Genuine or non-genuine ink?
This creates a lot of confusion for some people. Here is a copy of an article that should help.
When Should I Use Non-Genuine Ink Cartridges?
This is confusing issue for most buyers. On one hand you have the genuine product manufacturers claiming non-genuine can ruin your printer and are sub-standard and the non-genuine providers claiming genuine are just a waste of money.
Who is telling the truth?
Here is the clearest I can make this. Because I have simplified it there may be some extremes where it does not quite apply, however generally anyone referring to this document for help will not be in one of those extremes. Also this document generally applies for toner cartridges, however the particular differences that apply to toners will be covered in another document.
I am a seller on non-genuine cartridges and you will see why below.
First – the quality and warranty issues.
Non-genuine cartridges DO NOT void warranties. I cannot make this any clearer. Any company implying this is misleading the buyer and should be challenged. What they should be stating is that the quality of the genuine product is assured. A non-genuine product may be of higher or lower quality, however you have no way of verifying this.
If you are going to buy a non-genuine cartridge ensure the distributor has a suitable return/replacement policy or if possible you can verify the quality. This is the main concern you have. If you buy genuine you should still check the return/replacement policy, and I suggest you check the manufactured date if possible – especially if buying off eBay.
Colour Quality
Colour quality can be an issue if you need to match exactly something previously printed with a particular cartridge. There is a detailed background to this that I wont go into. It is not that the genuine ink is of any better quality. The issue is that the ink is different. If you printed with a certain brand and need to match, use the same brand.
The colours are different for a number of reasons, however they mainly centre around the fact that the genuine ink is patented. This means the non-genuine ink will be different in composition. The ink is near enough for normal use and in-fact is indistinguishable in 99.9% of cases. In 99.99% of cases the non-genuine colour will be perfect for the application as you are just printing in colour – even for photos (more about them later).
Cartridges by design can have faults. The software and printer are designed to work around these faults to provide a consistent result. A slightly different ink may react in a slightly different way and may provide a slight variation – once again not important in 99.99% of cases.
Cost
This is the primary reason your are torn to consider non-genuine cartridges. So why are the genuine more expensive? This is simple; most make more money on the cartridge than the printer. The printer delivers one opportunity for profit. Most business people know that best income is derived from consumables. Therefore their aim in selling you a printer is to gain the ongoing income on the cartridges or toners. Take a look at the price of printers. Often you must wonder whether they are breaking even.
The genuine cartridges are trading on their name. They have capital invested in the name and need to recover this investment. They also have large infrastructure and distribution networks to support. Finally, they have large R&D budgets to support.
The non-genuine, or aftermarket product is much like other aftermarket products. Some will be cheap copies. Most will be well constructed products that perform the same role, however have equivalent technology behind the. A few will be better than the original as they have been developed once the faults of the original became evident.
Ink Refilling?
Ink refilling is an option. This article is not designed to discuss it in detail. For general print it can be safely performed on most cartridges, at least a few times. Maintenance through employing the cleaning function of the printer is recommended. Keep in mind that most cartridges are designed to do their function for a limited time. At some time parts need to be replaced and the function will become less than desired.
Remanufactured or Non-genuine?
Remanufactured cartridges use the foundation of a used cartridge and have had worn parts replaced. This has the benefit of assisting in waste reduction whilst providing a generally reliable result. Depending upon the cartridge or toner, and what has been replaced, there is a small risk of problems, however these are substantially less than ink refilling.
So How Do I Decide What to Buy?
Not an easy question to answer, but it is why you are reading. There are a few basic principles and most have been covered:
Colour, this has been covered in detail.
If you need to match a colour use the same brand as previously used regardless of whether it was OEM or aftermarket
If it is something like graphic art and you need the colour to exactly match the screen then generally I suggest an OEM as the software has been designed to exactly match the characteristics of the ink
If you just need colour that very closely matches the screen then use aftermarket. Most times you can't tell the difference, but you certainly can in the hip pocket.
Warranty/reliability.
If the supplier has a money back guarantee go for the cheaper item. You have nothing to lose but time. If it works well then you will save money time and again.
Cost.
If cost is the key driver and you don't mind a bit of mess and fiddling, give refills a go.
I hope this has covered your concerns with respect to when to use OEM and when to use aftermarket cartridges. For more information on how to save money and when to use dye instead of ink go to my website at www.ninehills.com.au.
This article is subject to copyright. You have permission to use this article and reproduce it free of charge as long as it is reproduced in its entirety. Should you only need a specific aspect then you must include the paragraph above and reference to my site. Should you need more information or want an article covering another aspect of cartridges or toners please contact me via my site www.ninehills.com.au.
posted by Noel Irwin at 2:36 AM
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