All about Ink Cartridges and Their Types

by Michael Richards⁽⁷⁴⁾

According to a recent article on the BBC, the ink contained in ink cartridges costs more than vintage champagne! If you do a lot of printing at home, or have children that do, you have no doubt spent quite a bit of your budget on printer ink. The good news is that you have options to reduce the amount of your budget that is currently being spent on cartridges.

There are several types available which can be installed in your printer. OEM or original manufacturer cartridges are made by the manufacturer of your printer and created especially for your printer. If you have an HP printer, you may want to purchase an HP cartridge for your printer. In this case, you would be purchasing an OEM cartridge. Some companies offer different types including regular cartridges and XL cartridges which are designed to hold more ink. OEM cartridges are the most expensive that you can purchase, although you can save money on your purchase by using coupons and shopping during sales. You can also purchase ink in quantity in order to get discounts.

Remanufactured ink cartridges can save you quite a bit of money. In addition, purchasing these also helps the environment. For every 100,000 remanufactured cartridges purchased, over 43 tons of plastic and 240,000 gallons of oil have been kept out of landfills. On average, remanufactured cartridges cost about 30% less than OEM alternatives. Your savings could be more or less depending upon the type of printer that you own. There are a number of remanufactured cartridge companies that sell such cartridges. You can save even more money by purchasing cartridges in bulk.

Compatible cartridges are those that are manufactured by other companies than the OEM companies. These are usually less expensive than the OEM versions but are of good quality. Many different stores manufacturer their own versions for popular printers. Although purchasing such cartridges may seem like a good idea, keep in mind that compatible cartridges are not made for all types of printers.

Some people refill their cartridges when the ink runs out. Depending upon the manufacturer or the cartridge, this can be a difficult and messy process. Kits are available for refilling and some stores offer refill services for a small fee. Services and kits may not be available for all cartridges however. According to experts, cartridges can be refilled several times before they must be discarded. If you decide to refill your own cartridges, it is important to follow the directions exactly for the best results.

You can purchase cartridges or supplies to refill cartridges both online and at stores. Before purchasing cartridges, it is best to compare prices both online and offline. It is also important to thoroughly read the return policies of online companies. Finally, be sure to purchase the right type of cartridge for your specific printer. If you are not sure, take the time to re-check cartridge numbers and the name of the manufacturer.

Michael Richards is writing on behalf of Cartridge World, providers of refill ink cartridges and toner cartridges.

Article submitted Tuesday, December 13, 2011 & read 4 times.

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