Peripherals: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills?
- 7/17/09 2:48 PM
inkjet cartridges, better to buy the real thing!!
by terryspoo - 7/13/09 12:28 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I bought 3 replacement ink cartridges from "Cartex" for my Lexmark allin one printer, none of the three would print and I sent an email explaining the problem that i was constantly asked to remove the protection film from the head of the cartridge,,,,there wasn't a protection film on the cartridges!!!
The following statement was the response from "Cartex".
"Sorry to hear you are experiencing problems with your purchase. We would recommend that all cartridges are stored in an upright position as they would be in the printer and not used for at least 12 hours before use. If you are still having problems please stand the cartridge upright in 1/4" of luke warm tap water for 5 minutes and then wipe the printhead and rear contacts on the cartridge dry and reinsert into the printer. When the cartridge registers please print off 4-5 test pages and this should resolve your issue. Should you have any further problems please let me know as soon as possible."
Regards,
IJT Support.
I do not intend throwing any more money away on cartridges that do not work, they are more trouble than they are worth!!
OEM inkjet cartridges
by Louaber - 7/13/09 2:10 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I recently started using cartridges I purchased from Simplyink.com which is allied with LD Products, inc in Long Beach , Ca. I paid $11.95 for recycled HP color cartrdg. for my HP printer vs. $28.99 for OEM, and $9. for black vs. $20 something. So far, they have performed beautifully. HP ink prices are really a rip -off. Good luck. Lou Aber
Alternative ink for Canon copies
by ronmac60 - 7/13/09 6:13 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have used Canon copiers for more than 20 years and believe they are the best.
However, when I began to print hundreds of sheets of no charge hand-outs for students at our senior center computer classes I could not afford buying genuine Canon cartridges.
I asked a friend who was a chemical engineer if ink from other sources would injure my print head. His reply was that if he chose to make alternative ink and sell it, he would analyze the genuine ink and make sure his ink had the same properties and viscosity as the genuine product. He further said that he would examine the print head to determine all aspects of it heating and passing the ink through its apertures. He assured me that any smart alternative manufacturer would do the same thing and that the only safeguard for me was to make sure my cheaper ink supply met the same criteria.
I began buying ink from several suppliers after inquiring as to their care in making the proper ink for my Canon print head.
I buy bulk ink for about $35 a pint or sometimes use generic refills at about $3.00 each. Filling my own casettes costs about 50 cents per fill (9ml).
For the last five years I have been using a Canon Pixma 6000. I've printed thousands of documents and photos using the same print head that came with the printer.
The secret of course is cleaning the print head every month or so. It requires only alcohol and cotton tips. Following the cleaning regimen as instructed by the manufacturer is also important.
Unfortunately the computer stores that sell Canon printers never instruct the buyer how to maintain the print head. I got my instructions by phoning Canon support and being told, step by step how to do it. I think the support person was in Bombay but he was most patient and helpful.
Since all my work is pro bono (at no cost to the student) I feel justified in keeping down the cost in any way I can.
For the occasional user who prints out a few e-mails or recipes for the family or an occasional photo I would suggest using genuine cartridges but if cost is a factor a generic substitute is quite safe.
OEM injet cartridges vs. third-party cartridges and refills
by georgewalterhi - 7/13/09 7:23 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I also have a canon (pixma IP1600) and have been using Cartridgeworld refills for close to two years.
The print looks the same but the tanks ALWAYS show as empty. So it's hit and miss as to how much ink you are faced with. (Just reminded me to get mine filled again)
The low ink alert is a pain at first but, after time you get to ignore it. Cartridge world claims they were unable to defeat the Canon alert.
OEM ink cartridges vs third-party ink cartridges & refills.
by condobloke - 7/14/09 2:46 AM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I own a HP photosmart 3310 all-in-one. Cost of genuine replacement cartridges approx $95 AUD (Australian Dollars)
I soon tired of paying this not insignificant amount of money every 2 - 3 months.
I invested in a CISS......continuous ink supply system, from www.rihac.com.au
BONANZA !!!!.......the tank comes with 6 chambers...each filled with the appropriate colour ink. Each chamber holds approx 40ml.!!
The Rihac product only fits certain Hp,Brother,Canon and Epson printers.Their website lists all printers able to use the system.
The print quality and photo reproduction is second to none. No smudging,no problems with HP.....I have had no repairs brought on by using this system.....it is a TOP quality product and the ink used is of brilliant quality. The printer still does its necessary programmed maintenance and it detects no problems at all.
NOW.....Rihac claim a possible saving in printing cost of up to 95%.
I spent $200.00 including spare bottles of ink,two and a half years ago. I was spending between $90 and $100 every two - three months prior to that.....so a minimum of 15 x $90 = $1350.....minus my investment of $200 for the CISS system.....and I have saved a whopping $1150.00 MINIMUM.
SO....in a contest between the two???.....NO CONTEST.
The only thing better than the CISS system ?????.....is the SERVICE from this Aussie company.....in a word FABULOUS.
(and for the skeptics.....No I am not on their payroll,nor do i receive any backanders etc for saying all that I have said about them.....they and their system,really do deserve the praise.)
Brian.
Condobolin
Australia
I just switched back to OEM ink cartridges.
by Ken Hickling - 7/14/09 3:35 AM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
We have an HP inkjet printer that is 3 or 4 years old and have been using cheap ink alternatives. The last one of those we got (Black) stopped working very quickly as if it was running out of ink, but it had plenty in. Patchy printing and not very 'black' in the more densely printed areas like logos.
We changed back to the HP (57 I think) cartridge and it was fine. Lasted a long time too, but as we are not heavy users don't take this as a big difference. The other think we noted was that since we do most of our printing on the QuickDraft setting, the quality of this with the OEM cartridge seemed a little better and certainly sufficient for our home needs (PTA committee minutes, home print tickets and vouchers with barcodes etc). This keeps the cost down by using significantly less ink and is faster too for impatient people like me.
Most work fine - I wouldn't worry over saving a buck
by meh94 - 7/14/09 5:07 AM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I've been buying off brand ink for all of our printers, Dell and Lexmarks, without any problems. The last are "Premium" brand compatibles for the Dell, and I got them in ebay.
I used the word "most" because I haven't tried every off brand cartridge...
When to choose third-party, i.e. refilled, ink cartridges
by catherine1 - 7/14/09 9:00 AM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The emperor has had no clothes for quite a while now: Printer manufacturers make their living selling . . . ink cartridges, not the printers these cartridges are put in. The printers are, for the most part, loss-leaders, or a means to get you wedded to a particular ink brand. This being said, there are legitimate reasons to --most of the time-- follow a manufacturer's recommendations. With many of us by now owning 2 printers, an old one and a new or newer one, here's a simple strategy, based on my personal experience:
A.) With a new, almost-new or under warranty printer, I'd use legitimate (OEM) cartridges, especially if that printer is used for printing photographs or delicate graphic files. I would also --as much as possible-- make sure I use the recommended paper brand and paper quality fit for each job: the best result depends on many factors, including precise ink delivery tailored to a precise type of paper. A good printer driver lets you choose the optimal selection for your purpose.
B.) Once the printer is out of warranty, your experimenting with third-party inks will no longer affect how much it would cost you if your print heads get by chance clogged and need replacement, for instance. You still need to pay attention to the quality of paper you use, but you're free to choose "brand-free" ink manufacturers. (As HP and others are now recycling/refilling their own cartridges --good for the environment--, I'd be curious to know under which "non-brand" they are re-selling them.)
C.) Now that you are free to experiment with the out-of-warranty printer, I'd use ONLY REPUTABLE REFILL MANUFACTURERS: for instance, Staples sells them under their own Staples brand name; there's also "Ink4Art", a favorite of artists and photographers around the country. An excellent way of discovering additional resources is through art books published by artists who use mixed media and printing as part of their process to create their art. They usually offer a "Resources" list with reliable cartridge refills names and URLs.
Bottom line: With a new printer, stay with OEM cartridges; with an older printer, or preferably a second printer, save and use reputable refills. I've been using Staples refills for my aging --and still wonderful-- Epson 1280, and haven't regretted it, while my newer HP uses large-capacity OEM ink cartridges for all my office-printing needs.
Hope this helped!
Catherine is the VP of the Mac Users Group in Napa, CA. http://www.nvmug.org
It depends on the type of print head and ink cartridge
by AlonsoQ - 7/14/09 9:12 AM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Some people used 3rd party ink cartridges or refills with a lot of sucess in the past, especially with ink catridges that used foam or old low resolution printers. For example the old HP ink catridges could be refilled many times. However now, high speed and high resolution printers have forced OEM to invest a lot of R&D in their inks and ink catridges to make them reliable and resistant to water and exposure. I know, genuine ink catridges are more expensive but with the new printers they will make your life easier.
ink cartridges
by cars0153 - 7/15/09 4:55 AM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I just had to replace a print head cartridge. i had some color non eom in there and a eom black cartridge(head that went). this is a good question. it seems on a new printer this wouldn't happen but i did use a non eom black before
It depends on you...
by avyavi - 7/15/09 5:09 AM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I used to work an ink cartrige refiller just a few years ago and yes to some extent what the tech said is true, if you want to make sure everything always works fine and always have peace of mind, then buy OEM. There are advantages to buying OEM, such as the quality of print and longevity of the print (most especially for those photos you want to have around for a while).
However, refilling can also work just as well, depending on the ink used. A general rule of thumb, is to stay away from Universal Inks or any ink that is used across more than 1 brand (within the same brand is fine, but I doubt HP, Epson, Canon, Lexmark, etc. all use the same methods & pigments/dyes to make their inks or get it from the same source). If you do decide to refill, have a refiller do it for your and make sure that they offer both a money back guarantee and printer replacement program should anything go wrong. And most importantly, get it in writing!
Usually it's safer for people who own HPs & Lexmarks to refill, as the cartridge contains the print head and you would simply toss out the cartridge if it doesn't work. Between all 4 main manufacturers (HP, Epson, Lexmark & Canon) however, HP & Canon cartridges tend to be more successfull when it comes to refilling.
Happy refilling!
STAY AWAY From Third Party Inks!!!
by shooters2 - 7/15/09 6:31 AM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I did the same thing and used cheaper inks and ruined the print nozzle on my Canon i9900. And yes, Canon Genuine Inks are very expensive. The BCI-6 ink cartridges don't go very far either. I love the quality of my Canon i9900 but am being forced to go with another brand of printer which gives more yield with it's ink cartridges. That printer is the Epson 1400. The quality of the printer if nice but does not compare to the quality of my Canon i9900. So I print with my Epson for most of my photography, however for the higher-end shoots I do for clients require the BEST prints possible, so I am forced to print with my Canon i9900 and use the best photo paper I can find, which is usually Canon Photo Paper Pro or Ilford's top papers, which are extremely expensive. I hope this gives you some insight regarding after market inks.
OEM inkjet cartridges vs. 3rd party. Your tolerance.
by HPfan07 - 7/15/09 11:44 AM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have run a home based business for 13 years and used both OEM and 3rd party cartridges. There is no simple answer, but it is your tolerance to deal with disappointment in the 3rd party realm. I have observed probably 50% failure rate of 3rd party cartridges for my HP , Canon and Sharp machines, and while they guarantee the performance, I cannot always wait for the replacement to arrive. I found Staples cartridges to perform well on my Canon, but they no longer make the refills due to pressure from Canon. The text printed clearer with OEM from HP for a more professional look, and did not included spidering of the letters with their ink, as it was not 'watered' down chemically. On the Canon issue, it has been widely publicized one can damage the printer heads if you let the cartridge run out, so I visually inspect the cartridge as it nears the end, and remove it after many additional prints but before it actually runs out. I have also used the local refill services, finding the refill cartridges does not work and having to go back and have it replaced. You decision will be based on how much your time is worth too. Good luck.
I use both
by Chigal48 - 7/17/09 6:16 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I use the OEMs and the generics. I was using remanuf'd with a HP 842 and it lasted as long as it could with the remanuf'd ink. With the new HPD4360 I use both, wherever I can buy it the cheapest. Sometimes Ebay has OEM cheap and sometimes AMZ has it cheap. It's like the luck of the draw. Recently I've been buying the XLs and having them refilled for 12.99 at local Walgreens. So far I've had the machine for about 4 months and no trouble. But printers IMO are disposable devices. I don't expect this one to last longer than 2 years, and I have a Canon in the basement as backup.
Hoping that Kodak puts the screws to the big OEMs with their 9.99 ink cartridges. The printers are higher priced, but the move to cheaper ink should get a lot of sales.
I Don't Think I'll Use Any Old Ink ...
by rapope--2008 - 7/17/09 6:32 PM In reply to: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I am using a DesignJet printer, so I doubt that I'd be using just "any" ink in this printer. I'm only using a DJ130NR, but still, I just cannot see using "brand X" ink. That would go doubly if I was using one of the DesignJet Z Series printers.
Now if I was using a disposable inkjet for routine usage, I might have a different opinion regarding this. But I'd rather use a laser for routine printing. I use the DJ for photos only.
My 2 cents worth,
Rocky Pope
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