26/10/2022
Differences between OEM, Remanufactured, Compatible and Refilled Cartridges
Looking at the many cartridges and supplies available for your specific printer, you might feel a little overwhelmed. Besides finding just the right cartridge for your particular printer model, you also have to choose between many different types of cartridges. OEM? Remanufactured? Sometimes it’s hard to know what makes one cartridge different from another. Here is a basic guide to the different types and kinds of printer cartridges, outlining the differences and benefits of OEM, remanufactured, and compatible printer ink and toner cartridges.
OEM Cartridge
You may have heard the term “OEM” used before, but what does OEM mean or stand for? OEM refers to “original equipment manufacturer.” In other words, if Canon made your printer, they’ve also made a cartridge to go with it. No doubt about it, these high quality cartridges were designed for great durability and undeniable precision. Naturally, that translates into good print quality, but all of that comes at a price.
The obvious downside is the cost. It’s common knowledge that brands don’t make their money on their printer sales, but make huge profits on new and overpriced OEM cartridges instead. For that reason alone, the name brand company that made your printer will claim that you may shorten the life of your printer by using generic cartridges. This is simply not true!
Compatible cartridges
Compatible cartridge is like buying a generic car part. A separate company simply creates their own version of the cartridge to work in your printer just like the OEM cartridge. A new compatible printer cartridge is made from all new parts which are closely copied to mimic the original cartridge the compatible is trying to replace. None of the parts are recycled and all plastics, aluminum and other components are brand new.
Remanufactured Cartridges
Remanufactured cartridges started out as new OEM cartridges. Instead of throwing a perfectly usable and durable plastic shell away to sit in a landfill, however, another company refurbished it to be used again. A good remanufacturer will disassemble, clean, and test the cartridge before replacing any worn parts and refilling the toner. As long as the refurbishing process was thorough, these will often yield similar quality to an OEM cartridge. One other advantage of using this option is that it is more environmentally friendly. By definition, this process involves recycling old cartridges rather than adding more waste to the environment.
Refilled Printer Cartridges
As one of the cheapest options, refilled cartridges are simply injected with new toner and resold. If the cartridge doesn’t work at all you should be able to return it, but you may also find that the cartridge stops working before the toner runs out. Once again, the risk may be worth it if the cartridge works well since these are priced far below OEM or remanufactured cartridges. Still, be aware that some refilled cartridges can be temperamental or even quit working altogether.
