How can I tell if a copier toner cartridge is new or used?

[Nolo]

I don't have the copier, so I can't put it in the copier to test it. It appears to be very clean, and doesn't "look" as though it has been used, but I didn't know if there was any test I could do on it, to determine for sure whether it has been used or not.



This is the cartridge I have.

[adamstgBit]

look at the price

you ALWAYS get what you pay for.

[DeathAndTaxes]

If it is using the word Canon on it and doesn't come sealed in a Canon retail box with hologram it is at best a fake and at worst a used fake.

Note I got no problem with off brand toner but Canon is a trademark of Canon so there is an honest off brand manufacturer calling their product "Canon L50 compatible" and then there are the dishonest ones trying to pass theirs off as a genuine Canon (or HP or xyz) part.  If you can't trust them enough to be honest with the labelling who knows what else they are faking. I mean it is very easy to design a toner cartridge which has 1/4th the toner (and more plastic makes it weight about right) so even new it could produce less pages then a used one would.

[Nolo]

look at the price

you ALWAYS get what you pay for.

I'm selling it.  And need to know what to make people pay for  

I purchased it (along with a ton of other stuff) at a bankruptcy sale of an office.  So I don't know if it was used or not.  The packaging it was in was a silver wrapper you would expect it to come in, but it was open.  

[Nolo]

If it is using the word Canon on it and doesn't come sealed in a Canon retail box with hologram it is at best a fake and at worst a used fake.

Note I got no problem with off brand toner but Canon is a trademark of Canon so there is an honest off brand manufacturer calling their product "Canon L50 compatible" and then there are the dishonest ones trying to pass theirs off as a genuine Canon (or HP or xyz) part.  If you can't trust them enough to be honest with the labelling who knows what else they are faking. I mean it is very easy to design a toner cartridge which has 1/4th the toner (and more plastic makes it weight about right) so even new it could produce less pages then a used one would.

I should have been more clear in my original post on how I came into possession of it.  

[DeathAndTaxes]

Yeah looking at the post 2 up that does make it tough.  My guess is that the bankrupt company isn't trying to pull a scam.  They likely wouldn't remove the toner until it was used completed and then probably wouldn't hang on to it.  If it was a printer cart I would say check the printer to see if it has a MICR toner cart installed.  That would indicate they probably started printing checks at one time and the "spare" toner is probably the original and partially used.

Being a copier that doesn't apply so my guess is it is new.  No real way to tell, not without access to a compatible copier.  The higher end toner carts have microchip so loading it into the correct copier should show the number of copies made (somewhere in the setup menus ).

BTW: My first job in IT was tech support for Cannon. 

[Nolo]

Yeah looking at the post 2 up that does make it tough.  My guess is that the bankrupt company isn't trying to pull a scam.  They likely wouldn't remove the toner until it was used completed and then probably wouldn't hang on to it.  If it was a printer cart I would say check the printer to see if it has a MICR toner cart installed.  That would indicate they probably started printing checks at one time and the "spare" toner is probably the original and partially used.

Being a copier that doesn't apply so my guess is it is new.  No real way to tell, not without access to a compatible copier.  The higher end toner carts have microchip so loading it into the correct copier should show the number of copies made (somewhere in the setup menus ).

BTW: My first job in IT was tech support for Cannon. 

That's what I was worried about.  It weighs 2lbs 12.6oz.  I'll try to find the weight online of a new cartridge, but I doubt I'll be able to find that. 

[SpaceJelly]

If it is new and unused then it should have a tear out strip of plastic that unseals the toner compartment.

If that's not there, then it's highly likely to have been used.

[deepceleron]

I purchased it (along with a ton of other stuff) at a bankruptcy sale of an office.  So I don't know if it was used or not.  The packaging it was in was a silver wrapper you would expect it to come in, but it was open. 

It could even be an empty that was waiting to be refilled or recycled. A lot of times liquidation companies will bring crap in to sell at liquidation or estate sales that wasn't even from the company, even scummier ones will sell their knock-off chinese vases and such at estates sales since dummies think it might be an antique.

[HouseofToner]

Here are a few easy ways you can monitor the life of your toner cartridge so you can anticipate when it is time for a replacement:

1- All printers keep track of the approximate remaining toner levels either on the printer display or via the printer software that is installed on your computer.  
2- Consult your printer manual to determine how to access toner level tracking for your specific machine.  The printer should also automatically generate a message on the display or your computer when it is time to replace a cartridge.  With most machines, you do not need to replace the toner cartridge immediately when this message first appears.
3- If print quality starts to get spotty, remove the cartridge and gently rock it back and forth a few times over a trashcan to redistribute the toner powder and then reinstall into your printer.  This process should keep the cartridge running a bit longer, and hopefully get through a few more print jobs.

However, if you are looking for Sharp copier toners, you can visit our website i.e. House of Toner and you will not regret it. We offer Original, Compatible and Re-manufactured copier toners at a very reasonable prices.