Choosing the Correct Ink Cartridges
The first thing that you need to do is determine whether your printer is a laser-based or inkjet printer. Does it use ink or toner cartridges. Ink cartridges contain “wet”, water-like fluid, in relatively small cartridges. Toner is a fine dry powder that comes in a larger, more complex unit. Toner cartridges are typically going to be at least as wide as the widest sheet of paper they can print on. They hold a photo-sensitive drum, which must be marginally wider than the width of the page they need to print on.
Some inkjet printers use a tank system instead of a loose cartridge. Their ink comes in bottles from which the ink is poured into a tank in the printer. Larger laser printers may have the light-sensitive drum unit in the printer itself and not in the toner cartridge. Here, the toner is supplied in a bottle or container that only holds the toner.
Certain features of your printer should be obvious. Is your printer black and white only or is it capable of printing in full colour? Some full-colour printers may have single cartridges with internal divisions that hold four different colour inks, namely cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.
With this type of cartridge, when one colour ink runs out, a new unit is required even if the other colours have not run out. Many colour printers have separate cartridges for each of the four process colours. The advantage with this system is that the individual colour cartridges are replaced only as each of them runs out.
Generic or Original Cartridges?
There are several options when it comes to replacement printer cartridges. There are genuine, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) ink cartridges and third-party compatible (generic) alternatives. Remanufactured or refilled cartridges are also available but the options most used are OEM or new compatible cartridges. Third-party (not made by the OEM) cartridges are cheaper than the genuine equivalent and one should understand why before making a purchase.
Non-OEM Cartridges
Commonly known as compatible cartridges, these cartridges are not made by the manufacturer of your printer. They are copies of the OEM consumable manufactured by a third-party company that only makes ink cartridges. The genuine cartridges are copied and filled with a non-OEM ink formulation. While compatible ink cartridges are new units, they are made by a third-party manufacturer not associated with the printer manufacturer.
Why would you buy a compatible replacement? They are far cheaper than original ink cartridges and there are some good quality compatibles on the market. The risk comes from the fact that there are some poor-quality compatibles on offer, and it is sometimes difficult to know which compatibles are good and which are going to be an expensive disappointment.
OEM Ink Cartridges
Genuine OEM ink cartridges are always the safest choice. OEM replacement units are backed by global brands and offer the highest quality and consistently provide excellent reliability. They offer consistent yield (number of prints per cartridge) and top print quality. There is no risk when buying genuine OEM ink cartridges.
Making Sure You Get the Correct Replacement
At the very least, to ensure you find the correct ink cartridges for your printer, you need the printer manufacturer’s name and the model number. Luckily, this is usually clearly displayed somewhere on the exterior, typically on the front of your printer. Another option is to check the empty cartridge, taken out of the printer, for a serial number or model number. Holding onto an empty cartridge is a convenient way to confirm that you are getting the correct unit for your specific printer.
You can also look through the product manual or technical specifications that came with your printer as these will usually provide the product code for the cartridges that fit your device. Keep your manual handy or make a note of the cartridge number near your printer for when you need to reorder.
Finally, a visit to the manufacturer of your printer’s website is a good option to find out what ink cartridges you need. Simply entering your printer model number into the website’s search facility will usually produce the printer’s specifications, including the ink cartridge details.
Buy From the Experts
While there may be quality compatibles in the market, how do you know whether what is being offered is good or bad? Only buy from a reliable and reputable cartridge supplier who provides compatible ink cartridges that are a close equivalent to the original offering.
We offer a vast range of OEM and compatible cartridges and other printer consumables. Our compatibles meet OEM standards in terms of quality and reliability. We will give expert advice on printer consumables, printers, and office-automation equipment. Call us today and buy from the experts.