Issues with my new printer

Hey everyone.

So, I picked up an HP LaserJet Pro. It's a basic mono laser—no scanner, no copier, nothing. Just a printer.

I followed the instructions to a T yesterday and got everything set up exactly how they said. But now, when I try to print, I’m just getting these 4 or 5 vertical lines running down the page. They aren't solid lines, either—they look messy, faded, and incomplete.
I'm wondering if I can fix this myself. Maybe there's some cleaning involved, or something else I can try. I really don't want to lug this thing back to the shop right away since that store isn't exactly around the corner from me. If anyone has any advice, I'm all ears. My gut tells me the issue is with the toner.

I tried printing some test pages to get a better idea of how things were looking. I managed to drain the toner down to 80 percent. That’s 20 percent gone just on trial and error.

Thanks in advance.

Maybe try giving the toner cartridge a little shake—just a good rattle to redistribute things. Also, take a quick look at the roller where the paper feeds through; there’s a chance it’s just gunked up with some leftover residue.

I gave it a shot, but no luck. I could probably try something else, though I'm not sure if it would actually change anything.

If you're talking about that green roller on the toner cartridge, I don't think that's the issue. It doesn't have any smudges; I already wiped it down...
Where else are there rollers?

Plus, whenever I print an image, these white lines show up, like the printer is just skipping those spots entirely.

Something’s definitely off with that toner—or maybe it’s the print head. Honestly, if I were you, I’d just take it back for a warranty claim; there's no way a brand-new printer should be acting this glitchy.

I took a look at the toner cartridge. There’s this faint line on the green roller inside that I'm pretty sure is what's showing up on my prints...

I tried to figure out what was causing the streak. There's this strip of plastic film above the green roller that looks like it melted or stuck to the unit from the heat. It won't budge. If that's what's causing the lines, I have no clue. The guy at the shop told me everything was pre-installed and ready to go, but clearly he forgot to peel this part off. I had no way of knowing.

That’s the only thing it could be. I’m just going to head back to the store where I picked it up, bring the whole printer, and tell them to swap out the toner or whatever else needs fixing.🙂

There isn’t anything to strip off or install—did you buy a printer that was somehow still sitting in its original factory shrink-wrap or something? The toner cartridge is already seated right inside the machine from the factory.

So, I took it back for a refund today. I wouldn't let them talk me into sending it off for repairs; I just demanded my money back.

Anyone have a recommendation for a monochrome laser printer?
I’m going to pick up a different one from another shop, and I'll be stepping up to a higher-end model this time.

Honestly, everything in that 600-$267 class is basically disposable junk. You really just have to look at what’s actually available near you and how much those generic toner cartridges cost. Brands like Canon and HP are pretty much the standard—they actually use the same engine, anyway—though you can't exactly expect top-tier quality when you're looking at the budget tier. I know people used to complain about Samsung having paper jams, but honestly, that usually comes down to the quality of the paper you're using.
Personally, I lean toward HP because I've got a few of their "old reliable" models, and as long as I use decent paper, they never give me trouble, even when the humidity is through the roof. But hey, that's just my take. In the States, these brands are everywhere; trying to find toner for Lexmark or Samsung feels like searching for something obscure since you can't just grab it at any local office supply store or pharmacy...

Michael Jackson10 said:Everything in the $600 class is basically disposable junk $267 (maybe a bit more). You just look at what toner is actually available near you and how much the third-party replacements cost. Canon and HP are the big names that have stuck around—they mostly use the same engine anyway—but don't expect high-end quality from the bottom tier. I know Samsung used to have issues with paper jams, but that usually comes down to the quality of the paper you're using.
Personally, I lean toward HP. I’ve owned some of their "indestructible" models, and if you use decent paper, they don't act up even when the humidity is through the roof. But that's just my experience. These brands are just the most common ones you see in the States. Trying to find toner for Lexmark or Samsung feels like searching for something obscure; you can't just pick it up at any local Staples or Best Buy...

Thanks for the advice. I'll head to the store and check the toner prices first. I'll go with whatever is cheapest, provided the printer itself stays under $167 max. I don't need anything fancy. Just something to print out some text occasionally. Nothing special.