Printer Cartridges FAQ

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Here we have given some common question that a user may think of before choosing an ink jet cartridge online.

1. What are OEM cartridges?

OEM is an acronym for Original Equipment Manufacturer. These are products that are sold under a major brand name although they may in fact be manufactured by another company under sub contract and so the cartridges would have the Canon name and logo on them. Because of the branding these cartridges are usually expensive and of good quality. They are not necessarily of better quality than unbranded cartridges that may be manufactured by the same sub contractor.

2. What is a remanufactured cartridge?

When a cartridge runs out of ink, it can still be used again rather than just discarded. A remanufactured cartridge is a used OEM cartridge that has been disassembled, cleaned and reassembled after replacing necessary parts. It is then tested for damage and then refilled with ink and tested again to quality standards. This is far better than just recharging or refilling the cartridge as a remanufactured cartridge will either meet or exceed the OEM standards.

3. What are compatible cartridges?

These are cartridges that are manufactured by a third party manufacturer but not branded. These are generic new cartridges and not recycled or remanufactured. They are manufactured to meet specifications and standards used by the original OEM models. They should be at least comparable in quality to OEM cartridges. These cartridges are generally cheaper then OEM cartridges.

4. Why should I buy compatible printer cartridges?

Compatible cartridges are as good as, sometime better than, original cartridges. They are without the branding and associated costs that name. Therefore, compatible cartridges are always cheaper than OEM cartridges. Some times they are 50% cheaper then OEM cartridge. This means you keep the savings and get a product just as good as an original one.

5. Are compatible cartridges available for all printers?

Compatible cartridges are available for most printers with the exception of some of the Lexmark, Hewlett Packard and some Canon models. All other printers do have compatible cartridges available that are just as good if not better than the originals.
Lexmark and HP cartridges are manufactured with the printer head incorporated into the cartridge itself and so can only be manufactured by these companies or under contract to them.

6. What shelf life do compatible cartridges have?

All cartridges generally have a shelf life of 20 to 24 months from manufacture. They will almost always be used long before the expiry date under normal printer usage.

7. Will using compatible, remanufactured or refilled cartridges void my printer's warranty?

NO! In the past companies did threaten to void printer warranties if refilled cartridges were used. However, legislation has since been introduced to prohibit this. You have the right to choose your printer supply. OEM can recommend specific printer supply products for their printers. However, they can not make is compulsory for you to use them. Enforcing such a policy is illegal.

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