Most homes have a computer now days, and also a lot of them have a printer as well. These can be very handy when you need to print something or even scan something to email as most modern printers also have a scanning facility. You need to make sure that you use the printer regularly and also that it is maintained in order to keep it working correctly and also efficiently. When it comes to the printer cartridges you have a couple of options open to you which can also help you save money as well.
- Buy branded cartridges
- Buy generic cartridges
- Get cartridges refilled
There are benefits to all of these options and which is going to be best for you will depend on the amount of use that you get out of your printer. You will need to read the guidelines for your printer and weigh up the pros and cons of each option open to you to find which will be your best option.
Branded Cartridges
If you read the instruction manual of your printer, you will no doubt see that they recommend that you use the cartridges made by the printer’s manufacturer rather than the cheaper compatible cartridges which are available on the market. Most makers of printers do not advise using a cheaper generic brand cartridge as these can be prone to leaking which can cause you a lot of problems with your printer. If you do get a leak inside of your printer then this can cause damage which will leave you being unable to print properly. You also find that the reading you get of the ink levels left in the generic cartridges are not as accurate as the readings you get with the genuine cartridges, so you are able to keep an eye on the ink levels a lot more accurately which helps if you have a lot of printing to do or you need to purchase replacement cartridges. The manufacturers also maintain that you get a much sharper and clearer image when you print using the genuine cartridges, although it must be said that this is not always the case.
Generic Cartridges
If you are looking to save some money on the cost of your ink cartridges, then you may wish to look at using a generic cartridge made for a specific machine by a third party. These tend to be significantly cheaper than the originals and can be debated that the print quality that you can achieve is comparable to using an original also. Reading the manufacturers warnings in the user manual for your printer, they will try and scare you into buying their products stating that generic cartridges are much more prone to leaking than original cartridges. Through my experience, I would say that most cartridges have roughly the same amount of chance of failing whilst in the machine and leaking. Generic cartridges are made specifically for each machine, and the cartridge is the exact same size as the ones made by the manufacturer. As long as you maintain and look after your machine then you should be ok using a generic cartridge and save yourself some money in the process.
Refilling Cartridges
The option of refilling ink cartridges is often sold as not only cheaper than buying an original or generic cartridges, but also kinder for the environment as well so is more environmentally friendly. With savings of up to around 60% and you often get more ink than when you purchase a refill. If you are looking to save some money and do a lot of printing, this is definitely an option which is worth thinking about. You will have to make sure that you use a professional to refill the cartridges though and also make sure that they have some sort of warranty that they offer in the event that the printer cartridge gets damaged. If you look on the internet you will see a wide range of genuine ink cartridges, generic cartridges and companies offering refills, so you will just need to do some research on each company and then choose which is going to be the best option for you.
Deborah Malissa has written this article. She loves to shop at http://www.printbritain.co.uk/ for all her printing materials at home. Deborah is a technology geek who likes to share her ideas and experiences in the writing that she does.
