Peripherals forum: OEM inkjet cartridges vs. third-party ink cartridges and refills?

I got supposedly compatible refills for a perfectly good Epson printer years ago. Ruined it. Purchased the cleaner that was supposed to get the printer working again. Worthless. Had to replace the printer.

Never again.

I screwed up a couple EPSON printers with trying to use aftermarket Inks. I had a C80, and I tried refiling myself. I got one of them chip rester's, but it screwed up the Print head and never printed right after that until it wouldn't print anything at all a short time later. I also had a Photo 340 or something, and so I tried aftermarket Ink Cartrages, and it lasted a bit better, but didn't print as well and screwed up that printer also. I had to toss both. My newest Epson Artisan 800 printer I really like, but this time I'm sticking with Epson Ink with this one. It's just not worth it. I don't know what EPSON is doing to cause such destruction with aftermarket products used in their printers but I wouldn't recommend doing it. On other brands of printers I'm sure it's just fine. I know it can be a whole lot cheaper, but too many people are screwing up EPSON printers trying it.

Just use alcohol - I found that online and it makes sense when you consider the molecular configuration of most inks and alcohol's ability to dissolve/cleanse...

Where can I get ink for my HP?

I have been using third party ink cartridges in my Epson printers for about 12 years with no problems and I have saved lots of money. I tried refilling the OEM's and that was unsatisfactory.

I purchased a bunch of third party ink for my Brother and Epson. My Epson 420cn is very fussy about them. I've gotten by the error messages in the past, but for some reason when I put a new generic cartridge in this time I can't seem to get past the "does not recognize" message. I cant close it and restarting doesn't work. Any ideas?

I have had an HP G85 printer for half a dozen years. My wife kindly bought me a J6480 All-in-one which duplexes and accepts input wirelessly. Unfortunately the cartridges now have a life expectancy for me of three weeks where I used to get three to six months from my older All-in-one. On the G85, I also experienced the problem that Office Depot cartridges were rejected by the HP printer as not "legitimate". So much for Gillete's over-priced rasor blades. The rasor at least was free.

This is a confident message to all ink jet printer users.
Over the course of 2 years I have been using third party ink supply for my ink jet printer which is Epson RX595.

I bought this printer for all most nothing which was 49.99 CND, well Epson thinks selling this 6 cartridge printer for that kind of money is like give it away. They think we will pour some money in their pocket latter by keep buying the OEM cartridges, because the printer will not recognize ANY non Epson cartridge, even if we drilled hole and refill them because each cartridge has a computer chip built in.

This remarkable photo printer has excellent resolution even on printable blank CD-DVD. I bought the CISS (Continuous Ink Supply System) consists of 6 separated containers, each container has volume of 100ml of ink color, all connect by 6 tiny gel hose to 6 cartridges.

Depend who you buy it from, my has auto reset chip built-in. When the printer warns to replace cartridge(s), I just lift 6 cartridge out, put them back in, turn the printer off for 2 minutes, turn it on, the printer starts to diagnose or alignment the print heads then it's ready for the print job.

I have been went through many pictures, DVD covers and DVD, CD itself. Right now I am waiting for my order of 6 refill bottles arrive, and this is my second refill.

My family and I are so happy which this printer and especially the CISS bought from eBay, The CISS was available long time on eBay, you can search one for your printer and read the comments from those happy users include myself before thinking throw that expensive ink jet and looking for color laser printer.

Trust me, I will respond your email if needed, because Ink jet printer to me is just a highway robbery, period.

Hi, pls tell me what brand CISS for your Epson printer, I bought ink cartridges for my epson 1400 printer from eBay, but printed photo color washout in two months. Please help me to get the right one. Thank you,

Try refilling a Lexmark and the same thing happens,see you buy cheap then they soak you on the cartridges,see more about said---
http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/forums/printer/51393

Go to Epson.com You have to ask support for it. It is not in their FAQ's. Should be.

They have a download that will clear the event and it won't show up again. Hope you didn't throw the cartridges away.

And, by the way, you can put scotch tape on the cartridge if it is open, covering the punctured hole and it should last 6 months on the shelf. It will just puncture the scotch tape when you insert it and form a good seal.

The newer Epson printers do not stop you. They simply ask if you want to continue with the compatible cartridge. Say YES and OK

I sent some nasty messages to Epson about this same problem, but when you run the download, the problem goes away.

Be prepared for the "Parts in this printer have reached the end of their serviceable life" And, the printer just quits in the middle of whatever you were printing. They have a download and instructions for that one also. It is in the FAQ's (Can you believe built-in obsolescence?)

pls tell me which third party ink cartridges use in your Epson printer. Thank you,

Aren't PacificInk.com cartridges off-brand?

Hiya all

I have 3 canon printers, IP4000, ip4300 and an IP3300. I've used refilled cartridges for years (ones I have refilled myself as I actually work in the refilling/remanufacturing business). I would not use compatible cartridges as I have no way of knowing what ink is in those cartridges.

The IP4000 is around 5 years old and has not given me any trouble with refill inks at all. The IP4300 and IP3300 are around a year old and again no problems at all.

I put refill carts in the IP4300 from day 1 of buying it. The oems were put aside. I did some test prints to show customers to our shop what the quality is like. The printer was then boxed up again and put away as It was bought for a backup for when my 4000 is due to be serviced. 5 months down the line i need to do a large print run for a friend so I set up the 4000 and 4300 togther and printed out on both for speed. The 4300 printed fine first time even though it's been boxed for 5 months doing nothing with refilled cartridges in. Try and do that with an epson or any other printer for that matter.

Yes there are some really inferior inks out on the market. Plus a lot of the refill kits are in my opinion bogus because 1 ink does not fit all. I have seen refill kits that state that it will work with hp epson and canon. 1 ink will not work across the board due to various thickness, viscosity, heating temperatures of ink, speed of machine, dpi etc..

that's my tuppence worth anyway

The inks we use for the canon cartridges are superb and I would never ever buy an OEM cartridge for my canon printers again.

Third party Ink suppliers would not remain in business if their product didn't work, and most of them will help you solve any problems. They are afterall interested in staying in business. I have a solution, and that is to after every third replacement use the manufacuters ink. They make sure that using a catruidge other than theirs will not be recognised. I have two Epson printers, and Two Canon Printers. While the Canon printers require only two refills, opposed to six on the Epson's the print reproduction on the Canon is acceptable.