Despite the prevalent use of smartphones and tablets today, printing is still a crucial facet of every business. Therefore, knowing which toner cartridges to buy for the printers at your office is very important.
On the other hand, there is usually a big misconception as afar as the difference between original and compatible toner cartridges is concerned. One of the reasons for the misunderstanding is that the original cartridges usually cost much more than their compatible counterparts despite both seemingly being able to perform the same task.
Original vs Compatible Toner Cartridges
The difference between an original toner and a compatible toner is that the original is made by the same company as the printer while the compatible one is made by a different company but fits and works with a name brand printer. Higher quality control is also a feature of original toner cartridges but compatible toner cartridges are cheaper.
Many companies will set a minimum price for their toner cartridges which is almost as expensive as the printer. The company does this to protect its bottom line which can be done using intellectual property rights such as patents.
Compatible toner cartridges manufacturers usually alter the design or manufacturing process just enough so that they do not infringe on the intellectual property right of the original manufacturer. The only difference you might notice is in the appearance of the cartridge.
Another tactic original toner manufacturers use is to make public warnings about the use of compatible toner cartridges on their printers which may lead to damage. However, most damage to printers is caused by their use and not by the toner cartridges from a different manufacturer.
Since third parting toner cartridges manufacturers do not have to worry about recovering the cost of the printers through the toners, they can sell them a lot cheaper than the original toners. However, it is difficult to find a difference in the quality of printing between the two types of toner cartridges.
On issue with original toner cartridges is that they are manufactured for a specific set of printers. On the other hand, they are more dependable and if you are using a printer that is new to the market you may buy an original toner cartridge.
A number of users have stated that the quality from original toner cartridges was superior to the compatible toners which have led to the misconception that all compatible toners are of lower quality than the original. However, it all depends on the manufacturer.
If a compatible toner manufacturer focuses on reducing price and not on delivering high-quality toners, then the product will be inferior. Such inferior products are not a reflection of the entire compatible toner industry especially since it is so difficult to tell them apart.
Despite many compatible toner cartridges being just as good as the name brand toners, you do need to do adequate research so you can purchase toner from a reliable manufacturer. To get the best toner cartridges for your business, you need to get the toner cartridges that give you the most value for the cost paid.
For the most part, more expensive toner cartridges will be made with better parts and hence deliver better printing quality than their compatible counterparts.
Remanufactured Toner Cartridges
Remanufactured toner cartridges are recycled toner cartridges which means they have been repurposed so that they can be used again. Remanufacturing a cartridge toner involves cleaning them, replacing the damaged parts and refilling them by a qualified technician. The biggest advantage of using remanufactured toner cartridges is that they are incredibly cheap.
Recycling toner cartridges is also good for the environment. Since instead of adding to the landfill they can continue to be reused several times over.
Furthermore, a remanufactured toner cartridge may end up having more toner than a new one since the latter is not completely full while the former can be filled to the brink during recycling.
The Best Toner Cartridges
If you want to buy the best toner cartridges for your business, you should focus on high yield cartridges. High yield cartridges have more toner powder and can print more pages per toner cartridge hence reducing your printing costs. The higher the yield per toner cartridge, the better it is for your business.
You should also purchase a toner cartridge with a long shelf life. Most toner cartridges with toner powders made of plastic are designed to last between 24 and 36 months.
Though how long they last will depend on the amount of use, the one that lasts longer with the same frequency of use will be the best toner cartridge for your business.
The best toner cartridge for your printer ultimately depends on your business and budget. If you can meet your business needs with remanufactured toner cartridges of high quality while saving much in costs, then you should buy them. If you want high quality despite the cost, then you should go for the original toners.