Commonly Asked Questions

How do I order my copier or printer supplies?

There are several convenient options. If you know your online customer number and password you can click here to place your supply order online. Or click here to go to the Contact us page and send us your request, or lastly, you can call us directly at 515-283-0607 to place your order with us over the phone. We want every option to be as convenient as possible for our customers.

What are the benefits to purchasing my supplies from M&M Sales Company?

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our products and services. You make only one call for all your office equipment needs. You save money because we are less expensive than the leading warehouse supply stores. We have a specifically trained person for each department who you can talk to and is familiar with you and your company. .

How do I know how long my toner or drum cartridge will last?

The Yield gives an average number of pages per cartridge (a page is defined as a business letter). Note: Photos, charts, and graphics use much more ink than letters. Also, High Yield cartridges cost more up front, but typically last longer and are less expensive in the long term.

What does OEM stand for?

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. OEMs such as Kyocera, Konica Minolta, Sharp, HP, and Muratec are the companies that produce your machine, as well as the toner or drum cartridge used.

Can you Explain Product Yields?

The average life cycle of any given imaging product (toner cartridge, ink cartridge, drum unit, etc.) is usually noted by the manufacturer in their product literature or in the machine's user manual. There are, however, a few factors which can dramatically affect this yield and give the customer the false impression of a defective product. Below are some notes for our customers so they will better understand what and what not to expect in terms of product yields and life cycles.

HOW YIELDS ARE DETERMINED

A) Toner and ink cartridge yields are usually determined by a percentage of coverage - usually 5%. A page with a 5% coverage area is the equivalent to a short business letter.
B) You should expect your yield to drop significantly as you add more solid black areas to your page.
C) Supplies such as developer and drum units usually are rated just by the number of pages printed. These supplies should not need to be changed very often (if your machine uses them).

HOW TO DETERMINE PRODUCT YIELDS

A) One easy way is to put a case of paper (5000 sheets) next to the machine - If you use only half of the case then you will know the yield for that cartridge was around 2500 pages.
B) Depending on what type of machine you have - you can run a self test and get the exact page count before you install the new supply. When it's time to change it again, run the self-test once more and subtract the numbers for the yield.
C) Some machines give the page count right on the screen.

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR PRODUCT YIELDS (OR SAVE MONEY)

A) Some machines have what is called an "economode". This is a great way to strech your dollars - the machine merely puts less toner on the page. Look in your user manual to see if you can do this.
B) If your machine does not have an "economode" you can simply turn down the density to a lighter setting.

I have lines on my copies

Clean the small glass located to the left of the main copy glass. A tiny dot on this slit glass can cause a line to be drawn across the entire paper.

I have light copies

Make sure the paper is fresh. Moisture in the paper is a major factor for light copies. Check the original and make sure it is of good quality. Darken the exposure using the operation panel. Also check the machines indicators to see if the device may be requesting toner.

My copies are too dark

Make sure the original has a white background. Colored paper, such as blue or green, may cause a background on your copy. Lighten the exposure on the operation panel. If copies are still to dark your machine my need to be cleaned. Please call us for service.

Toner rubs off the page

Make sure the paper is of proper type and weight for the device you are using. Heavy paper such as card stock and letterhead can cause the heat to be taken out of the fuser too fast, therefore the toner does not melt into the paper. Most of our copiers have different settings you can change to tell the copier you are using a heavy paper weight. Please see you user manual or contact our Service Team.

I have white or voided areas.

Humidity in the paper can be a common cause. Open a fresh ream of paper and then resume copying. If still no success, please call us for service

My machine is displaying a Error Code

The severity or immediacy of these codes and symbols range from "no big deal" to "unplug the machine immediately". With some machines and or with some diagnostic codes displayed, the machine may or may not "Lock You Out" of operating the control panel and prevent continued operation. First thing to do is open and close the front door and right side door. This will clear 80% of all service codes. Second is turn the machine off and unplug for at least 30 seconds. Then plug back in and turn on. If these steps do not clear the code, please contact our Support Team.