Frequently Asked Questions

Are you affiliated with Monstertoner (without the “S”)?

No, we are not in anyway affiliated or the same company as Monstertoner (without the "s"). Please designate your shopping choice at www.monstertoners.com.

What does “remanufactured” inks and toner cartridges mean?

Remanufactured means that the empty cartridges are being recycled to Original and OEM specifications. The process includes inspecting the used cartridge, replacing all worn parts to new, and print testing the cartridge for quality assurance. This term is used interchangeably with “replacement”. Therefore, you are worry-free to use our products.

What are OEM cartridges?

An OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) is a company that builds a product under its own registered logo and brand. An OEM, such as HP or Panasonic, manufactures the product with an assigned part. We provide the OEM part number to assist you in finding a compatible cartridge. This term is used interchangeably with “Original”.

Will a remanufactured cartridge void my printer’s warranty?

No. It is a general misconception that using remanufactured cartridges will void a printer’s warranty; however, this is not the case according to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act.

MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY IMPROVEMENT ACT
United States Code Annotated
Title 15 Commerce and Trade
Chapter 50 Consumer Product Warranties
15 Section 2032

For more detailed information about MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY IMPROVEMENT ACT, please visit

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/adv/bus01.shtm#Magnuson-Moss
 

How does the quality of remanufactured cartridges compare to OEM cartridges?

Remanufactured cartridges are guaranteed to perform with printers. The replacement ink cartridges and supplies (also known as generic) are specially engineered to meet the highest standards of quality, reliability and exceptional yields to meet OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) standards and these remanufactured products offer high-quality printing results.

What is the warranty policy for MonsterToners?

We only accept products back for an exchange for 365 days or refund for 30 days after the purchase was made (NO EXCEPTION). Only products purchased from MonsterToners can be returned for an exchange and unopened products must be in sellable condition.

How should I handle my new cartridges?

First of all, shake the toner thoroughly; then remove the seals (or plastic strips and caps). Never touch the electronic print head with any abrasive material. Handle with care when placing your cartridges down and do not place the print head in contact with any surface besides the printer.

How should I store my cartridges for later use?

We suggest inks and toners to be used right away once you receive, since storing them for too long can leave them vulnerable to drying up. However, if you do choose to store them, it is always suggested to store your cartridges in a room temperature (approx. 68~77 degrees Fahrenheit). It is also a good idea to store your cartridges in an upright position. A lot of times during shipment these units are not sitting in an upright position and ink/toner will tend to settle at the opposite end of the cartridge which may cause printing issues. As a suggestion, before usage you want to have your cartridge sit in the upright position for a couple of hours to ensure that the ink/toner moves to the bottom of the cartridge allowing the ink/toner to pass through the sponge, which will allow the cartridge to print properly.

What is the shelf life of my new cartridges?

They have a one year shelf life. It is highly suggested to use the products within 365 days after purchase, we will not exchange for replace cartridges used after the warranty period if any issues occur.

Is MonsterToners.com a secure website?

Yes, MonsterToners is a secure website. Please read our “Privacy Policy” for more detailed information.

Does MonsterToners charge sales tax?

All orders shipped outside of California are tax free. We only charge sales tax on orders toward California shipping address. Our local tax rate is 9.75%.

Why is my order not accepted with my credit card?

Please double check:

If the credit card information are correct (card#, security code, expiration date, name on card, billing address)

SHIPPING AND HANDLING

How long does it take to process my order?

We generally process the order within 2-3 business days after you place the order. We do not process or ship on weekends or holidays. This depends on availability of the item and customer’s credit card or shipping address verification. Please note that if you want to cancel the order once it has been shipped, the shipping cost is non-refundable.

What shipping methods do you use?

We use United Parcel Service (UPS) and United States Postal Service (USPS).

Do you offer expedited shipping?

Yes, if you would like to expedite your shipping method, you would have to call us directly to place the order. Our Customer Service hotline is 800.950.9510.

I provided the wrong shipping address; can I get my package re-routed?

Please call us to double check whether the item has been shipped. If it has been shipped out from our warehouse, there will be an interception fee of $12 applied to your order to re-route to the correct address. The rate is charged by UPS.

How can I check my order?

Please allow 24 hours for your order to be updated on our website’s tracking system. For orders placed after business hours and holidays, your order status will be available on the next business day. You can simply check the status on our website at www.monstertoners.com under “Order Status” by typing the web order number (numbers after the second dash, e.g. yhst-68578193199836-123456).

Why have I not received my order yet?

We ship all orders from California. Most packages shipped within the US are delivered by UPS or USPS within 3-6 business days (excluding weekends & major holidays). Orders that are shipped outside of the US may take longer to be delivered. We generally ship the item within 2-3 business days (excluding weekends & major holidays) that you place the order. The estimated time of delivery depends on availability of the item and customer’s credit card or shipping address verification.

COUPONS AND DISCOUNTS

Can I use a coupon after it expires?

No, expired coupons cannot be redeemed. We offer coupons frequently. Please sign up for our newsletter at www.monstertoners.com  for current and up-to-date coupons. Furthermore, coupon codes are only accepted at check-out, no changes can be made after the order has been placed.

Can I use a coupon for OEM products?

No, we do not offer discounted price for OEM products. Coupons and discounts do not apply to any of your order on OEM products.

Where can I find or receive your coupons?

Once you place an order with us, we will automatically send you emails enclosed with coupon code. Or you may sign up for the newsletter for discounted coupon offers.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Why is my new ink cartridge not printing?

This can happen to cartridges with attached print heads such as HP, Lexmark or Dell. All cartridges are weighed and tested before leaving the factory so lack of ink isn't the problem. It usually has to do with the print head of the cartridge not having any ink to feed it. This happens because cartridges are kept flat or upside down for weeks or months before being used and the ink settles away from the print head. The easiest remedy is to open the box and stand the cartridge upright for a few minutes before using. Then get a damp paper towel, fold it into quarters and sit the cartridge print head down onto it. Hold the cartridge down to the damp paper towel for three minutes. This will help pull the ink out of the print heads, priming them and getting them ready to print. Finally, install the cartridge into your printer and print a few test pages.

Why is my page yield lower than the one quoted on the website?

Customers often mistakenly track page yield by time. The amount of time it takes for a cartridge to go empty is a bad way of counting page yield. The described yield for ink and toner cartridges is given at 5% coverage. Typically only a short memo is at 5% coverage. If you are printing letters, using legal size paper, printing photos, web pages or doing any kind of graphics your coverage will vary greatly which will cause the page yield to drop.

If you only do memos then you should reach the manufacturer's stated yield specifications. If you write full page letters or print graphics your yield will be considerably less. When printing text and full page graphics, a 4000 page yield cartridge will run out of toner in around 800 pages.

Below, you can see two sample pages that are yield at a 5% and 80% coverage respectively. If your documents have more page coverage you will get drastically lower page yields from each inkjet or toner cartridge.

(5% coverage on the left and 80% coverage on the right)

Note: Each cartridge generally have a serial number embedded on the electronic contacts. The printer reads this number and counts the number of ink droplets that come out. When the counter reaches a predetermined number (it does not matter which color gets to that number first) the low ink light will come on. The colors are not used at the same rates so not all colors will take the same amount of ink. After you have installed a new cartridge the low ink light may continue to show low ink levels. This is because the printer still thinks that the cartridge is empty. The cartridge will still work even with the light on.

Why is my cartridge printing out faded/pale?

In many cases our cartridges are sealed for shipping and handling purposes, please be sure to remove this seal before installing the cartridges. In addition, before you remove the seal, be sure to shake the cartridges well so that the ink or toner is spread evenly within the cartridge.

Why am I getting an error message from my cartridge?

The most common error messages are listed below, with trouble shooting techniques to help eliminate any type of error message.

-  A message asking you to replace your black/color inkjet cartridge

-  The cartridge light blinks on the printer.

-  A message that ask you to check your black/color inkjet cartridge.

-  A message that indicates the cartridge is not seated properly.

-  A message that indicates there is no cartridge installed.

How to fix the problem:

Cartridges that have an internal print head (HP, Lexmark and some Canon)
This is caused when the cartridge is not making proper contact with the printer. This may also be caused by unclean contact points on the print head. Open the area where your cartridges are installed and remove the cartridge that is causing the problem. Then completely turn off your printer for 2-3 minutes by unplugging the printer from its power source. As you wait you can clean the print head on the bottom of the cartridge with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Reinstall your cartridge making sure it is seated correctly in its designated slot. Power your printer back up and your cartridge should be recognized and ready to print.

Cartridges that do not have an internal print head (Epson, Brother, Canon)
Usually this is caused by the chip on the cartridge not making direct contact with the printer sensors. All you need to do is open the area of the printer where your cartridges are installed. Remove the cartridge that is causing the problem from its designated port and reinstall the cartridge to ensure it is properly seated, secured, and that the chip is lined up with the printer censor. Close the printer cover and proceed to turn off the printer. Wait 10 seconds and restart your printer. Proceed to print a test page and you should be able to solve the problem.

Why is my printer display showing the cartridge is “empty”?

All of our cartridges are inspected before packaging to ensure that the cartridge is filled with the correct amount of ink/toner. The chance of receiving an empty inkjet is incredibly rare. Most of the time, this error reading is caused by the cartridge not being properly seated in its designated slot. We suggest that you remove the cartridge and reinstall it, make sure that it snaps into place and is seated correctly and securely. Please take into consideration that your printer may not accurately read the ink/toner level of the cartridge. If you install your new cartridge before you reset the printer driver, there is a chance that the printer may think you are still using the old empty cartridge. One way to fix this issue is to reinstall your cartridge and click on the install new cartridge option; you may have to refer to your printer’s manual for further instructions. If you follow the instructions, the error message should not appear again.