Genuine Vs Non Genuine Ink And Toner. Is It Worth The Gamble?

When referring to replacement ink and toner cartridges, the industry has terms for the available options.

There are both “genuine” and “non-genuine” ink and toner cartridges.

Genuine ink and toner cartridges are those sold by the original manufacturer of the printer or photocopier. They come with the brand name, and are endorsed and marketed by their manufacturer. As such, and as a finite product, they provide a steady income stream for the major printer manufactures.

Non-genuine ink and toner cartridges are those that are either re-filled or re-manufactured and are typically not officially approved or endorsed by the original manufacturer. They are available either online or at some second-hand computer dealers. The genuine ink and toners are generally more expensive, while the non-genuine re-filled or re-manufactured cartridges are often cheaper – part of their appeal.

Taking the best care of your office machine is vital, as jams and malfunctions are time-consuming, stressful and potentially expensive occurrences, which can best be avoided with due care.

You should consider the following when deciding what type of ink and toner to use in your office or workplace’s printers, as the cheaper option may end up costing you more down the line.

More About Genuine And Non-Genuine Ink And Toner

Non-genuine ink and toner cartridges that have been re-manufactured or re-filled are generally available for a cheaper cost than buying the manufacturers replacements. There are a number of websites online that sell re-manufactured ink and toner cartridges and many second-hand computer and mobile phone stores offer a cartridge re-filling service. Home re-fill kits are also available.

Ink and toner is expensive stuff, so it is understandable that a lot of people end up using non-genuine options when it comes time to top up or replace their cartridges.

The cheaper option can be beneficial, especially when it comes to short-term savings. However, using non-genuine, re-filled or re-manufactured cartridges in your businesses printers and photocopiers can end up causing problems in your machines and may lead to malfunctions that requires immediate repair or even replacement.

Having a stalled machine that you are absolutely relying on to print or copy important, last-minute documentation is no fun at all and could potentially be avoided by navigating away from the cheap, quick fix option.

It would be worth investigating if this is the case for your machines prior to using non-genuine cartridges for them. Imagine having to pay for major repairs or even a full replacement for a machine that would have been covered by a warranty if you hadn’t voided it by saving some pennies on a cartridge toner re-fill!

This information may be included in the product manual, or you could contact the manufacturer for confirmation.