Original printer cartridges are the printer cartridges you can buy directly from your printer’s manufacturer. Compatible and remanufactured cartridges are a more cost-effective and ecological option to original printer cartridges.
While some people use the two words ‘compatible’ and ‘remanufactured’ interchangeably, remanufactured and compatible cartridges are in fact two completely different types of cartridge.
Compatible cartridges are cartridges that were manufactured to function in the same way as their original counterpart, usually with a higher capacity if the cartridge is an ink cartridge. Their quality and reliability can depend greatly on who manufactured the compatible cartridge, some compatible cartridges are no different to their original counterpart at all and can be relied upon just as much as the original from our experience. We don’t remanufacture ink cartridges ourselves, we simply supply compatibles from manufacturers we trust.
Remanufactured cartridges are in fact original cartridges that we have re-manufactured – we replace any parts that are worn (springs, cogs, etc.), and replace/refill the toner inside the cartridge, giving you multiple uses out of your cartridge and saving you from throwing out your cartridge when it goes empty. Our remanufacturing process:
- Allows you to get multiple uses out of your original cartridge;
- Saves you from throwing out your entire cartridge when it was simply empty, which is a much more ecological solution to the original cartridge cycle;
- Gives you piece of mind in the fact that you’re still using an original cartridge;
To put it into an analogy, when you come to us to buy a remanufactured toner cartridge, it is equivalent to going to a dealership to buy a second-hand version of a card you want, fully-serviced. When you buy a compatible cartridge, it is equivalent to buying a car that is a different make and model to the original car, made in a different factory, which can usually do the same thing as the original car.
Compatible printer cartridges from good manufacturers are fine to use with your printer. Remanufactured cartridges are a better option, allowing you to get multiple uses out of an original cartridge, keeping the reliability of original cartridges without having to throw them out when they’re empty, and at a greater level allowing for a more sustainable approach to printing.