Our sister site has received several reader e-mails, including the example below, about problems with Lexmark multifunction inkjet printers.
Readers have noticed print defects and quality issues that sometimes start to appear not long after purchase. According to Lexmark, this is because some of its printers have been fitted with faulty print heads—a problem the firm acknowledges.
If you are experiencing similar problems to our reader, then you need to contact Lexmark's inkjet printer customer services on 0207 365 2496 (for UK customers only) and describe the problem. Lexmark has assured us that it does acknowledge that there is a problem with some models' print heads and that affected users will be sent replacement print heads and a set of complimentary cartridges.
However, our sister site has had reports of some users being left without replacement print heads for various reasons and therefore ending up lumbered with products that don't work properly! They've also heard from readers who are on their third set of print heads and who are clearly wondering when it'll be time to ask four a fourth! If you have any problems obtaining replacement parts or you have any similar experiences to share, then don't hesitate to let us know in the DigitalVersus forum.
Unfortunately for Lexmark, this defect means we'll be updating our reviews of Lexmark inkjet printers—at least for the time being—to bring them in line with the DigitalVersus scoring criteria:
Five Stars—Recommended by DigitalVersus
This product is the best available in its class and something to which its competitors should aspire. It's not necessarily a perfect product, and we often have a surprisingly long list of 'Minuses' at the bottom of the page, but we feel that it's very unlikely to disappoint.
Four Stars—Very Good
Products with four stars aren't necessarily the reference amongst their peers, but they are very good nonetheless, and sometimes even beat five-star products on individual tests; often a single missing feature is what causes a product to lose a star and fall into this category.
Three Stars—Good
Average products typically receive three stars, and they nearly always perform adequately. They don't excel, though, and are often less well thought-out, with a confusing interface or unrefined designed. Even if a three-star product will do the job, there are other products that will do it better.
Two Stars—Poor
A score this low means we've found at least one major problem with a product, either in our lab tests or using it in practice. We generally advise against buying two-star products, but our review will give a better idea of the problems that you might have in store if you do.
It may seem harsh, but all our Lexmark inkjet printers will now only have two-star reviews, at least until we find out more about these ongoing issues and we're able to establish whether this is a temporary or a permanent defect.
Watch this space.
> Buyer's Guide: Printers
> Reviews: Multifunction Printers
> Laser Printer Reviews
Readers have noticed print defects and quality issues that sometimes start to appear not long after purchase. According to Lexmark, this is because some of its printers have been fitted with faulty print heads—a problem the firm acknowledges.
Subject: Lexmark Pro905 fault!! Hello, I'm writing to tell you about a big problem with my Lexmark Pro905 (and 901 ...), which barely even lasted six months! I'm really disappointed with this printer. I bought it on 4 May, installed it on 13 May and already it doesn't print cyan and black properly. I've changed the cartridges and run a dozen or so cycles to clean and realign the print heads but all I've managed to do is waste ink and paper! Lexmark's customer services were pretty useless too—they told me it was a problem with the cartridges and that they'd send me some replacements, even though I'd already replaced a set of cartridges that weren't even empty to try and solve the problem and it didn't change anything! They just won't admit that there's a problem with the print head. [...] I take good care of my equipment, I like buying products that get good reviews on DigitalVersus (like the Iiyama B2712HDS, which is great) but you really can't give a five star score to a product with such an obvious design flaw! So please, to avoid other readers being disappointed like me, strip Lexmark of its five star review until they find a proper solution to this problem. I had to go back to my old Canon i550, which many be old but which still works as well as the first day I bought it (although the print quality is out-dated). I use branded cartridges and I take care of my gear. I never expected to have a problem with a Pro printer I paid nearly £200 for after just three months of use! If you want proof or examples of my problem then I'll be happy to provide that. Regards, |
If you are experiencing similar problems to our reader, then you need to contact Lexmark's inkjet printer customer services on 0207 365 2496 (for UK customers only) and describe the problem. Lexmark has assured us that it does acknowledge that there is a problem with some models' print heads and that affected users will be sent replacement print heads and a set of complimentary cartridges.
However, our sister site has had reports of some users being left without replacement print heads for various reasons and therefore ending up lumbered with products that don't work properly! They've also heard from readers who are on their third set of print heads and who are clearly wondering when it'll be time to ask four a fourth! If you have any problems obtaining replacement parts or you have any similar experiences to share, then don't hesitate to let us know in the DigitalVersus forum.
Updated Reviews
Unfortunately for Lexmark, this defect means we'll be updating our reviews of Lexmark inkjet printers—at least for the time being—to bring them in line with the DigitalVersus scoring criteria:
Five Stars—Recommended by DigitalVersus
This product is the best available in its class and something to which its competitors should aspire. It's not necessarily a perfect product, and we often have a surprisingly long list of 'Minuses' at the bottom of the page, but we feel that it's very unlikely to disappoint.
Four Stars—Very Good
Products with four stars aren't necessarily the reference amongst their peers, but they are very good nonetheless, and sometimes even beat five-star products on individual tests; often a single missing feature is what causes a product to lose a star and fall into this category.
Three Stars—Good
Average products typically receive three stars, and they nearly always perform adequately. They don't excel, though, and are often less well thought-out, with a confusing interface or unrefined designed. Even if a three-star product will do the job, there are other products that will do it better.
Two Stars—Poor
A score this low means we've found at least one major problem with a product, either in our lab tests or using it in practice. We generally advise against buying two-star products, but our review will give a better idea of the problems that you might have in store if you do.
It may seem harsh, but all our Lexmark inkjet printers will now only have two-star reviews, at least until we find out more about these ongoing issues and we're able to establish whether this is a temporary or a permanent defect.
Watch this space.
> Buyer's Guide: Printers
> Reviews: Multifunction Printers
> Laser Printer Reviews
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