Printers have almost become an everyday necessity in today’s world. They are used virtually everywhere – homes, offices, schools, hospitals, and even libraries; it’s hard to imagine everything running smoothly without a printer. Owning a printer is just like owning a mountain bike; the same way you have to check and maintain your bike by changing the tires if they get too old or pumping air in them, your printer also needs to have the ink or toner status checked and other parts in the printer need to stay maintained as well.
With so many different printer models and cartridges to choose from, it can be quite confusing and complicated on knowing which cartridge is the one designed for your machine. With a cartridge buying guide you can easily decide what cartridge you need for your machine. Below you have a guide that will assist you in choosing the right ink/toner cartridge.
Check the Compatibility:
When printers are manufactured, they belong to a series of models and have specific needs according to the series. Cartridges are also manufactured in series to fit into specific printers. This means that not every cartridge fits into the machine you own. You need to check the compatibility of the ink or toner cartridge with your printer, which can be found in your printer’s user manual. If you do not check the compatibility and buy a random cartridge, chances are you bought the wrong cartridge and it will not fit or work in your machine.
Buying OEM Printer Cartridges:
OEM, or Original Equipment Manufacturer, cartridges are manufactured by the same companies that manufacture printers. These are the best cartridges to choose from because they are more reliable and best suit your printer since they are manufactured by the same company. Generally, they have the best quality and rarely fail to work; however, buying OEM products can burn a big hole in your pocket.
Choosing Third-Party Compatible Products:
Third party compatible products are similar to OEM cartridges. The only difference is that they are manufactured by third party companies and not by the printer companies themselves. The third party companies manufacture products for several popular printers and generally do not show any compatibility issues; they provide compatibility charts that list the printers for which they are compatible. They are cheaper and save you a lot of money, but it is essential to check the warranty and the authenticity of the product. Sometimes there are fake third party products that simply copy the design and marquee of the OEM companies to sell their cheap, unreliable products faster.
Re-Manufactured products:
Some companies simply refill the old printer cartridges with new ink and sell them after remanufacturing them. This process involves taking the empty cartridges to a processor which opens and refills them with ink, and mend the broken or defective parts. After the processing, they are tested for quality and then sold. They come very cheap and one can save a lot of money by buying them but, like the other third party products, remanufactured products should also be checked for warranties because they may sometimes have usage or compatibility issues.
One of the best ways to buy your printer toner cartridges is to look for an online supplies store. You have a wider variety of products to choose from no matter if you are looking for OEM or compatible products. An online store also offers discount benefits that make your buying process less expensive.
If you are looking for the best printer ink cartridges in town, the best option is not the major chain stores, its USA Office Supplies, an online store that offers incredible printer toner cartridges at affordable prices.