Frequently Asked Questions

This is my first compatible cartridge — how do I know it is the right one?

Check the label on the cartridge you are taking out. If it reads TK5152K, this is its match; the printer model tells the same story, since this cartridge serves the M6035cidn and the M6535cidn. One cartridge costs $35.21.

What does the swap actually involve?

Open the printer, lift the old cartridge out, lower the new one in until it seats, and close everything up. No tools, no settings to change, no service visit — most people are printing again inside a few minutes.

The first pages look a little light. Is something wrong?

Usually not. Remove the cartridge and rock it gently from side to side to level the toner inside, then run a few pages. Fresh cartridges often settle in over the first small stack of output.

How far will 12,000 pages really take a single printer?

The rating assumes standard test coverage, so an ordinary office mix of letters, forms and reports comes close. If your pages run heavy with graphics, expect fewer — the rating is a benchmark, not a counter built into the cartridge.

If I am not happy with it, what then?

It is backed by a 1-year warranty and 1-year free returns, so trying a compatible cartridge is not a gamble. Support is available Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM CST if you would rather troubleshoot first.

How quickly will it get here?

Orders ship from our warehouses in IL, PA, GA and CA, from whichever is nearest you. Delivery windows and the return process are laid out on the shipping and returns page.

How do I time the next order so I never print on an empty slot?

Use the printer's page counter rather than the calendar. Note the counter reading when you fit this TK5152K, and when the low-toner warning appears, compare the pages printed since fitting against the 12,000-page standard rating. That tells you your machine's real pace. After one cycle you will know roughly how many pages of warning you get, and you can order the next cartridge while the current one still has work in it.

I would rather buy ahead — how do I keep a spare ready?

Leave the spare sealed in its box, stored flat in a cool, dry cupboard away from windows and heaters. A sealed TK5152K waits patiently for months without losing anything, so buying the next one while this one is still young costs nothing in performance. When the installed cartridge finally fades, give the spare a gentle side-to-side rock before fitting so the toner sits evenly.

The printer sat unused for two months — why is the first output pale?

Toner settles while a cartridge sits idle, so the first pages after a long quiet stretch can come out light or uneven even with plenty of toner left. Take the TK5152K out, rock it slowly from side to side a few times to loosen and level the contents, refit it, and run a handful of test pages. Output normally evens out within that short run.

What do I do with the old cartridge once the new one is in?

Put the spent TK5152K in the new cartridge's box so it stays clean and contained, and send it out through an electronics or office-supply recycling route rather than the regular trash. One sensible habit: keep the old cartridge on the shelf for a few days until the replacement has proven itself over real work. If the new one misbehaves, you still have the old unit at hand for comparison.

About This Cartridge

A single black TK5152K for one printer that needs toner now — nothing more, nothing extra. It drops into the M6035cidn or M6535cidn the same way the original did, carries a 12,000-page standard rating, and is priced at $35.21. The wider Kyocera-Mita range covers the color cartridges and other models when you need them.