Peripherals: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills?
- 7/17/09 2:48 PM
INK REFILLS OR OEM
by GEO2003 - 7/10/09 8:51 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I bought a Canon Pixma 800 Inkject about 5 years ago.
Since then I have been tempted so many times to use refills or third party, but I never did.
What put the nail in the coffin for me, to continue using Real Canon ink cartriges was the show I saw in the Discovery channel how things work.
In this episode they give information on how careful manufacturers are in producing their inks. The pigmentation is very precise so that they can provide you with the correct colors when the color inks come together to produce a color not included in the cartriges.
For example my printer has Five Carts - One Pigmentation Black for photos, one regular black for black and white printing - One Yellow, One Majenta and one Cyan.
Not only did the show, show how they test and test several batches for the best color (without given up their secrets) but it also shows the different dyes they try.
So even though my carts come with the print head in build in, after seing all this, I decided not to ever think about buying 3 party carts.
I am on a budget too, but I have to say that the Canon Inks give me fantastic colors, at least on the Pixma 800 which I got on sale for $200.
I would sujest that if you stick with OEM INKS, check your manual on HOW TO PRINT DRATS OR MONO PRINTS - This reduces the ink comsuption until you are ready to print the one you REALLY want. This is What I do.
Hope this helps.
Geo
I would say try at your own risk
by BishopLord - 7/10/09 8:55 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I don't have a definitive answer for you, however, I can say that you are taking the same risk by buying a refurbished ink cartridge from one of these 3rd party people as if you were to fill it yourself. Sure, perhaps their cartridges are cleaner or cleaned, as opposed to a dirty used cartridge that gets refilled, but the actual ink that goes into the cartridge may not be to OEM specs and that is what clogs the print heads. My only suggestion would be if you insist on buying 3rd party refurbished or refilled is to buy from a reputable establishment like Office Depot, Office Max or Staples. They just *might* be using OEM ink made for your specific printer. The refillables they sell aren't that much cheaper than the real cartridges, by the way, at least not at Office Depot. All these little fly by night operations that are appearing in the local strip malls, I wouldn't really trust, unless they guarantee their product - meaning, if you can prove that their ink screw up your print head, then they'll repair it free or replace your printer, then I would say go for it.
It's funny I found your post. It was in my inbox from CNet. Just this morning I was deciding if I wanted to save a few bucks and buy the 3rd Party cartridge on Ebay for $15 or spend $25 on real HP cartridges. See, the problem lies in the fact that I bought an HP printer on Black Friday for $15 a couple years back. Long story short, I have 2 HP printers. One I bought back in 1999 and it's still working good. I use it in my office at work. HP932C. With in the past couple years, I started using Office Depot brand recycled cartridges instead of OEM HP and after all these years, the quality is now starting to look crappy using draft mode, no matter how many times I use the clean head utility. I would say I got good use out of that printer over the last 10 years, however, I never had that problem before when using genuine HP cartridges. The 2nd HP printer I have (the Black Friday printer), the cartridges lasted me a year and a half (I didn't use it much), so even though I paid $15 for the printer, I'm going to stick with genuine HP cartridges. I ordered the $25 auction. It had free shipping and it contained the black and color cartridge.
I had went through 2 Canon printers and 1 Epson printer in the mid 90's before I bought that HP printer all because I had refilled the ink myself. Just think, back in 95 or 96, that Canon BubbleJet 300C was over $500! And that Epson color printer was over $325. However, that HP printer was only $79 a couple years later and it's still printing good, although it's really slow.
Third party ink Cartridges(RECYCLED)
by NDFAN - 7/10/09 8:57 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
HI THERE
I use RECYCLED Ink Cartridges all the time and I've had no major problems.
Trust me, the savings are worth it!!!!!!!
THANKS
DAN
(NDFAN)
Ink
by Joe M. Winters - 7/10/09 9:46 PM In reply to: Third party ink Cartridges(RECYCLED) by NDFANI completly agree, but just a word of caution. They maker of the printer gets more revenue from the sale of Ink than they do from the sale of the printer. They depend on your purchase of new refills so they will throw stones in your path when you don't by their replacements.
cheaper gets really expensive sometimes
by mittens - 7/10/09 9:00 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
my husband was looking for a less expensive cartridge sub for his Epson color printer; he doesnt use it enough to keep the inks from drying out before he uses them up--the first one he tried sent him the wrong parts, he said the instructions were totally impossible to read, and he never did figure out how to make it work--and he realized it was 25 bucks gone.
the second one came from a place called Mr.Ink, and was so difficult to use and awkward he ended up having to nearly hose down his printer and desk to get the stains off.
In the world of refill cartridges, cheaper apparently is just that, but not better. Im thinking manufacturers have reasons for those high prices, and one of the benefits is, you get a product that works in your printer.
About third-party inks: I wish I didn't know so much
by SunnyRainbowHeart - 7/10/09 9:04 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have tried exactly 8--yes, I wish this were a misprint, but I mean eight--sources of non-manufacturer's ink. Six were online companies and two were actual stores. The page yield I got from these horrific choices ranged between 1 page and 6 pages (not counting what I got all over my hands, LOL) in all but one of the instances; one yielded 50 pages.
I was about to go back to purchasing manufacturer's inks when I happened upon three reviews of inks sole by Laser Monks (www.lasermonks.com). The only reason I tried them was because they were reviewed and highly rated by such reputable sources: articles, not advertisements, in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and a top computer magazine (possibly PC magazine, I can't recall exactly now).
Anyhow, I am more than satisfied with them--I am ECSTATIC. Their prices are unbeatable. Some of their inks are manufacturer's inks and some of them are facsimiles or whatever they're called. I have 4 different makes of printer and have had several models of each make. Without exception LASER MONKS has the best prices, the fastest delivery, a gargantuan selection, and they have polite, competent, responsible customer service representatives. Their service is so reliable and they are so honest. Finally, after all the money I've thrown out the window and all of the missed deadlines and other aggravation I've suffered from junk inks from other companies.
They have two divisions: for us regular folks but they also have a corporate division for those of us who have businesses and they have even more favorable prices for businesses and large volume orders.
I will never ever order from anyone else again but LASER MONKS. I have suffered too much, and I'm not exaggerating.
May all of you enjoy LASER MONKS as much as I have!
Sincerely:
Sunny RainbowHeart
Monks
by Joe M. Winters - 7/10/09 10:08 PM In reply to: About third-party inks: I wish I didn't know so much by SunnyRainbowHeartI'm very well aware of these folks, and if you use their Inks I don't think you have anything to worry about. They are very good people.
OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and ref
by oliverrp - 7/10/09 9:16 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have been using third party ink in my Canon i860 for 3 years with no, repeat no, problems whatsoever. We can argue the quality of the image, but very little of what I print is that critical and I am pleased with the output.
Third party Ink for Canon printers
by hatcherg - 7/10/09 9:18 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I am on my third Canon multifunction printer (MP530) and have always used third party ink without any problem. Presently buying from "TureStar". I don't search for the cheapest ink, but pay about half of what Canon ink sells for.
hatcherg@cox.net
OEM vs third party ink cartridge refills
by bazbean - 7/10/09 9:30 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have been a Canon fan for all my (PC computer ) life ( approx 12 years) and currently have model MP970 all in one. I always had my cartridges refilled at my local Cartridge World outlet since finding out that it could be done and have never had a problem with any of the three Canon printers that I have used in that time. The refill prices are certainly better than replacement with genuine units , I have even used a generic Cartridge World replacement with great success. Print quality , including photos , has been excellent with both refills and replacement units. The life between refills very reasonable and I certainly intend to continue in my current vein.
Basil
OEM inkjet cartridges vs. 3rd party ink cartridges
by Koronaman - 7/10/09 9:41 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have used OEM Inkjet when I had the money to buy, but have used 3rd party inkjet cartridges as well with good results and no problems with the printer head! Also, I have used refill ink in my HP Officejet printer with good results in black only. When using color refill ink, for some reason, one of the 3 colors would not work. So I would recommend OEM or 3rd party catridges instead of refill ink in the color realm.
Koronaman
It's hit or miss
by memoanal - 7/10/09 9:54 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I've used third-party ink for years, but I found that success is largely dependent on whose cartridges you use. Some work well, others not at all. I currently buy Staples-brand recycled refills for my Canon printer and so far, they work just fine.
There is no substitute
by moondoggy - 7/10/09 9:56 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I personally own a Canon Inkjet I960 printer. Although I don't print as many photo's as I used to, occasionally I do print photo quality prints. I used to use third party refills in my older inkjet printer which wasn't a true photo printer and I could get by with them (refills). On my Photo printer though, it is a whole different outcome. I was printing some photo's last month and the colors were way off and washed out. I removed the refill tanks and used the Canon cartridges and WOW !!!! what a difference. The colors were vibrant and sharp and still haven't faded. I then did a side by side test of the same photo with Canon cartridges and refill cartridges.... and it was so obvious, like night and day. So if you want the very best colors stay with the OEM's. If quality isn't a high priority then go cheap. WARNING !!!! I have had experience of refills clogging the print as well. Took me a good hour to clean out the print head assy. (Do not attempt to do any servicing unless you are a trained tech and or know what you are doing.)
Third party cartridges and refills...it all depends.
by Anthony854 - 7/10/09 9:57 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you are using a printer with the printheads integrated into the printer, I would not use third party printer cartridges. I ruined an Epson printer that way. The pritnheads were so plugged up even the pros could not save it!!
If the printheads are integrated into the printer cartridge, (like most HP printers) give it a try, it might work out. The savings could be substantial if you do a lot of printing. You might want to consider a remanufactured cartridge also. They are usually cheaper than 3rd party ones.
The cheapest route is to refill your old cartridge. Again, if the printheads are integrated into the printer, not a good idea. The ink might not be up to manufacturers standard and plug the printheads. If the printheads are integrated into the cartridge, most can be refilled 3 to 5 times. Savings really add up then. Use quality ink from reputable supplier.
Either way, do your homework and check out your supplier. OEM's are a sure thing, everything else takes work and a leap of faith.
Good luck!!!
Whether it makes sense depends upon a couple factors.
by BigGuns149 - 7/10/09 10:11 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Honestly, I think whether it makes sense to buy an OEM cartridge vs. a third party or a refill depends upon a couple of factors.
First, there is the cost of replacing the printer if your third party or refilled cartridge damages the printer. Obviously the cheaper the printer the less of a concern damaging the printer should be. If one out of 10 third party cartridges destroyed your $50 printer it would probably be worth the cost. On the other hand my risk tolerance for a wide format photo printer would be quite a bit smaller since replacing the printer is dramatically more expensive.
Generally I have found that while most third party cartridges are pretty reliable that I have noticed that third party cartridges tend to have higher failure rates than the OEM cartridges. Nevertheless the price differential is usually dramatic enough that even if 10-15% were defective/DOA that it would still be worth considering them for the price savings.
Another consideration particularly with color prints is the print quality. Generally most reviews have found that color prints from third party inks tend to be lower quality and degrade faster than the OEM cartridges. Black prints tend to be fine, I rarely have seen a third party black cartridge that created poor print quality, but the third party color cartridges range from OK print quality to poor quality.
Honestly, with the low prices on personal laser printers I am a bit cynical of inkjet printers these days. Toner cartridges tend to be a lot more sturdy and store more prints per cartridge. I remember working in a retail store and we would refill a toner cartridge dozens of times whereas I understand from talking to the employees of Cartridge World that most ink cartridges rarely last more than two refills before the cartridge can't hold ink any longer.
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