Konica Minolta Low Toner Alert Notification

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  • progoffice
    Trusted Tech

    250+ Posts
    • Nov 2008
    • 328

    Konica Minolta Low Toner Alert Notification

    Is there a way to program Konica Minolta machines to notify us via email that toner is low and not completely out? On Kyocera machines, we're able to set thresholds to notify us when the toner is for example at 10%. This gives us time to prepare a new toner before the machine goes down. On the Konica machines, we only get a notification when the toner is out - which doesn't really do us any good.
  • JDR
    Technician

    50+ Posts
    • Jan 2015
    • 82

    #2
    Re: Konica Minolta Low Toner Alert Notification

    konica's MFPs don't do this by themself...
    They only sent when the toner cardridge is empty.

    Comment

    • Don N.
      Trusted Tech

      250+ Posts
      • Nov 2011
      • 409

      #3
      Re: Konica Minolta Low Toner Alert Notification

      Originally posted by progoffice
      Is there a way to program Konica Minolta machines to notify us via email that toner is low and not completely out? On Kyocera machines, we're able to set thresholds to notify us when the toner is for example at 10%. This gives us time to prepare a new toner before the machine goes down. On the Konica machines, we only get a notification when the toner is out - which doesn't really do us any good.
      Agree, Kyocera does it.
      For immediate relief, it's called a spare on the shelf. I recommend it!
      (Sorry, It's Friday, I'm wearing jeans, and closing on a house, so feeling giddy!)

      Comment

      • blackcat4866
        Master Of The Obvious

        Site Contributor
        10,000+ Posts
        • Jul 2007
        • 22703

        #4
        Re: Konica Minolta Low Toner Alert Notification

        Many dealers choose to turn off toner low indications when possible because some customers will immediately change out the toner cartridge and throw away the last 10% still in the cartridge. Who cares? We have a service contract, yes? That's one of the reasons that that contract cost goes up annually. =^..^=
        If you'd like a serious answer to your request:
        1) demonstrate that you've read the manual
        2) demonstrate that you made some attempt to fix it.
        3) if you're going to ask about jams include the jam code.
        4) if you're going to ask about an error code include the error code.
        5) You are the person onsite. Only you can make observations.

        blackcat: Master Of The Obvious =^..^=

        Comment

        • tsbservice
          Field tech

          Site Contributor
          5,000+ Posts
          • May 2007
          • 7635

          #5
          Re: Konica Minolta Low Toner Alert Notification

          On contract machines here we tend to use software called Print Fleet, not sure it's available in America.
          It can be setup to send various types of notifications, counters, error codes and so on. But it costs some small fee.
          Nevertheless, End Users never care to change toners ONLY when empty... unless they are without service contract and have to pay them.
          A tree is known by its fruit, a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost, he who sows courtesy, reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.
          Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.

          Comment

          • 3ktlc
            Trusted Tech

            Site Contributor
            100+ Posts
            • Feb 2018
            • 178

            #6
            Re: Konica Minolta Low Toner Alert Notification

            We use FM Audit. Got tired of customers replacing toner early. Or on the 3320/4020/4050/4750, changing toner when it was calling for the IU.

            Comment

            • Bix
              Service Manager

              1,000+ Posts
              • Apr 2018
              • 1421

              #7
              Re: Konica Minolta Low Toner Alert Notification

              It has happened to us that a customer has been notified to 20% to change the cartridge. He changed the cartridge but the MFP did not notice (maybe he turned off the car before?)


              In the end it turned out that he changed the cartridge again, throwing a new one !!

              Comment

              • mo0651
                Service Manager

                1,000+ Posts
                • Apr 2009
                • 1054

                #8
                Re: Konica Minolta Low Toner Alert Notification

                We use V-CARE, and FM AUDIT. V-Care can notify you when toner is replaced prematurely and ERROR CODES, Jamming. FM AUDIT allows you to set threshold % for remaining life.

                Comment

                • copyman
                  Owner / Technician

                  Site Contributor
                  2,500+ Posts
                  • Sep 2005
                  • 4217

                  #9
                  Re: Konica Minolta Low Toner Alert Notification

                  The most foolish & unprofitable thing a dealer or OEM can do is send customers toners whenever they want. It's tough when contract customer calls with excuses like we always want a set of backups, or toners are showing very low and we are going to run a big job. We had one customers employee selling the toners on ebay!

                  Comment

                  • copyman
                    Owner / Technician

                    Site Contributor
                    2,500+ Posts
                    • Sep 2005
                    • 4217

                    #10
                    Re: Konica Minolta Low Toner Alert Notification

                    Like a few others posted it can't be done on Kon/Min without some type of software. You can check the supply status on web interface page and will tell you remaining toner life. Or simply look at the indicators on display, when you see low order one. And of course you could write on the backup toner box in bold letters *"order new toner right after installing this toner. Always have a backup. At least a black

                    Comment

                    • Phil B.
                      Field Supervisor

                      10,000+ Posts
                      • Jul 2016
                      • 22808

                      #11
                      Re: Konica Minolta Low Toner Alert Notification

                      Originally posted by copyman
                      The most foolish & unprofitable thing a dealer or OEM can do is send customers toners whenever they want. It's tough when contract customer calls with excuses like we always want a set of backups, or toners are showing very low and we are going to run a big job. We had one customers employee selling the toners on ebay!
                      we will SELL them a set of toners for backup if they want... but NOT for FREE!

                      Comment

                      • copyman
                        Owner / Technician

                        Site Contributor
                        2,500+ Posts
                        • Sep 2005
                        • 4217

                        #12
                        Re: Konica Minolta Low Toner Alert Notification

                        Hey Phil, how can you sell a contract customer toner? If you know they are legit and close to needing toners you wouldn't send them a set. I guess with me being a smaller company I wouldn't want to have to keep sending or delivering them 4 toners at different times. Of course they would have to be 1/4 or less left for me to send them.

                        Comment

                        • progoffice
                          Trusted Tech

                          250+ Posts
                          • Nov 2008
                          • 328

                          #13
                          Re: Konica Minolta Low Toner Alert Notification

                          We are a Copystar and Konica Minolta dealer. We use KFS and Command Center RX automated email reporting to keep tabs on the toner levels and overall condition of our Copystar/Kyocera equipment in the field. There's a bit of redundancy here, but having both the automated machine emails and 24/7 cloud based updates via KFS is pretty awesome. We also set the low toner warning levels to different percentages based on certain criteria such as distance from our office and print volume. It would be nice if the Konica machines could at least give us a heads up before going down. I feel like there has to be some setting that could allow for this?

                          Comment

                          • Phil B.
                            Field Supervisor

                            10,000+ Posts
                            • Jul 2016
                            • 22808

                            #14
                            Re: Konica Minolta Low Toner Alert Notification

                            Originally posted by copyman
                            Hey Phil, how can you sell a contract customer toner? If you know they are legit and close to needing toners you wouldn't send them a set. I guess with me being a smaller company I wouldn't want to have to keep sending or delivering them 4 toners at different times. Of course they would have to be 1/4 or less left for me to send them.

                            Sir, you need to re-read my post it says " they wanted to keep a BACK UP SET ". they STILL get JIT toner delivery.... but not a backup set of toners

                            Comment

                            • Don N.
                              Trusted Tech

                              250+ Posts
                              • Nov 2011
                              • 409

                              #15
                              Re: Konica Minolta Low Toner Alert Notification

                              That becomes a selling point to your competition. Customers say "if we go with your company, do we get a spare toner on hand?"
                              We provide a spare, demand and label the toners "re-order immediately upon installation". There should only be a brief time when there isn't a spare on their shelf, and that's right after installing the last one, or the next to the last, etc. depending on their volume. We dictate how many they should sit on. They should never order from the machine's status.
                              Also, we sticker toners intermittently warning about toner phoners trying to pretend they are "your copier company" & sell toners for $400 plus $40 shipping because "toner is going up next month"! Yes, those idiots are making a comeback.

                              Comment

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