Why Choosing Between Cheap Ink Cartridges and Original Branded Cartridges is not so Easy

Posted by Kath on July 15, 2011 under Office Supplies | Be the First to Comment

One might think there would be very little difficulty when choosing between cheap ink cartridges and original branded cartridges. But the decision is not that straight forward. For an office supply manager who is trying to keep costs down, the task of simultaneously maintaining quality and saving money is tricky to say the least, which is why many hesitate when faced with the choice.

The idea of buying cheap cartridges is to save money. But there is also a need to maintain quality in printing standards, particularly when it comes to producing important documentation, like reports or presentations. In these cases, the idea of getting the original, branded cartridges, like Xerox, Brother or Hewlett Packard ink cartridges seems best.

However, it is worth noting that many brand names are available for lower prices thanks to the prevalence of online shops, with cheap Lexmark ink cartridges, for example, offering similar quality to fully priced Lexmark cartridges.

Original cartridges remain a strong factor in the refill cartridge market for one simple reason, namely that they can be trusted for quality. The fact that they are branded means that the manufacturer offers a seal of quality, and knows that should the cartridge be substandard that their good name will suffer. That, in turn, could mean a fall in sales of their printers, photocopiers and fax machines, which of course is bad for business.

With quality assured, the standard of in-house printing can be impressively high when it comes to providing hardcopy to support presentations or printing detailed reports, perhaps complete with coloured graphics and charts. What is more, studies have shown that the ink used in new original cartridges is more efficient with as much as double the number of documents printed than with refilled or remanufactured types.

But of course, one must pay for that sense of security, with original branded cartridges coming at higher prices than the alternative options. That means the savings that office managers are after is generally lost, though online prices for even original cartridges do tend to be much lower than from high street cartridge shops.

Money is most definitely saved when the cheaper options are availed of. While this should have office managers happy, there is a clear sacrifice when it comes to cartridge performance. There are four main reasons why a cartridge may be priced so much lower than the originals. It may be recycled, remanufactured, compatible or branded but bought in bulk.

Recycled cartridges are good for the environment and the pocket, but they have lower efficiency for the simple reason that they are already used. In general, a cartridge can only be refilled a limited number of times because of the method of refilling involved. The cartridge will always sustain some damage, which eventually takes its toll. Usually, it is only possible to refill a cartridge a maximum of 5 times, after which its performance is too low. Getting a recycled cartridge after its third or fourth refill can be more trouble than it’s worth.

Remanufactured cartridges are another recycled option, though damaged individual parts of the cartridge have been replaced using parts from other used cartridges. These remanufactured versions are tested to ensure they meet the necessary standards but, unfortunately, there is a higher risk that one may be faulty.

Compatible cartridges are unbranded but, as well as being lower in price, are capable of being used with most office equipment brands. This means that, in some cases, the condition that only certain branded cartridges can be used in similarly branded machines no longer applies, so Hewlett Packard printers can use ink cartridges other than Hewlett Packard ink cartridges.

But because some cartridge shops are less particular when it comes to insisting on quality, it is important that one finds a reputable shop or online store to purchase from. Once a reliable source is found, then the advantages of buying cheap ink cartridges can be fully enjoyed.

Finding an affordable branded cartridge is not so difficult these days, thanks in the main to online stores who buy in bulk and distribute without having to worry about large overheads. So, if one has a Lexmark printer, one can find cheap Lexmark ink cartridges, helping to reduce office expenses but retaining the security of the branded original.