer finishes this cleaning and actually prints your document, it will print with ONLY the color inks that are selected.  This is programmed into the printer firmware and cannot be over-ridden by the user.  If you have ever manually performed a "clean the printhead" operation, it does indeed use quite a bit of ink (all four of them.)

This is discussed in the Lexmark forums.  So, if you selfdom use the printer, every time you do go to use it, it will go through this print head cleaning routine.  Remember, this is a "small business/home office" class printer that was not designed to be used once every 8 days or so.  It was designed for daily use and has a 25 sheet automatic paper feeder (copier/fax mode.)  I use mine almost daily and it rarely does an automatic printhead cleaning unless I don't use it for a week or more (vacation or out of town.)

Checking the "print in black and white only" button has no effect on Mac OSX. The printer will still give the error message about being unable to print with an empty color cartridge. Maybe it lets you on Windows? Don't know, but it doesn't work here.

Perhaps but I doubt it.  My Pro901 does indeed attempt to print with ONE cartridge empty.  It prints the document with that particular color missing.  I've had this happen when a cartridge runs dry during a print job: black, yellow, magenta, and cyan

I called the Pro905 technical support and got confirmation that the printer does, in fact, need all four cartridges full in order to print.

Make no mistake, this is not by accident. Nor is the false advertising about this printer having the lowest cost black ink prints. My color inks emptied over time even though I NEVER made any color prints.

Checking the "print in black and white only" button has no effect on Mac OSX. The printer will still give the error message about being unable to print with an empty color cartridge. Maybe it lets you on Windows? Don't know, but it doesn't work here.

I don't know what to tell you other than you may need to reinstall the printer software that came with your Lexmark Series Pro 900 printer.  If you have a Lexmark Pro901 or Pro905 you should have a Printer Preferences dialog box that is the same as the one in the image I've uploaded.  If not, your software may have become corrupt.  Additionally, you may need to upgrade/reinstall the printer FIRMWARE.

I'm using my Pro 901 (with second paper tray which makes it a Pro 905 - the only difference is the paper tray) on a Windows XP Pro system with up to date firmware.

If the "print with black ink only is still missing" in the printer preferences dialog box AFTER you reinstall the Lexmark printer software, I suggest you call the SPECIAL tech support number that is listed in your 5 year warranty document-they should be able to help you or tell you why this option is not available with your system.

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On my printer the Print in black ink only...Is Gone...I do not have that Option. Just a blank space.

I have option 1. & 3.  The following is only blank....

2.  "Print using black ink only"  With this preference, all print jobs are printed using only BLACK ink.  No color ink is used, although all the ink cartridges must be installed.  This is the most economical setting.

However the black ink will only work if all the color cartridges are full and the color cartridges cost five times as much for each cartridge and are very, very small so they're continually having to be replaced.

I have a Pinnacle Pro 901 which is the 905 without the second paper tray (I purchased the 2nd tray on sale at a later date.)  I like this printer very much.  My printer will indeed attempt to print if one of the ink cartridges is empty-I like this because I KNOW that the cartridge is actually empty.  However, all of the ink cartridges must be installed.  There are 3 printer preferences for ink usage which are set in the "printer preferences" box.

1.  "Print using all available ink"  With this preference, all ink cartridges must be installed and have usable ink-the printer will print all print jobs using all inks (even for black and white.)  This setting will use all 4 inks and has increased costs.

2.  "Print using black ink only"  With this preference, all print jobs are printed using only BLACK ink.  No color ink is used, although all the ink cartridges must be installed.  This is the most economical setting.

2.  "Print using color ink only"  With this preference, all print jobs are printed using only color ink.  No black ink is used although all ink cartridges must be installed.  This setting will burn through color ink quickly and becomes very costly.

I contacted Lexmark to try to get my Lexmark Platinum 905 printer to only print with the black ink for certain jobs and their position is that you must go out and purchase their color cartridges, end of story, no other option.

How did you contact Lexmark?  Did you call the toll free number that was provided with the printer?  This is a special number for consumers with Pro901 and Pro905 printers which is premium tech/warranty support.  It always connects to a live person and I've found them to be very helpful-this is in the printer documentation under the 5 year warranty (another great deal - 5 frigging years.)

All 4 ink cartridges must be installed for the printer to function, but they do NOT need to be full and one can even be empty.  Mine will attempt to print with an empty cartridge.  You can set the printer driver default to "print  using black ink only" which is another feature that I like.  The only time I tell the printer to use color is when I need to print something in color, otherwise it defaults to black and white.  It does a decent job of printing color photos in grey scale when defaulted to print using only black ink.  I have found my printing costs (ink) to be greatly reduced with this printer.

If you're using a windows OS you can go to PRINTERS, open printer properties, and change the default printer settings.  You merely need to click in the box for "print using black ink only."

Your symptoms would indicate to me that your default printer settings are set to either "print using all available ink" or "print using color ink only."  In either of these 2 options, the printer WILL USE COLOR ink for all printing jobs and you will indeed go through color ink cartridges quickly.

Hope this helps.