Lowest Price

: 116

Brand

: Brother

Model

: MFC-240c

Reviewer: K. Pollard| Date:2009-10-20

I got this printer as part of a bundle with a Gateway computer, and I really don't like this thing. I've had it for almost a year, and I can't stand it anymore. It takes 1 black and 3 color toner cartridges. I really hate the fact that when one of the toner cartridges are empty, the printer will not print anything at all, not even black and white. What's worse is that NONE of the functions will work until you refill whatever toner cartridge is empty. So even if you just want to scan a document or photo to send in an email, this printer/scanner/fax/copier will not let you do anything if a toner cartridge is empty. I'm not buying any more toner for this piece of crap. I'd rather apply that money to a better printer. The printing quality is mediocre at best, and I don't even want to get started on the endless paper jams. I've had multiple issues with the copier mode, and the directions are not helpful. I've had to unplug and plug this thing back in to get it to work several times. This thing just isn't worth the hassle. I'm shopping for a new printer.

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: Sarah Beier| Date:2009-09-28

We have had this printer/fax for about 18 months now (conveniently out of warranty). We use it very little, and while its constant cleaning and ink issues mentioned in other reviews are annoying, it worked fine and since we don't use it much we didn't really care. However, today I discovered it can no longer send or receive faxes. So I called tech support, who were of less help and more frustration than the machine itself. The lady I talked to INSISTED on reading to me a description of how a fax machine works when you have an answering machine on the same line. The issue is NOT my answering machine, as I can't even get a dial tone to send a fax. I interrupted her mid-paragraph to let her know I know how a fax and answering machine interact, and that I had already disconnected my answering machine anyway but still had the same problem so it really doesn't apply. The moment I stopped talking, she continued to finish reading the explanation.

(The entire time I was on the phone with Brother agents today, they basically refused to engage in conversation. Any time you say anything they immediately "apologize for the inconvenience" then dive right back into the script. I don't need further apologies, I want them to have at least two brain cells work on understanding the point I just brought up. But they don't, they just ignore anything I said and get back on track- no thinking on your feet for them. This was the case with more than one agent I spoke to today.)

Then when troubleshooting steps failed to work, her suggestion was to try them all again. So we did. No luck. Her diagnosis: the LINE jack (the one that takes the line-in directly from the wall jack) is bad. I don't understand this, because I have an extension hooked up to the fax machine that works fine. How is it that the fax can't detect a dial tone or respond to a ring, but it is able to pass both those things along the line to the extension?? She assured me that she didn't know how it worked but that is what is happening. While she appears to be correct- the fact that she can't even give me a rough idea of how it is happening is frustrating.

So I am off to buy a new combo fax/printer. I will not be buying a Brother machine. Their "tech support" clearly is not "tech savvy" and can only read from their script. Also, the machine broke with VERY light usage after less than two years- not a good value, IMO. I am also sick of running out to buy ink cartridges every time I turn around due to all the "cleaning". And for the love of Pete, PLEASE let me print in black and white even though the magenta is low- this is patently ridiculous.

Buyer beware- I should have been.

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: Nik Venet| Date:2009-08-04

this printer crashed under warranty twice, it was a huge hassle to get brother to do anything about it. warranty is over, printer crashed again. i may have print 100/200 sheets of paper on this machine in its career with me. it seems like a deal for the price but it's actually cheaper to print at kinkos if you divide the purchase price buy the sheet.

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: Charles Stizza| Date:2009-07-25

I take back every good thing I have ever said regarding the "consumer-friendly" Brother printers.

First off, at face value this printer does a GREAT job at what it is supposed to do: printing, scanning, faxing, and copying.

HOWEVER it has a very inefficient mechanism for monitoring and handing ink cartridges that robs you of ink & usage. So while the cartridges are indeed inexpensive, you can actually use about 60% of the ink in them before the ink reservoir detector starts telling you it is time to replace.

The kicker is that the printer will NOT work once it detects an "empty" cartridge. I used my printer very moderately and suddenly it started telling me I have low ink; a day later it said I was empty.

After research I found that if you tape the clear housing with masking tape you can trick the printer into actually letting you use the remaining ink.

So if you don't mind fiddling with this printer to get it to let you actually use the ink you paid for, go for it. However I would suggest you go with Lexmark or Canon. Bad form Brother, bad form...

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: A. Levin| Date:2009-07-06

Works great. Very functional. BUT - get ready to go through all four cartridges every couple of weeks (with even a moderate use.) And the kicker is - even if you print just B&W, you have to have ALL FOUR cartridges in........what a racket!

Review from Review from Amazon