Three Ways That Refurbished Printer Ink Cartridges Differ From OEM Cartridges

2010-05-18

When a printer is purchased through a retailer, the printer ink cartridge included is referred to as an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) product. A refurbished printer ink cartridge is typically an OEM cartridge that has been damaged but its parts have been replaced, tested, and refilled with OEM ink. When it comes to your next ink purchase you may be asking yourself, "How do these two cartridges differ?" There are three factors to keep in mind: Quality, Expense and Environment.

The quality of the work being printed is a major factor to consider when deciding between a new or used printer ink cartridge. OEM print cartridges will always give you the best possible print quality because their parts are new. Should a refurbished cartridge happen to be refilled with non-OEM ink, incompatible with your printer type, the printer may not only risk being damaged but the quality of the work being printed could be compromised. Using incorrect inks may also affect the amount of ink ejected in a drop and cause damage to the print head. On the other hand, because most refurbished or "remanufactured" cartridges are completely overhauled and all defects and/or worn parts have been fixed and tested, they produce output that is the same as a brand new cartridge, and the kicker: may last even longer because of the rigorous testing undergone. Of course quality is an issue, but so is price.

When it comes to replacing the ink cartridge in our printer, purchasing a discounted refurbished printer ink cartridge means paying much less than the costly amount of an OEM ink cartridge. An average refillable ink cartridge costs approximately $15 versus an OEM cartridge costing an average of $45; three times as much. But with the extra expense of purchasing an OEM product comes the manufactures' guarantee. The flip side to that coin asks the question: how often is the ink being replaced? Ink replaced on a weekly or monthly basis may demand the low cost of refillable ink, yet a company or person(s) using that much ink clearly depend on their printed product so may not risk the 'no guarantee' of refurbished printer ink. So what else is there to consider? The environment.

One of the greatest differences between refurbished and an OEM ink cartridge is waste. 76% of Americans own a computer. And if you own a computer it's likely you own a printer. And printers use ink. It's reported that 300-million ink cartridges are thrown out annually. By refilling your ink cartridge you will be helping to eliminate millions of pounds of plastic from landfills each year. These three factors should convince any buyer to get a refurbished ink cartridge.