I read an article a few days ago from HP discussing ‘myths’ that exist about compatible cartridges. The myths they refer to relate to claims that remanufactured cartridges are as good as real HP cartridges. The main theme was that official HP ink and toner is simply better, despite what the manufacturers of compatible cartridges may claim, and therefore if you have a HP printer you should really only buy official HP ink.However the research behind this article is perhaps unsurprisingly commissioned by HP. So are HP guilty of misleading us too, or is there some real truth to the message of this article?
Many many years ago it used to be the case that if you owned an Epson, Canon or HP Printer then you had to get ink for that printer from the same manufacturer; ink was therefore very expensive.
Recently however we’ve had a bit more choice; you could take your cartridges to be re-filled or you could buy a kit complete with syringes to do it yourself at home, which was often messy. More recently a better solution has been available; Compatible (sometimes referred to as Remanufactured) Cartridges which are brand new sealed units ready to drop straight into your printer. Cheaper, just as easy to use and with claims of the same print quality, page yield and safety as original cartridges.
Therefore for small & medium businesses on a budget, buying remanufactured toner cartridges can be an easy way of saving on printing costs. But is it real value for money or money down the drain?
Are remanufactured cartridges as reliable as HP original cartridges?
HP states not, but data from one of our long-standing suppliers suggests a failure rate of less than 10% on remanufactured cartridges. From my experience (over 20 years in the industry!) the failure rate of both original HP and the current quality of compatible ink is about the same; very few and far between.
Is the page yield the same for original and remanufactured cartridges?
All HP original cartridges are constructed to strict ISO standards for measuring page yields which enables a more accurate estimate of the number of pages you can expect to get from your cartridge. HP may have a point here; page yield claims for remanufactured toners sometimes are based on a lower quality print than official HP toner giving an artificially high reading. But in most cases now the same standards are used for remanufactured toners as for original toners. There are also longer-life versions of remanufactured cartridges available (i.e. C7115XX, Q1338XX) which, for an additional £5-£10 offer double the toner capacity and are still far cheaper than the standard yield original toner.
Is the print quality the same for original and remanufactured cartridges?
In tests, original HP toner cartridges delivered pages that were acceptable for all uses an average of 97% of the time. Certainly with original HP cartridges you may find the print sharper and cleaner, especially when printing in colour but is this always necessary? i.e. is the printing job just for in-house use? If so then is it worth paying the extra £50+? Also, bear in mind the type and standard of paper used can make a significant difference to the print quality.
Will using a remanufactured toner affect my HP printer warranty?
The use of remanufactured cartridges will not affect your printer’s warranty, unless it can be proved it was the toner that caused direct damage. All remanufactured toners, as well as original toners, are fully guaranteed and if found to be faulty can be returned and replaced within days at no extra cost to the end-user.
Price Comparisons – see how much you can save by using Remanufactured cartridges!
HP L/jet 4250 Hi-Capacity Toner – Q5942X (prints 20,000 pages) – Original @ £165.00 / Compatible @ £49.95
HP L/jet P2015 Hi-Capacity Toner – Q7553X (prints 7000 pages) – Original @ £108.00 / Compatible @ £38.50
HP L/jet P4015 Hi-Capacity Toner – CC364X (prints 24,000 pages) – Original @ £199.00 / Compatible @ £54.95
HP Color L/jet 5500 Black Toner – C9730A (prints 13,000 pages) – Original @ £159.00 / Compatible @ £64.95
HP Color L/jet 5500 Colour Toners – C9731A/2A/3A (print 12.000 pages) – Original @ £220.00 / Compatible @ £64.95
Prices are valid at the time of issue. All prices exclude VAT and delivery.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it would be careless not to consider the huge savings using remanufactured cartridges can give your business. The quality of compatible toners has improved tenfold over recent years as manufacturers have vied for business in an ever-increasing market place. The main point to bear in mind when making your choice would be what you are actually printing – if you are printing colour brochures and flyers for example, I recommend original HP toners as these will probably give you a much sharper, clearer print. However for everyday in-house use, I would say remanufactured cartridges will be more than adequate.
Jill Anderson
Consumables Specialist
Zantra JAD
01752 786 000
jill.anderson@zantragroup.co.uk
http://www.zantragroup.co.uk/
(Original HP article at: http://h30458.www3.hp.com/ww/en/smb/1088203.html?jumpid=em_taw_GB_jul11_ipg-ips_1325654_hpgl_gb_1097950_0&DIMID=1040017714&DICID=null&mrm=1-4BVUP)
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