Review on HP Q5950A Original Cartridge LaserJet by Cody Bowie

I keep buying new cartridges from this range to ensure full page compatibility and consistent image quality are maintained. Here are a few things to look out for when purchasing a new "open box" or "open package" product. You can save a lot of money this way, but there are pitfalls.1. There are white plastic tabs to the rear on the left and right sides of the cartridge. These plastic tabs should protrude from the cartridge itself. They are drawn into the device when the cartridge is first inserted into the printer. If they are removed, it means the cartridge was installed in the printer before it was shipped to you.2. Check the copper electrical contact plates on the left side of the unit. They should be shiny with no spots or blemishes. If they have marks, it means the cartridge was previously installed in the printer.3. There is a plate on the front of the cartridge to protect the roller etc. inside. It retracts properly when you insert the cartridge into the printer and slides back onto the roller when the cartridge is removed from the printer. Even with a new cartridge, the metal hinge pins that attach this plate/cover to the cartridge may come loose. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, you just need to carefully put the metal rods back into the holes they came out of before inserting them into the printer.4. The plastic gear on the right side of the device should be clean. If there is toner color on it, this is a sure sign that the cartridge has already been used or has expired.5. Immediately after installation, use the printer's internal web interface to verify that the cartridge shows full and that there is no previous install date listed prior to the cartridge install date. Sometimes the pirated chips in these devices show less than 10,000 or 11,000 pages available or have an install date earlier than the day the cartridge was installed.