Minolta QMS Magicolor 2200 - The Minolta color laser printer initially performed beautifully at a wonderfully low startup cost of less than $1K. But then, after only 3300 copies on the counter, it started up one day with a horrible gear-crunching noise

Minolta QMS Magicolor 2200 - The Minolta color laser printer initially performed beautifully at a wonderfully low startup cost of less than $1K. But then, after only 3300 copies on the counter, it started up one day with a horrible gear-crunching noise &#160

Minolta QMS Magicolor 2200

Atlanta, GA

J.A.Thomas & Associates, Inc. The Minolta color laser printer initially performed beautifully at a wonderfully low startup cost of less than $1K. But then, after only 3300 copies on the counter, it started up one day with a horrible gear-crunching noise. The LCD message window just said "CALIBRATING". An on-site service call discovered a broken shaft in the excess toner "screw" in the photo-drum assembly, but that wasn't the cause of the noise. After removing all the toner drums, the transfer belt unit, the fuser unit, and putting everything back the noise went away.

Seemingly fixed, we got another 20 sheets printed when the yellow-toner light came on, then the black doner message. The replacement photo-drum arrived and was installed, then a mysterious "Service Call 16 XFER BELT ROTATE" message appeared and the printer would no longer print. Minolta said to clean the belt motion sensor pickup surfaces of any toner build-up. That done, the message refused to go away. Now they say the only thing left is to replace it ($350 more!!!). I'm not convinced there is anything wrong with the transfer belt unit.

This printer is turning out to be much more expensive than high end color laser. I thought that the 3-year extended warranty that I purchases would provide some protection. I'm told that all my problems are "user servicable" and thus non-covered. Does anyone know of a way of disposing of this (now worthless) printer loaded will all brand new user servicable items?

Gary H Click this link to e-mail the above consumer: //