The purpose of this guide is to help you in your search for Printer Ink/Toner on eBay. It will help you understand the different cartridges & terms you are likely to encounter so you can make an informed purchase.
Want to make sure you get more than just a great price, but a great deal that you will be happy with when your ink/toner arrives? Read this guide too..... Ink & Toner - best deals
We'll start with some definitions
......just because multiple sellers use the same terms doesn't mean their products are equal, we'll discuss this after the definitions:
OEM: Stands for (Original Equipment Manufacturer) - These cartridges are made by the printer manufacturer. They will be "branded" by this manufacturer. Many eBay sellers refer to these as “genuine” cartridges.
Compatible: Some might also refer to these as "off-brand" or "generic" cartridges. They are manufactured by a company other than the printer manufacturer.
Remanufactured: These cartridges have been serviced, cleaned, and refilled. They may have had parts repaired or replaced if needed.
Now we’ll look at the good and bad of each of these types of cartridges and what to “watch out” for when purchasing on eBay…..
OEM:
Pros – These are the same cartridges that came with your printer, so you can be assured of achieving prints with the same color & quality* as you did with your original cartridges.
Cons – COST! Sometimes it will cost you more to get a set of replacement cartridges than to buy a new printer.
What to watch for on eBay:
- Make sure you read the full item description!
- Many of the OEM cartridges offered on eBay are past the expiration date on the Manufacturer’s box. They may print fine…you will have to decide if the savings are worth the risk.
- Many printers come with “starter” cartridges. They do not have as much ink in them as the retail boxed cartridges. Sellers may and may not know this….If it is not a boxed cartridge, take this into consideration.
Compatible Cartridges:
Pros – SAVINGS! You can expect to save 50-80%+ on compatible cartridges over OEM. Excellent for everyday printing.
Cons – Ink quality can vary from one manufacturer to another, so you may notice some minor color differences. Ink is not “archival” quality.
What to watch for on eBay:
- Make sure you read the full item description!
- Look at the seller’s feedback.
- Make sure the seller offers a guarantee.
- Look for products that are ISO 9001 certified.
- Look for cartridges with US manufactured ink.
Remanufactured Cartridges:
Pros – SAVINGS! Typically, only cartridges that are patented and cannot be reproduced by others are remanufactured. The savings is not as great as compatible cartridges because they cannot be mass produced, but you can still see savings of 50% in some cases.
Cons – Quality can vary from one re-manufacturer to another. Some simply “drill & fill”. This means just what it sound like. They make a hole, fill it with ink, and cover the hole. This is the same as what you would do if you purchased a refill kit. A good re-manufacturer has a full quality control process for cleaning/filling/testing.
What to watch for on eBay:
- Make sure you read the full item description!
- Look at the seller’s feedback.
- Make sure the seller offers a guarantee.
* Note: There are many things that can affect the “quality” of your prints. When we refer to print “quality” for cartridges above we are not taking into consideration any other factors. If you experience poor quality such as lines or missing print, make sure all your cartridges have ink and run your printers cleaning utility before assuming it is the cartridge causing the problem. Also, in making your comparisons, make sure you are using the same type of paper.
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