Everyone knows that maintaining a printer can cost a bit of money. Some printer models are sold at a low price, only to burden their owners with expensive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) printer supplies such as ink and toner cartridges.
Luckily, today’s consumers have access to cheaper alternatives: printer cartridges from third-party suppliers. Compared to OEM cartridges, the ones bought off third-party suppliers can cost as much as 80% less.
What are your inexpensive options for ink cartridges?
Third-party ink cartridges are typically marketed into 3 types: recycled, remanufactured, and refilled. Recycled simply means that the product is made from parts recovered from an original or used cartridge. The term can be used with both refilled and remanufactured cartridges.
A refilled ink cartridge is merely refilled before it is tested for print quality and sold. A remanufactured ink cartridge, on the other hand, is completely disassembled, with each part separately cleaned and restored, before it is put together, then refilled, tested, packaged, and shipped to the customer. Due to the meticulous processes and tests remanufactured cartridges undergo before being sold, they typically offer reliable prints that match or even surpass their original counterparts.
The term compatible is also sometimes used to refer to third-party ink cartridges. It simply means that the ink cartridge is not OEM-made but it is newly manufactured by a third-party manufacturer and functions in the same way an OEM cartridge would for a particular printer model.
How does using remanufactured ink cartridge affect your printer warranty?
Using remanufactured or compatible printer cartridges does not void your printer warranty. Thanks to Magnuson Moss Warranty Improvement Act, printer manufacturers cannot deny warranty on the basis of using remanufactured ink cartridge on the printer:
No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer’s using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade, or corporate name;
However, consumers should note that if the printer malfunction is directly caused by the generic cartridge, then the warranty may not be honored. So, in order to enjoy the benefits of budget-friendly printer supplies and to make the most out of your printer warranty, make sure that you choose a remanufactured or compatible cartridge provider with good reputation.
What should you look for in third-party printer cartridge suppliers?
Excellent ink providers typically have excellent reviews. Good customer service and customer-friendly warranty and money back policies also mark a good remanufactured and compatible cartridge supplier. Aside expressing the manufacturer’s trust on the quality of the cartridges they sell, these features also tell that the ink company is dedicated to building a long-term and mutually profitable business relationship with its patrons.
In addition, customers, especially those whose businesses rely mainly on printing, should also explore the shop’s shipping options. Many suppliers offer year-round shipping promos to make their products more appealing budget-conscious clients and those who buy in bulk.
