| Let's face it; words aren't cheap, especially when | | | | claim to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into |
| they are being printed from an ink jet printer. If a | | | | developing inks that work with an individual unit's |
| picture is worth a thousands words, well, time to | | | | print heads, drivers, and paper. |
| get out your wallet. | | | | Designed for flexibility, endurance and brightness, |
| Printer makers may sell their hardware for a | | | | inks are complex chemicals, not just water and |
| pittance, but anyone who's had to refill an ink jet | | | | dye. Some cartridges include precision-made print |
| printer knows that the ink is where Epson, | | | | heads. |
| Lexmark, and the like make their real money. | | | | Even the plastic ink tanks are specially designed to |
| An OEM (original equipment manufacturer) black | | | | prevent inks from changing color over time. |
| cartridge for a $100 Epson C80 color printer costs | | | | This allows the consumer to enjoy the quality of |
| $32.99, a third of the price of the actual printer. | | | | the printouts, without having to be concerned |
| Ink for a wide format printer costs $47.50 per | | | | about losing its color behind glass or even in a |
| liter. If you take the ink that goes into an ink | | | | photo album. The objective here is to save you |
| cartridge, it's costing over $1,000 per liter. | | | | money in areas such as ink cartridges. |
| They're giving customers the printers, but they're | | | | There will always remain the question on whether |
| charging them a fortune for ink. Sensing opening, | | | | or not you should use genuine, remanufactured or |
| dozens of small companies now sell "compatible" | | | | compatible cartridges for your printer. |
| or "remanufactured" cartridges for consumer ink | | | | In a nutshell, here is the bottom line answer: If |
| jet printers at deep discounts over the official | | | | you own an Epson or Canon ink jet printer, and |
| cartridges. | | | | aren't so concerned about quality, then compatible |
| In the third party realm, there are three different | | | | is your answer and key to saving money. |
| ways to pump up your printer for pennies. | | | | If quality is a priority, then you may want to |
| Compatible cartridges are new boxes, often-built | | | | consider genuine cartridges. If you own or plan on |
| in China; the same Chinese manufacturers sold | | | | owning a HP or Lexmark ink jet printer, then you |
| under U.S. brand names. | | | | may want to stay away from remanufactured |
| Remanufactured cartridges are official OEM | | | | cartridges and spend the extra buck and use |
| (original equipment manufacturer) cartridges that | | | | genuine cartridges. |
| are cleaned out, professionally refilled, and put | | | | This is because third party companies don't seem |
| back on sale. | | | | to have it all together and never will due to HP & |
| For most HP printers, remanufactured cartridges | | | | Lexmark's strong patent on their print heads. |
| are the only option because HP cartridges include | | | | As a result, most third party companies aren't |
| patented print heads that are illegal for third | | | | willing to spend the finances in the quality ink that |
| parties to clone. | | | | is preserved with chemicals to give the printout |
| Last but not the best, there are refill kits, | | | | images that realistic life look. |
| containing ink and needles for you to refill a | | | | The reason why remanufactured cartridges are |
| cartridge on your own. | | | | so cheap is because the majority of HP & |
| OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and third | | | | Lexmark remanufactured ink is diluted with water |
| party cartridge manufacturers alike say | | | | and alcohol along with dye based solutions and |
| consumers should stay away from refill kits if | | | | also fewer chemicals used within the ink. |
| they are concerned with quality; professionally | | | | The outside of third party packaging also keeps |
| remanufactured cartridges are cleaned and sealed | | | | the costs low. Name brand companies brand their |
| in a way you just can't do at home unless you | | | | retail packaging for marketing purposes. The |
| have a lot of garage space. | | | | cartridge inside the box costs them pennies. |
| Throughout printer manufacturer's defense, they | | | | What do you think of that? |