Thursday, July 8, 2010

Compatible toner cartridges vs. OEM cartridges.

Today, compatible cartridges are just as good as OEM cartridges. They key is to find a provider with a reliable product. Some compatible cartridges offer even better results in terms of page yield and printing quality. There are many manufacturers of compatible toner that follow very strict rules and are certified by ISO 9001 quality.
It is true also that many compatible cartridges manufactured in China or refurbished by inexperienced technicians offer disappointing performances and scare consumers away from generic toner. The compatible toner industry is growing exponentially every year. This is due to more conscience about recycling and the need for all businesses to be more efficient managing expenses. Buying toner from a well-known retailer that offers a clear warranty and stands behind its products can be an excellent way to save hundreds of dollars (and even thousands) on the life time of printer.
Some consumers prefer to save on toner by refilling the cartridges themselves, although the process may seem easy, the true is that the technology used by almost all cartridges today is more than just toner powder. Cartridges are made with chips and sensors that need to be reset or replaced for any printer to work properly. Failing to replace those sensors in some printers can create confusion mostly in printers working in network environments. For the most popular printers the best way to save on toner is to replace the entire cartridge by a compatible one and then proceed to refill that cartridge, since the compatible versions do not use any codes in the chips to prevent recycling. Again, refills can be a messy process and sometimes it is preferable to buy compatible cartridges. Compatible cartridges are around 70% less than OEM cartridges, risking quality in order to save more may not be a good idea. Some heavy printing small businesses don't even consider buying a printer or copier if there's not a proven generic toner in the market.