Bethany Brookes
When it comes to choosing the right printer cartridges, the house seems to be divided. Here we explore the pros and cons of using genuine and compatible ink cartridges. This article will hopefully give you perspective and help you mull over your cartridge choices.
Why People Buy Original Ink Cartridges
While toners for inkjet printers are relatively low-priced, manufacturers rake in real money with ink cartridges. The price of each cartridge is enough to dent your wallet and may even cost more than your favourite designer perfume.
Exclusive selling is a mechanism formulated by manufacturers so they can maximise earnings from their own ink cartridges. Their advocacy of genuine ink stems from the following:
1. Quality photos
Manufacturers like Epson and Brother claim that their cartridges contain a special formula that enables the production of photo quality prints. Without a doubt, genuine cartridges pass through rigorous quality standards. And the end result will always be smooth, clean and high quality printed graphics and text.
But the truth is that not everyone will notice the difference.
Studies show that genuine inks have better quality prints but this doesn’t even matter to average users. Some compatible printer cartridges produce nearly the same level of quality that it’s hard to notice the ink isn’t genuine. When presented with this option, the average user would not mind buying compatible ink cartridges instead.
2. Longer printer lifespan
Imitation toners and ink cartridges tend to have the wrong fit. They may trigger leaks or clogging up. Or some printing parts get damaged. This is usually the case with refilled cartridges. Or when you buy cheap compatibles at online flea markets.
Original inks operate under the principle of regular replacement instead of refills. This ensures that your cartridge doesn’t cause your print head to malfunction or clog up.
3. Warranty
One reason why some users tend to avoid compatible cartridges is that repairs will not be covered by their printer warranty. This is understandable.
But note that warranties typically span 12 months. Repairs requested outside of that period willlikely cost more than your printer.
Printers like the inkjet models are considered by many as disposables. They have a shorter lifespan compared to other printers and do not use other ink colours except black. There is certainly no harm in buying compatible ink cartridges for low end printer models.
Compatible Printer Cartridges
Price is the primary reason why there is a growing market for compatibles. Ink is almost like a luxury commodity. You can’t buy it unless you have money.
Among direct manufacturers, Epson appears to be the most budget-friendly. Epson cartridge packs are generally affordable. Though when compared to compatible multi-packs, the prices are still a far cry.
Compatible ink packs with 67ml capacity can save you around 17 AUD per month or 11 Euros. Even with the risk of your printer breaking down, buying a new model would still cost less if you use compatibles the whole year through.
Studies show printer issues related to compatible ink cartridges are few and far between. The main cause of malfunction is usually mishandling and not so much on cartridge fit or improper refilling.
Cheap printers have an average lifespan of 6 years, regardless of ink cartridge and provided there was no mishandling. Just imagine. If you get to save 11 Euros each month for a period of 6 years, then you have an estimated savings of 792 Euros or around 1,250 AUD!
At the end of the day, it’s money in your pocket.
What Ink Cartridges Should You Use?
Your printer, your choice. It essentially depends on your printing needs. How frequently do you need to change cartridges?
If you need to print hundreds or thousands of pages for a thesis or marketing presentation, genuine ink cartridges can seriously jeopardise your finances. Go ahead if money is not an issue. Just focus on getting things done.
But if you want to stick to your budget without altogether giving up on quality, thenget compatible ink packs. It’s the only way you can print to your heart’s content and not worry about printing costs all the time.
However, should you find yourself in a bind because of compatibles, your best recourse would be to read reviews first before buying printer cartridges online. Pay attention to reviews so you can choose quality compatible ink packs for your printing needs.
