Original versus Remanufactured Print Cartridges

With the advent of home computers, virtual networks and a change in the way people work, almost any home that has a PC or laptop has a printer as an add-on piece of hardware. Although the printers themselves last for years, they have one consumable element – the printer cartridge. And these can be prohibitively expensive. So the debate is – original versus remanufactured – which is best?

The pros and cons of original cartridges

The research, development and planning that goes into printer design and manufacture is extraordinary, right down to the ink cartridges that it uses to print the final page. Original print cartridges are specifically designed to work with their designated machine to optimum efficiency. By using an original print cartridge, you can be certain that the correct thickness of ink is flowing through the printer jets, preventing them from becoming clogged or producing poorly printed work. They fit to exact specifications and are designed to produce a specific number of printed copies (which is often as much as 30% more than cheaper, generic cartridges). This means that each printed page actually costs less to produce than if you use a supposedly cheaper, non-specific cartridge.

If your printer is still under warranty, then you need to check the wording of that document very carefully. Using non-manufacturer recommended cartridges may invalidate the warranty, which in the event of a printer breakdown could result in considerable additional expense.

But they have one major drawback – original cartridges can be frighteningly expensive. If you’re a heavy user, this cost can mount up quickly and before you know it you’ve spent more on ink cartridges than the actual printer cost! This is where the Internet comes in. Locating major distributors of original printer cartridges means that you can take advantage of their buying power. Because they buy original cartridges in bulk, they can pass considerable savings on to their customers, meaning that the price of your original cartridges could come down substantially. This is a major consideration, particularly if you are running an office with several printers in constant use.

Remanufactured – a viable alternative?

The alternative to paying top money for original printer cartridges (or even sourcing cheaper alternatives online) is to opt for remanufactured printer cartridges. Only about 20% of cartridges are ever re-used. Independent cartridge remanufacturers recover more empty cartridges than all the major manufacturers put together. The common misconception about remanufactured cartridges is that they are simply refilled with ink (so-called ‘drill ‘n’ fill’). That type of remanufactured cartridge is often the death knell of any printer, as the ink used is usually substandard and of the wrong type for the printer jets.

But there are professional remanufacturers who replace every worn or damaged component in the cartridges. Imaging Drums (OPC Drums) should be cleaned, tested or more usually replaced. The OPC Drum is the most expensive part of many toner cartridges, but is critical for the quality performance of your cartridge. If you’re planning to try and save money by looking at remanufactured cartridges, it is strongly recommended that you talk to a company that doesn’t just drill and fill, but actually reconditions the entire cartridge.

Original versus remanufactured – the choice is yours. By weighing up the pros and cons on both sides, a little research on the Internet to find reliable suppliers of either kind and making sure your printer is regularly serviced, there is no reason why you can’t have years of perfect prints and save money at the same time.

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Alison Brundle
Design Co-Ordinator
alison.brundle@scc.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

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