Buying a Printer - Get Proof of PURCHASE

by David Hickman of Second Image Ltd. (He is a computer printer specialist at 16 Ihakara Street, Paraparaumu, phone (04) 902-3735 sales@second-image.co.nz. )

When purchasing a new printer, few people realise the importance of having a basic knowledge of getting your printer repaired under warranty.

I have recently come across some instances where the printer owner has not realised the necessity of having proper documentation when something goes wrong and the printer is still under warranty.

Firstly, all printer manufacturers have authorised warranty repair companies who are the only people allowed to touch a printer under warranty. Anyone else who attempts a repair (even the person you bought it off) can void your warranty if they attempt even the most minor repair.

Secondly, you don't have to take the printer back to your vendor to make a warranty claim. You may have bought the printer in another town or your vendor may have gone out of business. In any event, you can easily find out where you need to send your printer by using the Yellow Pages and making some simple enquiries. Don't also assume because a printer is part of a package (a freebie) that it is not covered under warranty, ask.

Thirdly, you MUST have "proof of purchase". This takes the form of an invoice from your vendor that will include the date you purchased the printer and the make, model and serial number. Without this information, you will find it almost impossible to get your printer repaired under warranty. Another trap is that most manufacturers track their printers from the date of manufacture and assign an arbitrary time for shipping and sale before the warranty period begins.

For example, a printer may have a twelve month warranty and the manufacturer's computer will say that the warranty expires fifteen months after manufacture. If it takes six months, instead of three, to ship and sell, your "proof of purchase" becomes even more important should something go wrong in the first twelve months of use.

So when buying a printer, make sure you get the complete documentation which fully describes the printer, lists the serial number, date of purchase and full price paid. If you cannot for any reason, get a document like this, go to another vendor. It is also worth noting, if you pay a large amount for your printer and are offered an extended warranty, it is probably worth having. If a major component fails after eighteen months, it may be a very costly repair.

Technical Tip for Inkjet Users

If you have had an extended overseas trip or just haven't used your printer for some time, you could find your print quality is terrible or may not print at all. Why? The ink has dried in the printheads.

With some types of printer with the heads built in, you have to run the cleaning cycle a number of times to solve the problem. Occasionally it proves fatal. In those printers where the print head is built into the cartridge, you can stand the cartridge, printhead down in hot water for ten to fifteen minutes, pat it dry with a paper towel or tissue and put the cartridge back into the printer. Now run the cleaning and alignment cycles and your problem should be solved.

Technical Tip for Laser Printer Users

Buy a can of compressed air and blow the toner dust and paper dust out of your printer each time you change a toner cartridge. Wipe the printer out with a lint free soft cloth. By doing this, you will keep your printer clean and extend its life.