How it Works

WHO ARE VIRGINIA CORRECTIONAL ENTERPRISES?

Virginia Correctional Enterprises (VCE) provides an inmate work program for inmates incarcerated within the Department of Corrections to produce goods and services for agencies of the Commonwealth while maintaining the goal of providing work opportunities and skill learning programs for inmates. These skills and work ethics are transferable to society upon release and have proven helpful in reducing the rate of recidivism.

WHAT TYPE OF REPLACEMENT PRINTER CARTRIDGE PRODUCTS DOES VCE OFFER?

VCE offers Ink and Toner based cartridge remanufacturing products.

WHAT ARE RENEWABLE PRINTER CARTRIDGES?

These are either ink or toner cartridges that are recovered after use, disassembled, cleaned and reassembled using all new components, ink or toner, and chips. They are Form, Fit and Functionally equivalent in both Page Yield and Image Quality to new or, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) cartridges, but with a substantial cost savings.

WHAT KIND OF COST SAVINGS CAN I EXPECT BY SWITCHING TO VCE’S RENEWABLE PRINTER CARTRIDGES?

Typically, customers see cost savings ranging from 20% to 35%.

WHAT IS THE DELIVERY TIME FOR VCE’S RENEWABLE PRINTER CARTRIDGES?

Orders received by Noon will ship the same day or the next day for all others. Shipping is via UPS 2nd Day Ground.

ARE RENEWABLE PRINTER CARTRIDGES A MANDATORY SOURCE AND REPLACEMENT FOR BOTH OEM AND REMANUFACTURED PRINTER CARTRIDGES?

Yes. Section 53.1-47 of the Code of Virginia requires that all Articles and Services produced, manufactured or remanufactured by persons confined in State Correctional Facilities shall be purchased by all departments, institutions and agencies of the Commonwealth which are supported in whole or in part with funds from the state treasury for their use or the use of persons whom they assist financially. Page | 2 Revision: 1.1 Tuesday, June 6, 2017 Except as provided in S 53.1-48, no such articles or services shall be purchased by any department, institution or agency of the Commonwealth from any other source. Further, a department, institution or agency of the Commonwealth may only be granted an exemption from the provisions of § 53.1-47 with the consent of both the Director of the Division of Purchases and Supply and the Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Correctional Enterprises Program in any case where (i) the article so produced or manufactured does not meet the reasonable requirements of the department, institution or agency, (ii) an identical article can be obtained at a verified lesser cost from the private sector, which is evidenced by a verified request for pricing, or (iii) the requisition made cannot be complied with on account of an insufficient supply of the articles or supplies required, or otherwise. In addition Section 53.1-49 requires that no department, institution or agency of the Commonwealth shall be allowed to evade the intent and meaning of §§ 53.1-47 and 53.1-48 by slight variations from specifications adopted by the Division of Purchases and Supply of the Department of General Services pursuant to § 2.2-1112, when the articles produced or manufactured in accordance with specifications of the Department are reasonably adapted to the actual needs of the department, institution or agency.

WILL THE USE OF VCE RENEWABLE PRINTER CARTRIDGES AFFECT THE WARRANTY ON MY PRINTER?

Manufacturers cannot legally require a printer owner or lessee - verbally or otherwise – to purchase supplies exclusively from them. This unlawful "tying agreement" violates provisions of the Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Acts and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. It is exclusively your right to choose which products you install in your printer. The OEM may charge Time and Materials to repair a printer damaged by the use of a 3 rd Party Cartridge but these costs are covered by VCE’s Warranty.

WHAT IS THE VCE WARRANTY FOR ITS RENEWABLE PRINTER CARTRIDGES?

Just the same as an OEM warranty. If a VCE cartridge fails, we will replace it. If it fails and damages your printer, we will pay to repair or replace the printer.

HOW DO I PURCHASE VCE’S RENEWABLE PRINTER CARTRIDGES?

VCE’s Renewable Printer Cartridges can be found at www.vceink.net and are available for purchase through a punch-out catalog at eVA.

WHAT IF I DO NOT SEE THE PRODUCT I WANT ON THE VCE WEBSITE OR THE EVA PUNCH-OUT CATALOG?

Please contact VCE Customer Service via email at vcecustsrvc@vadoc.virginia.gov or Toll Free at (800) 823-2823. If VCE does not carry the cartridge you need, Customer Service will guide you to the Release/Waiver process.

WHAT IF I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH VCE’S RENEWABLE PRINTER CARTRIDGES?

Please contact VCE Customer Service via email at vcecustsrvc@vadoc.virginia.gov or Toll Free at (800) 823-2823.

WHAT IF MY MANAGER OR IT DEPARTMENT SAYS I CANNOT BUY VCE’S RENEWABLE PRINTER CARTRIDGES?

Please refer them to this document or ask them to contact VCE via email at vcespecialtysales@vadoc.virginia.gov or by phone at 804 396 0264.

HOW OFTEN CAN I RETURN EMPTY CARTRIDGES?

You can return as many as one shipment a day or as little as one shipment a year just remember the minimum return amount is 25 units.

WILL A REMANUFACTURED CARTRIDGE YIELD THE SAME QUALITY AS A NEW ONE?

There should be no difference in print quality or page yield with a properly remanufactured cartridge.

WHAT IF I EXPERIENCE A QUALITY ISSUE?

If our cartridge does not meet your quality expectations, simply notify a customer service representative at 1-800-823-2823 and return the cartridge along with a page sample showing the print quality problem in the box that it came in.

WHO CAN I CALL IF I HAVE QUESTIONS?

Our customer service team is eager to answer your questions and can be reached toll free at 1-800-823-2823.

HP INK PRINTER FIRMWARE FIXES

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HOW OUR TONER IS MADE

STEP 1

  • The empty cartridge is inspected and discarded if any physical damage is found. The empty cartridge is then disassembled and residual toner is evacuated using a vacuuming process. Worn components are then segregated and sent for responsible recycling.

STEP 2

  • The cartridge is replenished with sufficient, OEM equivalent, toner to ensure similar page yields to an OEM cartridge.

STEP 3

  • New seals are installed to ensure cartridge integrity.

STEP 4

  • The cartridge is reassembled using new components such as the Organic Photoconductor Drum, the Primary Charge Roller, the Magnetic Roller, the Wiper Blade and the Doctor Blade.

STEP 5

  • A small quantity of toner is applied to the Magnetic Roller, in order to test the print quality of the cartridge, after assembly.

STEP 6

  • The original communication chip is replaced with an OEM equivalent.

STEP 7

  • Every VCE cartridge is tested, within the relevant printer using an International Standards Organization (ISO) test page. The pages are carefully inspected for any defects.

STEP 8

  • The completed and tested cartridge is inserted into an airbag which is then inflated to provide protection during the shipping process. Box packaging is added for extra protection.

I have recently attended several meetings wearing our new summer uniform, both on and off campus, and have received many compliments.  I have proudly told others that this was a Virginia Correctional Enterprises project and that we have been completely satisfied with the quality and service of VCE.