Guidelines for Getting a Toner Cartridge

In our modern environment, printer is a must. The cost of print supply is expensive if we use the OEM supplies.

To reduced this cost, the compatible replacement and re-manufactured ink cartridges are good alternatives.

Let's consider this in a specific case for HP 60XL ink cartridges. It is the applied ink cartridge model for HP Deskjet D1600, Photosmart C4740 inkjet printers. An online seller with good track records priced $ 24 dollars for the re-manufactured cartridge. The original equipment manufacturer ink cartridge in the Staples is $ 46. If you wish to refill this HP60XL ink cartridge by ink refill service, the service charge should around $ 15 dollars. As you could see the differences in price among these specific types of ink cartridges, let's investigate further more for the refill cartridge, re-manufactured cartridge or compatible cartridge and the OEM cartridges.

Compatible ink cartridges are cartridges that are manufactured by a non-OEM manufacturer other than the  OEM manufacturer (see toner cartridge ). For instance, the HP 60XL cartridge's OEM manufacturer is HP; the 60xl ink cartridge from brand Amida is a third party manufacturer's product.

The compatible cartridge is different to re-manufactured cartridge. When a third party factory makes the cartridges by new plastic containers and electronic parts, they are called compatible cartridge. Cartridge that assembled with a professionally cleaned used plastic container called re-manufactured cartridge. Usually, re-manufactured cartridges are made by OEM manufacturer and third party manufacturer. In the process of making remanufactured cartridge by a quality verified cartridge factory, not only the good quality ink formulations are filled, but also the new nozzles and electronic circuit are installed and replaced. The remanufactured cartridge will be tested before it leaves the factory. Re-manufactured ink cartridges have the same functions and work in the same way as OEM ink cartridges.

Because the large demands of the ink cartridges, it is not surprised that bunches of manufactures have started to supply refill kits for inkjet printer. Inkjet refill becomes a service business for some people who do a refilling service for customers. However, users find that it is very trouble to refill the cartridges by themselves. The fingers have been blackened; the clean carpet has been dyed with colors; the green desk top has been spilled with cyan ink drops permanently and so on.

Moreover, there are about 19 percent of the inkjet cartridges will not be able to refill or reused by the special design of the cartridge chips. This makes the refill cartridges yield only fraction of the page yields as the OEM cartridges'. Also, in comparing to the printing quality, the refill ink cartridges are usually worse than the OEM cartridge. The ink color is poor and it might be dried up faster than the ink in OEM cartridge. As a result, it is convinced that refill cartridges are bad in quality.

In general, printer owners should be aware what type of cartridge they are using. Re-manufactured and compatible cartridge yields a lower cost and they provide good quality. However, some firms offer replacement ink cartridges at a fraction of the cost. From experience, most of these are of doubtful value. These cartridges work very well at the start up time, but their page yield seems to be lower than other types of cartridges. Just be a smart consumer now, make sure you purchase the quality verified re-manufactured or compatible cartridges for the best value.