‘Flawed and Useless’: Class Action Alleges Xerox Versant Printing Presses Plagued by Defects

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A proposed class action claims certain Versant digital printing presses made by Xerox Corporation are plagued by defects that render the machines unable to function as advertised.

According to the 26-page case, the V80, V180, V2100 and V3100 printing press models are manufactured with defective components, including faulty drums, and used with defective toner that exacerbates the apparent problems. The lawsuit alleges Xerox is well aware that its presses will not last as long or perform as well as advertised yet continues to sell and lease the machines to unsuspecting customers, who’ve allegedly experienced “extensive and devasting damages” as a result.

Overall, the plaintiff, Michigan-based International Minute Press of Plymouth, alleges Xerox has caused customers to overpay for the presses, waste materials, incur costs for outsourced printing and pay out-of-pocket for other expenses as a result of the defective machines.

The lawsuit says that Xerox’s line of Versant printing presses, including the models at issue in the suit, are available for sale or lease to the public and designed to be used only with the company’s toner products. According to the case, the presses work by using a laser to beam an image onto a drum, which in turn uses static electricity to attract toner that is then rolled onto paper. From there, a fuser melts the toner into the paper, the suit explains.

Xerox advertises the Versant presses as “consistent performers” with “robust components for dependable high-speed printing,” and able to “increase performance, quality, and consistency,” “reduce costs,” “produce more jobs,” “impress customers,” “grow business,” “attract new business” and “increase margins,” according to the complaint. The case alleges that these representations, however, are far from the truth. 

Per the suit, “inconsistencies” in the toner products manufactured by Xerox exacerbate the apparent defects in the presses and damage various components in the machines, including the drums, rollers and developer housings. The case claims the flawed toner causes the presses to malfunction well before the end of their advertised life span. Moreover, although the drums are advertised as able to provide between 10,000 to 50,000 prints, they often need to be replaced much earlier due to the apparent toner defects, the lawsuit alleges. The case says the “flawed” toner cannot be flushed from affected Versant presses, and the apparent defects “promptly return” even after a machine has been thoroughly cleaned, per the complaint.

As the case tells it, the problems with the Versant toner and drums have led to supply shortages, causing some customers to wait weeks before they can get their drums replaced. As a result, customers are unable to provide printing services and forced to pass on work they would otherwise accept and incur additional costs to outsource printing, the lawsuit relays.

The suit alleges Xerox has used inadequate materials, parts, designs, equipment or personnel to manufacture the Versant presses and failed to uphold its promise to keep the machines in “good working order” or replace them in accordance with its customer contracts.

The case goes on to claim that Xerox, due to numerous customer complaints, is well aware of the issues with its presses yet has acknowledged the problem to only “certain people who complained enough that such issues existed.”

The lawsuit looks to represent all persons and entities in the U.S. who leased or purchased a Xerox Versant 80, Xerox Versant 180, Xerox Versant 2100, or Xerox Versant 3100.

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