Quick-references for this article: Compatible Cartridges are also known as, and may be referred to below as: Non-Genuine, 3 rd Party, Generic or Alternative Brand. Re-manufactured Cartridges are a type of compatible cartridge that is re-manufactured from a used OEM cartridge; strictly speaking a true "compatible" cartridge is manufactured from all new parts. Genuine Cartridges are made by the printer manufactures and may also be referred to as: OEM or Original. For an in depth analysis of what's what, see our article, Genuine Vs. Compatible, What's the difference? first.

Give away the razor; rip you off on the blades. This is the kind of freebie marketing model printer manufactures also subscribe to. Sell you the printer at a loss, then hope to recoup the money through expensive consumables ? You can beat the system and still get a razor sharp print, we've written this article to help you do this, without compromise.

#1 Compatible's won't work in my printer.

Yes, they will! Compatible cartridges are designed to do just that, they are made to the same standard* as the OEM cartridges and millions of people save money using them every year. There are reliable compatible cartridges available for 90% of printers in the market place.

*Compatible cartridges are manufactured by many companies and quality can vary, usually in-line with price. While compatible cartridge are supposed to be made to meet the standard of the genuine brand, for some 3 rd party manufactures cheaper prices means cut corners and compromised quality.

Any good retailer will guarantee the compatible they sell to be satisfactory or offer you your money back. If you have a bad experience, let the retailer know! Don't just throw your hands in the air reasoning that they were cheap, they must have been crap, throw them away and go back to expensive OEM ink, always follow up any concerns with the retailer.

#2 Compatible's do not perform as well as genuine cartridges.

In some cases, this is certainly true, if you hunt too hard for a bargain and don't buy a respected brand of compatible ink cartridge with a guarantee you could end up with something that prints terribly.

There are plenty of savings to be had straight up going from genuine to compatible ink cartridges; you don't need to push the boundaries by going from a good quality one to a rubbish one for the sake of a few dollars.

A high quality compatible or re-manufactured cartridge from a reputable retailer should give a pleasant experience equal to that of an OEM cartridge, because of certain design and copyright rules some compatible cartridges contain even more ink than their genuine equivalents, which is a nice bonus.

#3 Re-manufactured is just a fancy way of saying refilled.

Wrong! Refilled cartridges are just that, refilled ? they have run out of ink and they have been refilled with ink again ? Who knows how many times this cycle has been completed*. Re-manufactured cartridges on the other hand are made from virgin empties (one use) and not only are they refilled with ink, they are also cleaned, have had vital and worn nozzle / drum parts replaced and have had the microchips either reset or replaced, inspected and tested.

*If you can imagine refilling a pen you've written a million words with, it might work ok. But chances are the tip is going be worn out and effecting its performance, that's the difference between refilling and remanufacturing, in the later process the tip would also get replaced.

#4 Compatible's don't have a warranty.

Again, it depends on where you purchase your cartridges. Most reputable sellers will offer 12 month warranty on compatible cartridges and be very flexible if anything goes wrong. There is often only a 6 month warranty offered with genuine cartridges but this can vary.

#5 Compatible's will invalidate my printers warranty.

Most countries have legislation specific to this kind of practice, making it illegal for printer manufactures to impose such restrictions. To save an argument, it's always a good idea to keep a set of empty genuine cartridges on hand to pop into your printer if you ever have to take it in for repair.

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Quick Top Tips for choosing a Compatible Cartridge

#1 Remember, the lowest prices don't always mean the best value.
#2 Make sure the cartridges you buy are made to ISO standards.
#3 Ensure they are sold with a satisfaction guarantee.
#4 Ensure they contain the same amount of ink.

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If replacement cartridges for your inkjet printer are costing you over $10 each you have probably bought the wrong printer!
Get free, unbiased, expert printer buying advice now.

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