Will there be a noticeable difference in the quality of print if I use compatible rather than original brand ink cartridges?
As more people make the switch to compatible ink cartridges the question arises from those yet to be converted, will the quality of my print suffer? The simple answer is that for everyday general-purpose printing, no. By general purpose printing I mean, reports, letters, accounts, daily print outs such as menus etc, in fact anything that does not involve printing photographic.
Most of us use the printer for projects at home such as our children’s school assignments or projects and the printing of the occasional boarding pass when we are fortunate enough to get away on holiday. Somehow though the ink can still disappear (even though many I the household deny using the printer) and before we know it we are forking out a fortune for replacement ink cartridges. The difference in the cost of the original brand ink cartridge and the compatible version can be as much as 70% – 100%.
The price difference is too great to be ignored and providing the compatible or remanufactured version of the cartridge is of good quality and reliable then there’s no reason not to make the switch. The only difference in quality that independent tests have found between the compatible ink cartridge and original brand is in the life of the colour. To test this theory in detail we would need to make an experiment using a set of compatible and original brand printer inks.
Firstly we would print an image on a high quality glossy photographic paper and then repeat the process only this time with compatible inks in the printer. Initially there may be no noticeable difference in the quality (assuming the printer has been correctly calibrated after inserting both sets of inks), and then we must store the prints from two to five years to see if the difference in quality reveals itself after a period of time. It’s quite likely that the pigments in the ink from the compatible ink cartridges will begin to deteriorate after a period of time whereas the original brand cartridges will not. Considering this is possibly the most likely difference we can experience then I think it’s safe to say we can convert to compatible ink.
As a footnote, it’s worth remembering that the ink within the compatible cartridge does not contain the component that prevents the ink from drying out in the ink tank and may be prone to drying out if not used on a regular basis. The ink on the print head may also dry out but this can be cleared by performing a head cleaning procedure through the PC or on the printer itself, depending on the model.
- Published in Ink Cartridges
Compatible Ink Cartridges Sales Overtaking Original Brand Cartridges
Sales of compatible and remanufactured ink cartridges are overtaking original brands cartridges in Ireland with more and more brands becoming available through 3rd Party manufacturers. The compatible ink cartridge industry has grown vastly in the last 2 years with sales of compatible ink and toner at an all time high. One reason for this is now the willingness for suppliers to stand over the printer as well as the ink they sell. In short, if the ink or toner causes a problem for your printer some of the more reputable suppliers are guaranteeing the printer as well as the ink. This shows the progress made by the manufacturers of compatible ink cartridges and their obligation to matching the ISO standards of the original brand ink.
As well as sales of ink cartridges increasing, the sale of compatible laser toner is also on the increase. More and more businesses are making the switch to compatible or remanufactured toners in an effort to reduce printing costs. An average sized small business will now print their own letterheads, leaflets and labels whereas in the past they would have used the services of a commercial printer. With the low cost compatible toner available, it’s at last within their budget to print their own. There are now savings estimated at around 40% – 50% using third party toners as an alternative to the originals and they will very rarely give any problems. This represents massive savings for any business within any trading year of a small business and should be considered when trying to find ways to reduce overall running costs. Good quality suppliers of ink cartridges will guarantee the printer as well as the toner ink and stand over any repairs that are needed as a direct result of any problems caused by their toners. This is less likely to be a problem with inkjet cartridges as the ink will either work in the printer or it won’t.
The viability of using original brand printer ink cartridges is now becoming unaffordable with rumours of some of the larger original brand suppliers introducing their own version of a compatible cartridge. This is somewhat a contradiction in terms as it will be basically the same cartridge as the original brand cartridge except at a lower cost.
- Published in Ink Cartridges
What is the Difference Between Compatible and Original Ink Cartridges?
Shall I continue to pay over the odds for my ink cartridges or take a chance on using compatible inks? This is the question may of us face as the cost of running a busy home or office printer soars.
From the outset, its a good idea to explain the difference between original and compatible ink cartridges. The original cartridge is the cartridge manufactured by the maker of the printer and will be available with the manufacturers branding and packaging. Compatible cartridges are brand new cartridges manufactured by a third-party manufacturer who have no connection with the original brand supplier; these ink cartridges are in fact clones of the originals. There are also remanufactured cartridges; this was an original brand ink cartridge that has been used once before and has been taken back to the factory, cleaned, refilled and repackaged.
The first noticeable difference is the cost between the compatible and original cartridges. Just because the cost of the compatible is considerably less than the original doesn’t mean that there should be a sharp drop in quality. There are some poor versions of compatible ink cartridges on the market and these should be avoided, as they don’t represent a true picture of how good compatibles can actually be. Buying from a supplier with good testimonials on their website or social media page is a good way of checking product reviews. The number of copies you make will influence the cost of your printing with savings of up to 70% with compatible ink then the savings are significant. Also, what you print will affect the amount of ink that you use, are it mostly text or images that you print? Compatible ink cartridges are great for printing images, as photo printing tends to use up a lot of ink. Independent tests carried out using original ink and compatibles show that good quality compatibles are as good as originals and the print will last and not fade as can happen with poor quality cartridges.
The availability of compatibles for new printers is more of an issue. When a major brand introduces a new printer range that doesn’t use their existing print cartridges, the third-party manufacturers will then have to begin the process of making those cartridges but of course this will take a little time. The older the printer the more chance there is that a good quality compatible will be available for it. Printer manufacturers are continually trying to develop ways and means of preventing end users switching to compatibles but the technology used by third-party manufacturers should ensure that the compatible ink cartridge will thankfully be around for some time to come.
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- Published in Ink Cartridges