One can say quite a bit about ink cartridges because they are not as simple as they might seem. There are different choices available to the end user and these choices need to be understood before a potentially expensive error is made. Firstly, there are cartridges made by the company that manufactured the printer you own. These are known as original or OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) replacements. One can also purchase so-called “compatible ink cartridges”.
These are units made by a company that usually does not manufacture printers at all but specialises in manufacturing cartridges designed to fit into printers from leading brands. Finally, there are units known as refilled, remanufactured, or refurbished replacements. In this case, empty OEM ink cartridges are collected by a third-party company, cleaned, checked, and refilled with new ink. For the more adventurous, it is possible to refill your empty units yourself with refill kits available online for most of the leading brands.
What is The Difference?
For many inkjet printer users, replacement cartridges are shockingly expensive. A new set of cartridges for a high-end inkjet printer may cost as much or more than the printer itself did! The obvious advantage of OEM ink cartridges is that they are made by the company that made your printer. All the parts have been made by the same manufacturer that made the printer. As long as the correct ink cartridge for your printer is bought, it will fit and function properly. It will usually also contain inks of the same quality as the initial ink the printer came with. Using original units should also not damage the printer or cause any warranty issues. If cost is not your primary concern, OEM replacements are the safest bet.
For those of us for whom cost is a factor, there are other compatible units. Non-OEM cartridge manufacturers are invariably able to offer replacements at lower prices than OEM manufactures. Compatible units can be as much as 30% cheaper depending on the printer for which they are intended. The obvious questions are: “Can ink cartridges produce prints of a similar quality to OEM units?” and “Will the quantity (yield) of prints from the unit be the same or substantially less?”
Remanufactured units have the same benefits, cost and similar drawbacks, quality, and yield concerns as compatible units do. Refilling your own cartridges has significant cost savings potential but is not for most people. It can be messy, fiddley, and potentially hazardous to the well-being of your printer.
Why The Big Price Difference?
Printer manufacturers make their profit on replacement consumables over the lifespan of the printer. They rely on the fact that the overwhelming majority of end users will buy genuine OEM replacements rather than remanufactured or compatible third-party products. The perception is that OEM units are better quality and a less risky choice. Printer manufacturers do all the research and development work on the printer and cartridge, where compatible manufacturers simply copy the cartridge unit. Non-OEM cartridge suppliers do not have to recover substantial development costs from the sale of consumables and can therefore sell their units more cheaply. Generally, if non-OEM units are bought from reputable printer vendors like Raydian, they will deliver satisfactory performance at lower prices.
