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Epson LQ-690 Ribbon Cartridge | Original C13S015610 Black Fabric Ribbon, 10 Million Character Yield
Keep your dot matrix impact printer producing sharp invoices, delivery notes, and multi-part carbon copies in Nairobi offices.
Condition: New
Note: price and availability are subject to change without prior notice
Epson LQ-690 Ribbon Cartridge is now in stock at Mascom International for KSh 2,500, at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. This is the original Epson C13S015610 black cassette, brand new and sealed in Epson retail packaging, rated at 10 million characters in draft mode. The Epson LQ-690 Ribbon Cartridge fits the LQ-690, LQ-690II, and LQ-690IIN dot matrix printers with no adapter and no modification. At roughly 2,000 characters per typed A4 page, one cassette carries close to 5,000 pages of output before print density begins fading.
Accounts clerks, SACCO cashiers, hospital records offices, county revenue desks, and clearing agents working the Mombasa port still run dot matrix hardware because nothing else prints multi-part carbon sets in a single pass. The supply problem is real: a faded ribbon halts invoicing on a Friday afternoon, and the shop next door stocks only refilled cassettes that smear after 300 pages. The Epson LQ-690 Ribbon Cartridge removes that risk. Mascom International keeps stock on the shelf in Nairobi CBD, so a finance office in Industrial Area or Eldoret can swap a spent cassette the same working day.
Unlike traditional electronics retailers in Kenya who sell unbranded refills at KSh 800 and leave you guessing, Mascom International stocks the Epson LQ-690 Ribbon Cartridge with the C13S015610 part code printed on the carton. Users consistently report that a refilled ribbon lasts under a third of the rated life and leaves ink deposits on the 24-pin print head, costing far more than the KSh 1,700 saved. At Mascom International, we're seeing procurement officers order four to six cassettes at a time to cover a full financial year. Walk into our Kimathi Street shop, or order the Epson LQ-690 Ribbon Cartridge for delivery to any county.
Common Questions About the Epson LQ-690 Ribbon Cartridge
How many pages does one cassette print before fading?
About 5,000 A4 pages of ordinary text, based on Epson's rating of 10 million characters in black draft mode. A typed A4 page carries roughly 2,000 characters, so the arithmetic is straightforward. Documents with lighter text loads stretch much further: a delivery note carrying 500 characters means close to 20,000 printed forms. Multi-part carbon sets consume the same ribbon travel as a single sheet, since the pin strike does the copying. Print density fades gradually rather than stopping suddenly, giving your office warning to order a replacement.
Which printers accept the C13S015610 cassette?
The LQ-690, LQ-690II, and LQ-690IIN accept this cassette directly, per Epson's own compatibility listing. All three are 24-pin, 106-column impact machines built for continuous stationery and multi-part forms. The cassette snaps onto the carriage rails without tools, spacers, or adapters. It does not fit the LQ-350, LQ-2090, FX-890, or LX-350, which each use different part codes, and forcing the wrong cassette risks bending print head pins. Bring your printer model number to Kimathi Street and our counter staff will confirm the match before you pay.
Is the original ribbon worth it against a KSh 800 refill?
Yes, on running cost alone. A refilled cassette typically fades within 1,500 pages against the 10 million character rating on the Epson part, so you buy three refills to match one original. Refill fabric also sheds fibre and over-inked deposits onto the 24-pin head, and a replacement head assembly costs more than a year of ribbons. Epson soaks the fabric with fast-drying ink matched to the pin strike force, which keeps barcodes readable by scanners. Accounts teams printing KRA-compliant invoices cannot risk smudged figures on customer copies.
How do I fit a new ribbon on an LQ-690?
Switch the printer off, lift the paper guide and top cover, then slide the print head to the centre of the rail. Lift the spent cassette straight out by its handle. Turn the tension knob on the new cassette clockwise to take up slack, seat it onto the mounting posts, and guide the fabric strip between the print head and the ribbon guide. Press down until both sides click. Close the cover, power up, and print a test page. The swap takes under two minutes.
Why do sellers list S015555 next to S015610?
Both codes describe the same black cassette for the LQ-690 family, sold under different regional part numbers. Epson Europe catalogues it as C13S015610, while Epson's Asian market lists the equivalent under S015555 and C13S015628. Kenyan importers draw stock from both channels, which is why online listings pair the numbers together. Mascom International supplies the cassette carrying the code printed on its retail carton and tells you which regional pack is on the shelf when you order. Fit and yield are identical.
Can it handle multi-part carbon invoice sets?
Yes. The LQ-690 handles one original plus six carbon copies, and this cassette supports that full stack because impact printing transfers the image mechanically through every layer. Delivery notes, SACCO receipts, waybills for transporters on the Mombasa Road corridor, and hospital dispensing slips all depend on that behaviour. Paper thickness up to 0.49mm on multi-part sets stays within the printer's tolerance. Set the platen gap lever correctly for thick stacks, because running a six-part set at the single-sheet gap wears the fabric faster.
What does this work out to per printed page?
Roughly KSh 0.50 per A4 page of text, at the KSh 2,500 shelf price against 5,000 pages of yield. An accounts office printing 400 invoices monthly gets about twelve months from one cassette, landing near KSh 208 a month. Compare that against a laser toner refill at KSh 3,500 covering 2,000 pages, and the dot matrix consumable stays cheaper for form printing. Dot matrix hardware also draws only 38 watts while printing, which matters where offices run inverters during Kenya Power interruptions.
Do you deliver ribbons countrywide with payment on arrival?
Yes. Mascom International sends the cassette to all 47 counties with pay-on-arrival terms, so you inspect the sealed Epson pack and confirm the part code before any money changes hands. Nairobi and its environs receive same-day delivery on orders placed during working hours. Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret receive it the next business day. Call or WhatsApp +254 708 852 521 with your printer model and quantity. Bulk orders of five cassettes or more get quotation paperwork prepared in advance.
Technical Specifications
Cassette Construction and Ink Formulation
- Nylon fabric loop soaked in fast-drying black ink matched to the 24-pin strike force
- Sealed cassette shell holds the loop under tension, so the fabric does not jump out mid-print
- Tension knob on the cassette face takes up slack before fitting, preventing fold-over jams at the guide
- Even ink distribution along the loop keeps character density steady from the first page to the last
- Fabric mesh thickness chosen to resist fraying against the pins, protecting the head from mechanical strain
- Single black output at 360 x 180 dpi, the print resolution the LQ-690 engine addresses
Printer Compatibility and Part Codes
- Epson part number C13S015610, also catalogued as S015610 on retail packaging and dealer price lists
- Asian market equivalent carries codes S015555 and C13S015628, with identical fit, yield, and ink formulation
- Fits Epson LQ-690, LQ-690II, and LQ-690IIN dot matrix printers with no adapter needed
- Does not fit LQ-350, LQ-2090, FX-890, or LX-350, since those models use separate ribbon codes
- GTIN barcode 8715946430393 printed on the carton allows checking against Epson's own product database
- Host printer connects over USB 2.0 or bidirectional parallel, so ribbon choice never affects driver setup
Print Yield and Running Cost
- Rated 10 million characters in black draft mode under Epson's own measurement conditions
- Roughly 5,000 A4 text pages at about 2,000 characters per page for ordinary office correspondence
- Around 20,000 short forms such as delivery notes or receipts carrying near 500 characters each
- Works out near KSh 0.50 per printed A4 page against the KSh 2,500 shelf price
- Yield covers one original plus six carbon copies per pass without extra ribbon consumption
- Density fades gradually as ink depletes, giving accounts teams warning before month-end invoicing runs
Installation and Daily Handling
- Tool-free swap: lift the cover, centre the print head, lift the spent cassette out
- Turn the tension knob clockwise before seating so the fabric sits flat under the ribbon guide
- Both mounting clips click audibly once the cassette is properly seated on the carriage rails
- Full replacement takes under two minutes, so a cashier can finish the swap between customers
- Set the platen gap lever to match paper thickness, since thick multi-part sets need a wider gap
- Print a self-test page after fitting to confirm even density across the full 106-column width
Storage Conditions and Authenticity Checks
- Store sealed cassettes between 5°C and 35°C, matching the operating range Epson states for the printer
- Keep spares in the original wrap, since opened packs dry out faster during Nairobi's low humidity months
- Coastal offices in Mombasa and Malindi should keep packs sealed and away from direct salt air
- Epson retail carton carries the C13S015610 code, the GTIN barcode, and printed factory labelling
- Refilled and unbranded cassettes lack the coded carton and shed fibre onto the 24-pin head
- Print head life of 400 million strokes per wire depends on ribbon fabric more than page volume
Package Contents
One Epson LQ-690 Ribbon Cartridge in its sealed Epson retail carton, carrying the C13S015610 part code, the GTIN barcode, and Epson's printed factory labelling. The cassette arrives with its ink loop sealed inside the shell and the tension knob ready for take-up before fitting. Fitting guidance is printed on the pack itself. Printer, paper, and continuous stationery are sold separately at Mascom International. Cartons of five or ten cassettes are available on request for county offices and schools.
Warranty
The Epson LQ-690 Ribbon Cartridge carries a 6-month Mascom International warranty on manufacturing defects, covering a dried loop, torn fabric, or a cassette shell that fails to seat correctly. Normal ink depletion through printing counts as consumption rather than a defect, and falls outside coverage. Bring the cassette and your receipt to our Nairobi CBD service desk for assessment.
Where to Buy the Epson LQ-690 Ribbon Cartridge in Kenya
The Epson LQ-690 Ribbon Cartridge is available now at Mascom International, Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. Walk in Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and our counter staff will check the part code against your printer model before you pay.
Order through any of the following:
- Phone/WhatsApp: +254 708 852 521
- Email: info@mascomintl.com
- Website: www.mascomintl.com
Mascom International ships across all 47 Kenyan counties with pay-on-arrival delivery, so you pay once the cassette reaches you. Nairobi and its environs receive same-day delivery. All other major cities and towns, including Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu, Kakamega, and Mombasa, receive next-business-day delivery. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days.
Every cassette is covered by the 6-month Mascom warranty stated above, with claims handled at our Nairobi CBD service desk.
Buyers across Kenya rely on Mascom International for correct part codes, current pricing, and consumables that match the printer sitting on the desk. Send your printer model over WhatsApp and our team will confirm the right ribbon before you place the order.
Disclaimer: We can not guarantee that the information on this product is 100% correct
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