Dell E515dw Monochrome Laser Printer

Great multi-function printer. I got it after doing a lot of research – was looking specifically for the following:
– duplex printing (auto)
– wifi connectivity
– economical ink replacements

This printer delivers on all of those, and includes the following bonuses from my wish list:
– copier mode
– scan to computer mode
– duplex scanning (auto)
– tray takes letter OR legal

Note that the printer itself is black cartridge only, so any copies will be black and white. BUT IF YOU SCAN, it will scan files in color for you. Just in case that clarification helps.

The printer is a nice size, has handles on the sides for easy transportation, and was a breeze to set up the wifi for my network.

The best part? It works on my mobile hotspot. After setting it up once, any time I turn on my hotspot, I can automatically print to the printer from my computers.

This monstrosity of a printer was the bane of my existence.

I was so proud of myself for making what I believed to be a really great investment in an all-in-one laser printer — a step toward spending less money on ink, toward being able to scan and duplicate documents, and toward being able to print out my homework for college.

When it arrived, it arrived in a box with a huge picture of a printer on the outside. In the last place I lived — just a few streets over — this would have been stolen within minutes. Aside from the box being seriously beat up, the terrible cutout handles in the box were so far down I couldn’t fit my arms around it to lift it (I’m really short), and thus a neighbor had to help me haul it awkwardly up the stairs.

As soon as I opened the box, I realized how totally flimsy this printer was. Just taking the stickers and tape off was difficult, and I fought with the toner cartridge for far longer than should have been necessary. Every piece that opens up, pulls out, or in any way moves feels like it could easily break, and will frequently get stuck in the wrong position. The opening motion of the scanner part is jerky and awkward.

The drivers didn’t install properly (I had to go find them online) and then they proceeded to keep turning the printer back on when I’d shut it off. The buttons didn’t seem to work half the time, it took multiple attempts to print things, the scaling came out weird no matter what I did, and the print quality was atrocious.

There was no question — I was returning it. This involved return the printer, the (digital) warranty, and a spare toner cartidge, so I printed out the return labels for the latter two on Amazon and then promptly unplugged and uninstalled everything. Though I’d kept everything that came with this (including all the packaging), it still took several attempts to get it to sit properly in the styrofoam it had come with — the sheer weight and bulk of the printer nearly flipped the box over when I set it crooked the first time.

Once I got it all taped up and ready to go, I realized that the labels that had printed were not return labels for the printer, but for a replacement toner cartridge I’d ordered at the same time. Using someone else’s printer, I tried twice more with the same result — the wrong labels. I tried ordering the labels, but they didn’t come when expected, and I was running out of patience. Two long and frustrating customer service phone calls and a couple dozen emails (all with people who seemed to have no clue what I was talking about) later, I finally got the right label and printed it at someone else’s house, but by now I’d missed the free UPS pickup days (all three of them!) and had to haul the damn thing all the way to Staples to be shipped — which was an issue because, if you remember, I can’t lift the box.

My brother helped me out with that, we drove 30 minutes to send this printer back from whence it came, and the nightmare seemed to finally be over — until I only got a 75% refund. I was livid, and sent a fairly polite but strongly-worded email, and managed to get the other 25%. The emailing wasn’t especially difficult, but I cannot believe that it was even necessary.

I will never order from Dell or this seller again — this was a disaster from start to finish, and definitively the worst buying (or returning) experience I have ever had. An absolute disappointment, and an utter failure at every turn. I still seethe whenever anyone mentions this experience.