What are you selling instead of C3320i/C3321i ?

[Labsy]

Hi guyz and galz!

What are you selling to customers as A4 color MFP instead of that buggy, unlucky C3321i? We've had just expenses and lost on those machines in past years due to Magenta IU problems, almost 40% of sold machines were returned within 2 years. The updated C3321i promised to be problem-free if proper initialization is done (removed IUs before first power-up, shaking, re-seating...), but we've got back ALL sold machines! Looking for alternatives (CEE European market)

[Slammers]

We have moved A4s across to Kyocera. Now putting out the ECOSYS MA3500cix line.

We have also had nothing but pain with the C3321i.
IUs were terrible, same issues you have described, even with the FW up to date, high speed stirring, shaking/tapping, saying a prayer before install it was pot luck if it just sat calibrating and emptied itself into the waste.

We also have seen that no matter how careful you are, after about 2 years the SPI-Flash would just eat itself and you would get the 25% boot lockup with the lovely Check Result NG - Replace CPU Board in the diag FW. Just horrible machines.

[jwai]

agree......

[Labsy]

We have moved A4s across to Kyocera. Now putting out the ECOSYS MA3500cix line.

I had an eye on this machine, but it seems a it on cunsumer side, rather than business. Non OEM toners have appealing price, but I am total amateur with Kyocera and dunno if non-OEM world here exists or not.

[Slammers]

Comparing the Kyo box to the C3320i it is the Konica that feels more "consumer" in comparision (my opinion of course). I have many of these out in my fleet in a mixed range of use cases, from small office to factory floor environments.

As for non-oem, I am a fully supported shop and I never run no-oem parts/toners in my devices. I understand that cost cutting is on everyones mind, but I am not voiding my manufacturer warranty and risking quality issues with my fleet. I inherited some previous gen Kyo A4 Colour MFPS from a company that went under that had been using non oem in the machines. The drum main chargers were shot and the ITB cleaning unit was not good. Compared to my own machines with similar meters it was night and day in wear. Not to mention the repeat calls for quality which add up and don't get factored into savings correctly.

You may get more feedback and info if you enquire about that series in the Kyocera/UTAX board.

[Labsy]

Thank you very much for insight! I'll think about those Kyocera models, just need some time to find out, which Kyocera models are suitable to cover up the KM gap in A4 MFP segment. Just those toners are a bit on expensive side, compared to KM...
- 130 EUR/5000 = 0.026 EUR/page versus
- 40 EUR/9000 = 0.004 EUR/page... KM is more than 6 times cheaper....hard to beat :/

[tsbservice]

So we all want a4 colour MFPs robust AND with cheap original toners. Good luck finding that unicorn

[doinbox]

We have moved A4s across to Kyocera. Now putting out the ECOSYS MA3500cix line.

We have also had nothing but pain with the C3321i.
IUs were terrible, same issues you have described, even with the FW up to date, high speed stirring, shaking/tapping, saying a prayer before install it was pot luck if it just sat calibrating and emptied itself into the waste.

We also have seen that no matter how careful you are, after about 2 years the SPI-Flash would just eat itself and you would get the 25% boot lockup with the lovely Check Result NG - Replace CPU Board in the diag FW. Just horrible machines.

Wait till you have issues and need Kyocera's support. Good luck mate

[Dianon]

Wait till you have issues and need Kyocera's support. Good luck mate

wich support? we where Kyo partner 10 years ago. Had big problems with task alpha series. Got new FW twice a weak over 3 month, wich never solved the prublem, only caused new ones. And then Kyo begin to charge mony for there help.

But to the topic. We suffer a similar experiance and a currently in the process of changing over to canon. Personaly i don't expect much, but it can't become worse

We miss the samsung devices, sadly they gave up when beginning to become relaiable.

[doinbox]

wich support? we where Kyo partner 10 years ago. Had big problems with task alpha series. Got new FW twice a weak over 3 month, wich never solved the prublem, only caused new ones. And then Kyo begin to charge mony for there help.

But to the topic. We suffer a similar experiance and a currently in the process of changing over to canon. Personaly i don't expect much, but it can't become worse

We miss the samsung devices, sadly they gave up when beginning to become relaiable.

Kyocera support. You cant ring and talk to engineers direct. You have to email support and wait 2-3 weeks for someone to call you whilst your customer debates if they should stay with you anymore.

[Slammers]

I deal with UTAX in the UK and have had no issues whatsoever in getting the required support or information. Get direct calls to engineers if needed and email support is fantastic. I have probably just jinxed myself with that.

As tsb mentioned, getting a cheap robust low running cost machine is tough.

We also used to supply Samsung devices like Dianon mentioned. They were awesome but when HP aquired the brand everything went to shit. I had A4 M4020 samsung desktop machines with 1.4M on the clocks, eventually the OEM cartridges were more than the device cost new.

It wasnt all smooth though; the colour A4 machines usually needed drive engage solenoids and they all suffered from exit section bushing wear. The A3 machines had fantatsic print engines but god damn the tablets on the KX series and the shit touchscreens on the CLX 9 series. HDD replacement was also super convoluted comapred to KM as the main engine FW was stored on the drive.

Ah well, I just deal with what sales are putting out, and I would rather shit in my hands and clap than put out another C3320i.

[Labsy]

...
Ah well, I just deal with what sales are putting out, and I would rather shit in my hands and clap than put out another C3320i.

This! Lol... We've even tried with Pantum printers, consumer-grade, but cheap enough to replace whole machine when problem occurs.

[Slammers]

This! Lol... We've even tried with Pantum printers, consumer-grade, but cheap enough to replace whole machine when problem occurs.

I had never even heard of Pantum, the ashes of Lexmark after they were bough out?

[4Toon]

Our new A4 setup process minimizes issues beyond normal wear. Start by shaking the drums, then remove all trays and run stabilize/initialize at least three times. Check the TCR value; if it’s above 8%, run full halftones until it drops to around 7%. For MFPs, run gradation. Recheck the TCR value and run full tones if necessary. Let the machine sit overnight, then repeat all steps except drum shaking. This process ensures no field issues. We encounter more problems with brand new drums arriving damaged.

[Slammers]

Our new A4 setup process minimizes issues beyond normal wear. Start by shaking the drums, then remove all trays and run stabilize/initialize at least three times. Check the TCR value; if it’s above 8%, run full halftones until it drops to around 7%. For MFPs, run gradation. Recheck the TCR value and run full tones if necessary. Let the machine sit overnight, then repeat all steps except drum shaking. This process ensures no field issues. We encounter more problems with brand new drums arriving damaged.

I mean yeah, we have all got these workarounds, the point is that this is just ridiclous for a brand new machine.

What if youve got a large client that is getting 40 of them, who is factoring in the extra setup time, time is money.

Even if you do this extended setup I can guarantee that they will be dead in 2 years from the SPI Flash corruption on their bargin bin CPU boards.