Last Updated on March 5, 2024
Buying a printer is a massive purchase for any workplace. Before you buy the printer, you need to get the proper LaserJet toner cartridges in order to protect your investment and save money on your printer over time. It’s very important to do some research and be fully aware of the different variants, best prices, cartridge types, and availability.
Apart from the product itself, you’ve got to find a company that offers client support lines or website support for their customers. It’s not a necessary feature, nonetheless it’s nice to know that they will be there for you when you’re ordering expensive cartridges and ink supplies. If you order from a reputable company, make sure that they offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a brief-term warranty on your purchase.
For most companies it’s a standard. If you can’t find those promises on their website, then you should leave quickly. These kinds of policies are a great method for you to create a certain trust with the company you’re dealing with.
For the last 8 years I’ve run an e-commerce toner company. I’ve always made sure to offer both the OEM, re-manufactured, and compatible cartridges. Ideally, we like to let our customers decide which item they’re most interested in. From our experience, we’ve noticed that most customers aim for the cheapest cartridge that will work just like the OEM cartridge.
The Printing industry has changed tremendously over the last 8 years, however, there has always been one constant: Printer manufacturers (The OEM’s) do not make a profit by selling printers, they make their money selling the ink and toners for their printers. Obviously this has created a lot of tension between compatible cartridge manufacturers and OEM cartridge manufacturers. Over the years, several lawsuits have been filed by OEM manufacturers for mainly patent violations.
The OEM’s would be much more than happy to put all compatible cartridge manufacturers and cartridge re-manufacturers out of business, because it effects their bottom line and income. While creating s superior product, OEM’s leave the customer in the dust by providing lousy customer support, warranties, and return policies. Unlike OEM’s, most re-manufactured/compatible cartridge companies offer a 6 month warranty against any defects.
Remanufactured cartridges are the next best thing to OEM cartridges. They use the durable original cartridges to create their products. The most common problem with remanufactured cartridges is the chip that goes on the cartridge. The biggest problem comes when printer manufacturers keep updating firmware on their customers printers, designed to block out chips not made by them.
These kind of dirty tactics punish the customer’s ability to purchase re-manufactured cartridges. Compatible products however, have more problems. The biggest problem with compatibles, is that the plastic cartridge often does not fit into the printer. These compatibles were made from scratch and often fit inside most printers, but not all. These cartridges also have the same chip issues like the re-manufactured products.
There are many choices when buying ink & toner. Here are your options:
1) OEM’s – these are the name brand OEM cartridges. If your printer is made by HP, then these cartridges are made by HP.
2) Re-manufactured cartridges – these are re-manufactured versions of the OEM cartridges.
3) Compatible – these cartridges, made completely from scratch, are created to be just like the OEM cartridges.
If you buy compatible cartridges versus OEM’s, be sure to find a trustworthy company. Re-manufactured cartridges are a great alternative that can save you more than HALF OFF of your printing costs, but keep in mind that they are NOT OEM’s. We hope this article has helped people who are currently in the process of buying a toner cartridge. Be safe, and make sure you read all of the reviews before you purchase from any company. Good luck!