When buying replacement ink cartridges, you will want to check out the option of generic inkjet cartridges. Although this is a much cheaper choice than the costly name brands that go with each printer, it may or may not be the right choice for you. These general cartridges are available at most places that carry the name brand ones.

The savings alone may be enough to have you running to the store to get in on the cheaper version of ink cartridges. It is possible to save up to 50% or more off the name brand prices. Re-manufactured cartridges or generic cartridges are completely safe to use in your printer, as well as a lot easier on your wallet.

There are many companies that produce OEM (Original manufacturer Standards) compatible cartridges. These types must be able to meet the same requirements as the name brands, such as having the same amount of ink and they need to work the same way in the printer. Using these types of inkjet cartridges, in most cases, will not void your warranty on your printer, thus making them an even more likely choice.

Manufactures used to void warranties if their cartridges were not used as replacements when you ran out of ink. Thankfully, there was a law passed called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act, which prohibits any manufacturer from trying to force their parts exclusively on their customers, including printer parts so you are free to choose what you want.

There are both pros and cons to using these generic cartridges, no matter what brand you own. Manufactures will tell you that refilled cartridges can damage your printer and void your warranty and if you listen to the refill companies, they will tell you the cartridges will work as well as the originals at a huge discount in cost.

The truth is actually somewhere in the middle of the two beliefs.

Pros

The greatest advantage is the lower cost. They can cost less than half the price of a name brand cartridge, adding up to huge savings over the life of a printer.

Recycling cartridges or using generic ones can save on the environment.

Cons

As these are usually refurbished ink cartridges, there may be the chance of air bubbles in the ink chamber. These bubbles can cause splotchy printing.

In extreme cases, they can void your warranty if you have a problem with the printer and it is determined to be from the aftermarket cartridge. The printer warranty will not cover these types of damages.

The choice is totally yours. When making your desicion, weigh the options of lower ink cartridges or having to replace the printer, should it get damaged.

Inkjet printers are becoming another “throw away” electronic device due to reducing costs and high ink prices. Some people combat this by purchasing compatible ink cartridges so their printers will last longer, but some compatible ink cartridges can clog print heads, make an ink nightmare, or break the printer entirely.

One method that most people do not try is actually cleaning and maintaining an inkjet printer. They fear the device sitting next to the computer because it looks dirty and they don’t want to break it.

Anyone can clean their printer with ten minutes of time and few household items. Doing so can really enhance your printout and save you from making the yearly office supply store visit.

Some people are concerned that purchasing or refilling their inkjet cartridges are bad for printers and cause damage. It’s hard to tell exactly which is ink is good and which ink is bad from a consumer standpoint, but everyone knows that you can always trust the original equipment manufacturer’s ink cartridges.

When you get a bad cartridge, or when a “drill-and-fill” goes downhill, many people end up purchasing a new printer. If there was a simple way to clean up any mess or fix an inkjet printer, there would be less garbage in the landfills and we wouldn’t feel so guilty for throwing something away that could have been back in working condition with minimal effort.

The answer to inkjet issues is taking the step to try repairing or cleaning your inkjet printer yourself. It is easy, cheap, and doesn’t require a lot of time.

When the time comes to replace your printer ink cartridges, it can be tempting to use a discount ink cartridge or refill kit rather than paying the high prices most printer companies charge for the originals. Whether this is a good idea depends on who you listen to.

There are two sides to the debate. On one hand, the printer companies all claim these discount ink cartridges can cause your print quality to suffer or even damage the printer. Some go as far as to say they will void your warranty.

On the other hand, the companies that sell the remanufactured cartridges and refill kits claim that these stories are just hype to make you buy the original cartridges.

The truth is somewhere in the middle. Yes, it’s true that the original brand of ink cartridge will give you the best possible print quality, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get the same kind of results with a cheaper option.

The biggest factor in how good your prints will look is the quality of the ink used in the cartridge. Every brand – and even different models from the same company – use a slightly different type of ink in their cartridges.

These inks are designed to work a specific way both with the printer itself and with the paper you print on. If you use the wrong kind of ink in your printer, your print quality will suffer and it is even possible you could damage the printer.

The key when buying a discount printer cartridge or a refill kit is to be sure the ink is compatible with your particular brand and model of printer.

A lot of companies that sell these cartridges use the same ink in all of them. The end result is that they don’t really work well in any of the printers.

When choosing your ink, make sure the company uses the correct type of ink that will work properly with your printer. And be sure they offer a money-back guarantee in case you have any problems.

If you choose your cartridges wisely, you can save a lot of money compared to buying the original printer brand.