Laser Printer - Toner Cartridge Life

[Maccer101]

I'm thinking of getting a Laser Printer for my home as they are now so cheap. But want I would like to know is how long do Toner cartridges last? not in the number of prints but in time as I'll probably only print 10-20 pages a week and that would take about 2 maybe 3 years to use the cartridge.

Specifically was looking at the Samsung ML-2240 as its only £40 on Ebuyer with a cartridge thrown in.

[Flibb]

I had one in my old HP that was 5 years old, well past its expiry date but still worked a treat.

[Twigman]

I bought my printer about 3 years ago and still on original toner. I bought a new one because I expected it to run out but it doesn't just keeps on printing.
I've got the old Samsung one from Ebuyer...1610 I think? Same idea was £50 about 3 years ago. Can't recommend it highly enough for the price. Be aware that as with cheap inkjets replacing the cartridge will be pretty much the full cost of the machine again though.

[greencross]

I still waiting for my LJ4 to run out, it's now at least 5 years old. At £50 to replace the toner, I'd rather get a colour laser instead. I don't believe in the sell by/use by/best before date, it's probably a cunning way to get you to buy a new one if something happens after the date.

[vinnyT]

I have a konika/minolta magicolor 2500w, like the OP ionly print a small amount each week, my cartridges have lasted 4yrs now, with degradation in the printing quality and no signs of them becoming empty any time soon. So go for it, get your Samsung (I had one of those for 6yrs, cheepat the time, my gf now uses it for her b/w prints), they are easy to refill with toner.

The money you save from not using inkjets is quite supprising.

[acro666]

I had a Epson GQ-5000 and the toner seemed to last for ever. In fact I have recently changed it for another Epson, because of its age.

acro666

[Maccer101]

Thanks for the responses, looks like I'll get it.

[cpemma]

These days, the toner cartridge that comes with a new printer is a special low-capacity one, that's partly why cheap printers are so cheap (and new cartridges often a large % of the printer price). So the second one will last a lot longer than the original.

[Golden Dragoon]

Thing is unlike ink, toner dosn't dry up (it is meant to be dry) so the expiry dates on toner have never really made sense to me, been happily using a toner cart that is 2+ years out of date, with no ill effects.

[peterb]

So long as the printer is kept warm and dry, sp the toner doesn't clump together (or 'cake') it will be fine. (I had one in a Kyocera printer for 6 years!)

[tusker]

I agree with the comments about toner appearing to have an indeterminate life. I have had an excellent Magicolor 2550 colour printer for nearly 3 years that is still on its original toner set of cartridges (which I think I recall being standard capacity), which is just as well as a full set of replacements costs at least as much as the original printer!! By the time I need to refill, the printer will probably be of an age where I will be comfortable with using compatible refills. The issue that may make all this irrelevant, and the reason for this post, it the paper pick up is getting a little unreliable, so the issue may not be the longevity of the toner, but the elasticity/life of the paper pick-up rollers.