Though you might think all toner or ink cartridges out there are the same, they aren’t! There are actually three very different kinds, and they are not all created equal. Here is more information on the three types of cartridges out there:
The first, and most popular are OEM cartridges which stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer; these are the cartridges that you typically find in an office supplies store such as Staples or Office Depot. These cartridges are made by the manufacturer of the printer such as HP, Brother, or Xerox, and they will say the brand on the box. These have the lowest defect rate and are the most common cartridge for the average consumer because they are easy to find, and sold in most retail stores.
The second are Re-manufactured Cartridges; they are also common in retail chains and are often sold as the “off brand” product such as “Staples Brand” cartridges. These cartridges re-use ever part of the cartridge including the shell, drum and all components inside the shell. The only difference is that they are refilled with new toner and replace broken parts if needed. This is why these cartridges having the highest defect rates and often get a bad reputation for being unreliable.
Finally we have Premium Compatible Cartridges which can be described as “middle of the road” cartridges, a good compromise between OEM and Re-manufactured. They are manufactured using the exact same specs as OEM cartridges, however they re-use the shell of the cartridge, which is the large plastic casing, but all of the main components inside are new. Because the shell is re-used and they are manufactured by a company other than the printer manufacturer, it brings down the cost compared to OEM cartridges greatly.
Our company only sells Compatible or OEM cartridges, primarily due to quality. We recommend compatible to all of our clients because it is not only a cost saving alternative but it is also environmentally friendly without sacrificing quality. Since the plastic shell is re-used it has a much smaller impact on the environment. Some skeptics argue that the defect rate is much higher with Compatible cartridges compared to OEM, and yes, Compatible cartridges do have a slightly higher defect rate. However, we have a warranty policy that immediately replaces any defective cartridge with as much as 75% used. This safety net helps ease the minds of our customers and they are all satisfied with their choice to make the switch from OEM to Compatible.
After looking at the facts, it is important to consider your needs when choosing what kind of toner is best for you. If you print on expensive or custom paper that you cannot afford to make a mistake or have a defect with then OEM is probably best for you. We have recommended this to some of our clients who have similar needs. However, if you print average documents we highly recommend compatible cartridges because they help reduce your carbon footprint and save money which is something everyone can benefit from in this economy.
"Most of us are familiar with recycle and reusing, but how often do we think of the third R - REDUCE? 'Reduce' is probably the most important of the three Rs because, if we reduced, it would limit the need to recycle and reuse."
~Catherine Pulsifer
