Ink Toner Cartridges – New OEM vs. Remanufactured

Ink Toner Cartridges – New OEM vs. Remanufactured

By Joyce Calloway for InkMart.com, Copyright 2009

What do you do when you realize that your printer is out of ink? Do you go to purchase at the nearest mall like electronics store? Many people don’t think about it, and this is why the companies like HP are selling billions of dollars worth of products. The thing to mention is now you don’t have to buy a replacement ink jet cartridge or a replacement toner only from the manufacturer or from the big main stream electronics depot. You could beat the system by buying online. For the less than Staples or Office Depot charge for a remanufactured cartridge product, many times you can have an OEM original part.  Instead of the retail mess, visit someone online who is big and established like InkMart.com. The independent sources that carry replacement ink cartridges and replacement toners at a more affordable price. So how do you distinguish between all of the different options?

Generally there are three types of ink cartridges and toners. There are OEM cartridges, remanufactured cartridges refilled with ink, and compatible cartridges, which are new ink cartridges with replacement toners. When you’re purchasing an OEM, you’re getting a replacement part that is from the manufacturer in its original condition. A remanufactured ink cartridge or replacement toner is a used cartridge that has undergone repackaging and refilled with ink. Companies known as remanufacturers will often take a used and empty ink cartridge, open the top or drill a hole through and fill it with ink, seal it and then return it to the customer for use. It’s a process that can take 15 minutes to do. Once remanufactured, the results vary, because these “drill and fill” remanufacturers do not then test the cartridges to be certain that the moving parts of the cartridges are performing up to OEM standards to assure good printing quality.  There are some kits available on the market that allow you to convert your old cartridges into remanufactured ink cartridges yourself, but you won’t be able to test the cartridges for quality either. And handling toner can be dangerous to your health as well, if you don’t have the proper training.  Thus, it is up to you to decide what your printing priorities are – quality or not.

A new ink cartridge or new compatible toner is one that is created of entirely new parts and is like the originally manufactured product. The remanufactured ink cartridge is not quite the same as a compatible cartridge because it has undergone some wear. The ink heaters can become set out of range so that they work at a level that is too hot or they are not hot enough. Instead, the remanufactured cartridge is also more likely t have a clogged jet. An aftermarket solution is mainly selected for is money saving potential. If you’re going to do a lot of picture printing on photo paper, however, you may want to go with new original. There are people in the photography industry don’t feel that refill ink measures up to their needs Are they right, probably. But it’s guaranteed refilled ink cartridges is a cheaper way to go than purchasing brand new OEM ink cartridges every time yours runs dry, even though vendors like InkMart can save you substantial money on a new OEM cartridge over other sellers.

Is refill ink worth the savings? The answer depends on what your needs will be. If you’re printing documents regularly without graphics or photos, refill ink may the perfect thing for you. No matter what your focus is — quality with beauty or black and white masses of volume of documents, you are now empowered to make the right decision. Good Luck!