Archive for the ‘OEM Cartridges’ Category
HP Printer Ink Costs You More Than Human Blood Or Fine Champagne
HP Viviera Brand Ink
As anyone who owns a printer knows well, printer ink is expensive. But exactly how expensive is it compared to other high-priced liquids?
A Gizmodo reader did a graphical comparison of the prices per milliliter for various liquids (HP #45 black ink being one of them). I was personally fairly surprised to see the results.
Is printer ink more expensive than a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne? What about gasoline, or even the price of human blood?
Compatible Ink Cartridges Provide Comparable Performance At A Fraction Of The Cost
Besides buying a remanufactured ink cartridge, your two other options for replacement ink cartridges are OEM or compatible versions. OEM ink cartridges are the ones sold from the manufacturer advertised as being brand new. Compatible cartridges are just that, compatible. These are replacements that duplicate the OEMs for a fraction of the original cost.
"Razor and blades" business model
The reason why OEM cartridges are so expensive stems from the razor and blades business model of printer manufacturers. This business model focuses on a cheap initial investment (in this case, the printer), but makes the user continually invest in expensive refills. Overall, there is no difference between OEM cartridges and the compatible version, the only distinguishing factor being the marketing involved. The large printer companies scare customers into buying their cartridges by threatening damaged printers or voided warranties.
OEM vs. Remanufactured vs. Compatible Printer Ink Cartridges… What’s the Difference?
A frequent question of those new to buying ink deals with the difference between alternative ink options (remanufactured and compatible) and the term OEM. I'll do my best to make the differences clear here:
OEM cartridges
Standard brand-name ink cartridges that you can buy at your ordinary Staples, Office Depot, etc., are referred to as original equipment manufacturer (abbreviated as OEM) cartridges. These types of cartridges are made by the original manufacturer of your printer. OEM cartridges are by far the most expensive option. Before I did my research, I used to believe that buying OEM was the only way to go. On to the alternative options...
Remanufactured cartridges
Remanufactured cartridges are made out of the exact same parts that OEM cartridges are. How it works is first people send their used cartridges in to be recycled. Remanufacturers then thoroughly clean the cartridge print heads and then refill them with premium ink. Lastly, a testing stage involving pressure and an actual printing run is performed to make sure everything is fine, and the cartridge is repackaged and ready for use.
Compatible cartridges
Compatible ink cartridges are effectively the generic counterpart of OEM cartridges. These cartridges are considerably cheaper than either OEM or remanufactured cartridges; however, quality and performance certainly can be a concern. When purchasing compatible ink cartridges, it is important to select a supplier that conforms to industry ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards.
Luckily for you, I've had my fair share of experience in buying compatible and remanufactured ink online, so in some coming posts I will recommend the retailers I have had success with. I will also show you who to stay away from, and why.