Month: November 2017

The Toner Buyback Q&A You’ve Been Waiting For

Back in the dark ages before Toner Connect came around, you had two choices with what to do with your extra toner cartridges. Either use the boxes as makeshift bricks and build a fort in your office storage closet or toss them into your local landfill where they’ll take over a century to decompose.

That didn’t sound too great. So with the help of a bright idea, a minivan, and the fact that almost every business in the country was forcibly hoarding extra toners, the buyback program was born. And it’s pretty amazing if we do say so ourselves. 

However, we want to make sure that you as the customer are getting the maximum benefit from using it; and to do so, we want to make sure you understand it completely. So we hashed it out with company founder and CEO James Cai to find out exactly how it works.

What would you say is the “perfect” situation for a great buyback rate?

Perfect situation for a buyback rate would be a new and very popular toner model in perfect condition (no markings, tears, rips, dents, or labels). If the box has shipping label or stickers on the box, it’s fine. We know how to carefully remove them without damaging the box.

Are toner buyback rates continuously fluctuating or do they stay pretty consistent?

Toner Buyback Rates do fluctuate on a monthly basis. Similar to how the value of cars depreciate over time, so do the copier machines and printers AND the supplies that go with them. When OEM companies release  NEW and IMPROVED machines, the older models slowly get phased out and pushed off-market. When that happens, the supplies that go with the drop in demand and price.

It’s like buying a Mercedes Benz car at a steal! 


How do you compare the manufacturing price of the toner to what you’re willing to pay for the buyback?

When you say, “manufacturing price of toner”, if you’re referring to the retail price, then I would say that it doesn’t play into calculating our buyback rates. Of course, we would never pay higher than the retail price because that wouldn’t make any sense. But, we wouldn’t know what the cost of producing one toner cartridge is for OEM companies like HP or Xerox.

For example, the HP Laserjet 2100 Monochrome Laser Printer was released back in Feb of 1999 and then discontinued on April 2001. Since then, the retail price of an OEM toner for that machine (toner model # C4096A) still remains at $71 (Amazon) and $154.99 (Staples).

That’s highway robbery. We buy that particular toner model back for $5 and resell them for $30-35. 


From the surface, our own profit margins look high, but you also have to factor in the risk of stocking a low demand item. The chances that this will remain on our shelves forever is pretty high, too. But nonetheless, that still huge savings pass onto the customers for an OEM product. 


We’re basically putting these products back into circulation and into the hands of those who can use them at significantly discounted prices.

It’s like buying a 2013 Mercedes Benz car at a steal! (Sorry, I like using car analogies, haha). It’s still a quality vehicle but available at a discount since newer models exist now. You get the idea.

What condition should the toner be in for consideration for buyback?

All toner must be in brand new condition, never opened or used. The boxes it originally came in also have to be completely sealed. If we find it’s been tampered with in any way, the value may decrease or we might not even accept them.


How quickly does the seller receive payment after accepting a buyback rate?

Payment lead time depends on the seller’s preference. We offer 2 payment methods: “Paypal and Check”. If the seller chooses Paypal, then they normally receive payment on the same day. If they choose payment by check, that usually takes about 2-3 business days AFTER we receive/inspect their items.

So if we roughly guestimate that it takes 3 days for their shipment to arrive, 1 day for inspection, and 2 days for the check to arrive, then 6-7 days total for the whole transaction to be completed.


Does the buyback policy work for those overseas?

No, we only offer our buyback program to everyone within the US. Due to the recent uptick in counterfeit toner, we stay away from imported OEM toners.

What advice would you give to those considering selling their unused toners?

The advice I always like to give is: if you have leftover or unused ink/toners in your closet, it’s better to sell them sooner rather than later. Chances are you’ll get a higher appraisal than if you waited 6 months down the road. In this market, time is not your best friend.

 

The 6 Things You Want To Do Before Your Start Your Work Day

In order to be successful, it’s often good advice to do what successful people do. People like Tim Cook, Michelle Obama, Bob Iger and Bill Gates who have a pretty good track record.

 

So what are they all doing?

 

And while it’s called “the secret to success” we at Toner Connect are ready to spill.

 

Get enough sleep

A lot of people will say the only way to be successful is to rise before the sun and that might be true for some people. Tim Cook and Michelle Obama are well-known early risers, getting up at 3:45 a.m. and 4 a.m. respectively.

 

However, billionaire investor Warren Buffet doesn’t rise until after 6, telling PBS in an interview, “I like sleep”. Apparently so does Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg who doesn’t get to the office until 10:30 a.m.

 

When it comes to being successful, while getting up early can certainly get you ahead of the game, a study done by the Psychology Department at the University of Sacred Heart in Milan Italy concluded that those who do their best work in the evening are often more creative. The important thing for your body to function at its best is to get enough sleep. Studies say between eight to nine hours are ideal.

 

So while you’re setting your goals for the day, make a note to give preference to sleep!

“Shower Thoughts”

You’re probably not surprised to hear that most people come up with their best ideas in the shower. That’s actually not that far-fetched.

 

Thanks to the warm water your body is being encased in what scientists call an “incubation period”. Your body is able to relax and feel good and is, therefore, able to release the chemical Dopamine which is what allows the creative juices flow. Renowned neuroscientist Alice Flaherty concludes that “The more dopamine that is released, the more creative we are.”

 

But just how creative is our brain getting?

 

Well, you won’t know until you hit the showers. Literally!

 

Taking a shower in the morning is one of the best ways for your body to disconnect and quiet in the mind. And as a result, you know that problem you were mulling over the night before? Well, your brain has subconsciously been working to provide you with a solution and it’s only when your mind starts to wander that it gets a chance to plant those ideas in the forefront of your conscious mind.

 

Hence “shower thoughts”. It reminds me of Ares from Wonder Woman accept minus the evil warmongering and the fact that he probably wouldn’t show up in your bathroom.

 

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Set Goals

One of the most helpful things to do in the morning is to go over the day’s schedule and set goals for yourself.

 

While major goals are a definite for a successful life, focus on the little ones that you want to work on for the day that will in the end help meet the bigger one. That way you won’t feel overwhelmed.

 

Having a “To Do” list is a great way to help people stay motivated and on track with the day’s tasks and we don’t have to remind you how great it is to check them off. Surprisingly, one of the founding fathers was an avid scheduler. Benjamin Franklin was so meticulous about his “To Do” list, he would wake up each day at 4 a.m. to start it.

 

Exercise

Whether it’s for ten minutes a day or only twice a week, the endorphins from exercising your body have proven to be a huge factor when it comes to running on full steam and meeting your goals of success.

 

Dr. Travis Bradberry mentions in his study that “it improves your self-control and energy levels over the course of the entire day.”

 

Getting your workout in first thing in the morning will not only help wake your body and mind up but it will release the body’s soothing neurotransmitters that help your brain stay in control of impulses. No amount of Wheaties will do that so plan to get moving!

 

 

Balanced Breakfast

Universally known as the “most important meal of the day” it is often times the most skipped. Starting your day with a healthy breakfast not only gives your body the fuel it needs to accommodate the burned calories from your workout but it also will give you healthy energy to begin your day.

 

Check out these superfoods to give your body what it’s craving.

 

While you’re at it, don’t forget to pour yourself a glass of room temperature lemon water.

 

Why room temperature?

 

Because cold water will only shock your system and it won’t be able to absorb the nutrients the lemon provides.

 

Why lemon water?

 

A half or whole lemon in the morning has a ton of benefits including:

 

  • Battles constipation-the citrus often helps in the bowel area to give stubborn visitors the push out the door it needs.

  • pH Balance-lemon water is a well-known natural remedy to help harmful bacteria in your urine to take a hike. Bye Bye UTI’s

  • Immune System Boost- Move aside oranges, lemons can give your immune system the vitamin kick to help ensure it stays healthy as much as possible.

  • Rehydrate-After you’ve finished your morning workout, instead of reaching for those expensive sports drinks, go for the lemon water. The hydrate just as well!

 

Prioritize

One of the first things you might be tempted to do in the morning is checking your email and by all means, go for it. Along with setting your goals for the day, most successful people start their day by responding and creating emails. And a big benefit to doing so is it will help you understand how your day is shaping out and you can create a more efficient goals list.

 

Prioritizing your time is one of the biggest factors in making the most of your day (or night) and you want to utilize your time wisely.

 

Successful people definitely know their way around navigating their mornings to be as efficient as possible and with these six tips you can make your future just a bright.

 

How To Boost Employee Creativity To Produce Results

The need for employee creativity is real. It’s the grease to the company wheels and business leaders are re-creating the work environment to boost productivity and spark more fresh ideas.

Productive staff to feel the juice.

You’re probably thinking, “Do I need to boost creativity in my workplace?”

Besides keeping happy and relaxed employees, let’s take a look at what some companies are doing to switch things up in the workplace and the benefits of those changes.   
 
Freedom to Collaborate – In an interview with mobile payment company Square, office manager Maja stressed the company’s focus on collaboration. To promote this, the office is designed as an open space with no assigned desks. It gives employees a chance to move around freely and possibly bump into the CEO at a standing table during downtime.  

“…we’ll have these conversations with people from finance, legal, design and you get all these collaborations that wouldn’t otherwise occur.” Their office manager was excited to share.

Arm your team with the tools to encourage work collaboration. In this case, Square used ‘hot-desking’ – where there are no assigned seats just access to set up anywhere for the day.
 
Headphone company Skullcandy uses movable desks while other companies use puzzle style desks.  The variations are endless but the message is clear; get your employees interacting and comfortable with group communication. It increases the success in project collaboration and is a great asset to building lasting work relationships.

“Move fast and break things ” – It used to be the mantra for Zuckerberg’s Facebook in the beginning days when supervisors encouraged their employees to move fast, even if there were missteps along the way.

As business leaders, important to grasp the usefulness of creating a risk-taking environment. Netflix is a prime example that mission. They offer employees untracked vacation and pre-approval for project expenses. Thus, if you have an idea, they encourage you to go for it.

It’s an effective way to take notice of what works and what doesn’t for the company. Allowing staff to take risks and make not-so-normal decisions in the workplace opens up the floor for creativity and productive brainstorming.

People feel like their ideas are valued and respected and therefore work comprehensively towards company goals.
 
De-Stressing – A healthy work-life balance is key for employees to feel secure and comfortable at work. Some businesses encourage bringing pets into work, others offer daycare options and more businesses are beginning to allow flexibility in work hours.

, a styling company, encourages employees to build their own work schedule that allows them to carve time out for family responsibilities.

An important work-life balance can help employees feel secure, refreshed and in control of their work and home lives. Employees feel motivated at work and while increasing productivity, being in a happier mood always makes for a smoother day.
 

Common Areas- Samsung is in the works to build an office with large outdoor spaces and bright common areas to encourage social mingling between staff members. It’s more common for organizations to have ping pong tables, outdoor common areas, and bright lounge areas to help employees relax.

In the effort to help employees feel refreshed and inspired, companies have tossed their traditional lunchroom set up for a more open, bright and choice filled one.

We wouldn’t be talking about improving the workplace without highlighting mega company Google and their elaborate efforts to keep happy and productive employees.

Along with their perks that include massages and eyebrow shaping services (where do we sign up?), Google has designed its office space to draw creativity from its employees. From the long inviting lunch tables to the diner booths that have replaced conference rooms, Google is pushing the edge on company perks and creating some serious creative noise in its wake.

Take some time to look within your company to see what works better than others. Some things that might work for Google you may not have the budget for but it’s worth it to try some ideas on your own.

 

Workers Should Play – Pool tables, writeable walls, interior gardens , and slides are all effective ways to engage employees in work play. It lightens the mood and gives employees the opportunity to relax and let inspiration flow.

At Google, workers are issued scooters to travel within their large New York office and has game tables set up in almost all of their office locations. It adds to the opportunity for team collaboration and encourages the natural flow of ideas through play.
 
The workplace shouldn’t feel ho – hum for your employees. It should be inspiring, empowering and engaging.
It’s useful and cost-effective to pay attention to what your workplace might need. If you notice something off, perhaps switching things up is the right decision for you. It may not be on Google’s level but it’ll certainly be a step in the right direction.

How Much Money Is Hiding In Your Closet? Your Unused Toner Could Be Worth a Lot

That’s what happened when a restoration project at Liberty Hall Museum in Union, NJ uncovered wine that was over 200 years old (and unopened!) that had been shipped there shortly after the American Revolution.

Picture this:

You’ve got an endless supply of office supplies.

Perhaps you’ve got a new printer, and some of your ink cartridges are no longer compatible.

Or maybe, you simply have a surplus that you don’t have the capacity to use up before the expiration date.

In any event, you decide to declutter.

What if you could turn that clutter into cold hard cash

That would mean savings for your business that can go towards your other needs.

Best of all, if printing is a major part of your day-to-day, you can save thousands on a yearly basis.

The result?

That money goes towards your bottom line and can make all the difference between a negative fiscal quarter and a good one.

So, have you looked in your closet lately? You could be sitting on some cash.

Why There’s Massive Earning Potential In Unused Toner

Here’s the thing:

There’s a high demand for unused toner cartridges.

That’s mainly because replacement cartridges are expensive to purchase directly from manufacturers.

Also, many people have a surplus that they would love to get off their hands without losing the money that they spent. In all cases, they’re willing to part with their toners at a lower price than they acquired them.

For businesses and individuals who have a heavy ink inventory that needs to be frequently replenished, the benefits can be nothing short of remarkable.

This means that the market for recycling unused toners has grown tremendously over the years. From online marketplaces to buy-back programs, there’s a profitable niche out there.

You now have more options than ever to get some monetary value out of toners that have been collecting dust in your closet.

How can you sell your toner cartridges? 

To begin, you want to find toner cartridges that qualify.

Naturally, it depends on the type of cartridge and the condition that they’re in. Different buyers may also have different demands.

There is, however, a superior standard for the toner cartridge.

I’m talking about Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) cartridges. These are toners manufactured by the same company that manufactured your printer.

If you have these in your possession, they’re liquid gold!

Why so?

Simply put, they’re the highest quality toners and will get you the best selling price.

It’s also important that your cartridges aren’t expired of defunct in any way.

After you’ve identified the cartridges that you can part ways with, you have quite a few options for selling them.

1. Sell Your Unused Toner On An Online Marketplace 

Online marketplaces like eBay make it easy for you to connect with potential buyers. Alternatively, you can use Amazon or craigslist.

It’s up to you to decide which is less risky.

Create a listing on a marketplace of choice, and that’s all there is to it.

What can you do to ensure you get the best possible price

Here’s what I recommend:

Try selling cartridges in bulk, so your listing will seem more attractive to potential buyers.

Be sure to include the specifications of your toner cartridges. Who’s the manufacturer? What’s the model number? What color is the ink? The more detail you provide, the more eyes you get on your listing and the more persuasive you’ll be.

Include a photograph of your supplies so buyers can have an idea of their condition. This transparency eliminates any future problems that may arise from transacting on an online marketplace. 

2. Turn In Your Unused Toner At Your Office Supply Store

Many office supply stores will allow you to turn in your unused toners for cash back or store credit.

These reward programs are a great way to save on the cost of future ink supplies. Bare in mind, large name office supply stores may have stricter qualifying criteria.

Before you turn in your cartridges, ensure that you know what qualifies or not. Also, there’s usually a maximum number of cartridges that you can turn in per month.

While this may be a bit more convenient for you as opposed to creating a listing on eBay, you need to consider all the variables.

3. Use A Website With A Buyback Program To Cash In On Your Unused Toner

The third and best option is to patronize a website with a toner buy-back program.

There are many of these available.

The best part?

It’s a simple process.

A google search of “toner buy-back program” or “sell unused toners” will give you a myriad of options.

You can then easily go to the website that you’re considering, check that your cartridges qualify, and ship it to them.

Most companies will take care of the shipping costs and will have your payout to you in record time.

I recommend comparing a few companies to decide which is best for you. Consider who offers the biggest cash back, has the quickest turnaround, and the best service.

In my experience, companies who have niched down to one particular element of toner recycling are the best bets.

In other words, you want to pick a company who specializes in unused toner recycling only. 

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They’ll outperform other companies on price and quality of service. That’s mainly because their concentration in one area will allow them to build a stronger network within their industry.

This means that they can provide more competitive payouts for your supplies.

Are you ready to cash in on your unused toners?

margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: 0px 0px; font-weight: bold;”>This should be a no-brainer. 

If you have unused toner cartridges lying around, it’s an excellent decision to sell them for some cash

The savings can go a long way for your business.

The great thing is, you are not short of options.

Consider the methods discussed in the article and choose what’s best for you.

Whether you decide to use a buyback program, create a listing on eBay, or turn your toners in at your office supply store, you’ll be several hundred dollars richer.