October 23, 2013
The high cost of toner cartridges motivated some in the printing industry to develop cheaper alternatives. Because it is an ongoing necessity, the costs for replacing toner cartridges add up quickly. It is easy to imagine the effects it has on an organization’s bottom line and to understand why many look for cheaper alternatives.
Toner refill (which is different than remanufactured toner cartridges) appears to be the cheapest alternative because the initial cost of a refill kit or service is significantly lower. However, we challenge you to stop and think about why the price difference is so significant and what value is lost with the price cut.
Dangers of Toner Refill
Toner refill can be accomplished by using a company that provides this service or you can do it yourself. Refilling toner yourself can be extremely messy and requires some mechanical dexterity to do it properly. Although this solution appears cost-effective at first glance, it can end up costing you significantly more in the long run. Here are three reasons why:
#1 - Warranty is Voided
Using refilled toner cartridges can void the manufacturer’s warranty on your printer. If the issue you are having is determined to be caused by a refilled toner cartridge in your machine, your warranty will not apply.
#2 - Functionality Issues
Empty cartridges aren’t cleaned or examined before they get refilled and this can cause some major issues. A damaged cartridge can result in leaking and a consistently refilled cartridge can eventually result in toner buildup and clotting. You also risk having poor print results – over, under or uneven coverage of toner can occur when using a refilled toner cartridge.
Refilling toner must be done more often compared to buying new cartridges, because refilled cartridges don’t use toner as efficiently as new ones do. It’s important to take into account how often your cartridges are being refilled and compare that to the cost of new toner cartridges.
#3 – Equipment Damage
Functionality issues like we just discussed can affect your printer. Leakage and clotting for example can completely damage your equipment.
Additionally, some printers won’t even recognize a refilled toner cartridge has been inserted. Many cartridges have a chip that communicates to the printer when the cartridge is empty; so even if a cartridge is refilled your printer won’t respond because the chip is telling the printer it is empty.
Each printer manufacturer has unique formulas for the toner used in different machines and models which allows the manufacturer to retain some quality control of printer output. Using the wrong type of toner when refilling toner cartridges can additionally cause damage to your equipment.
With these risks in mind, it’s important to weigh the cost benefit tradeoffs. Before making a final decision about toner refill, consider some of the safer, more reliable and cost-effective alternatives.
Alternative Cost-Saving Toner Options
There are other cost-saving toner options to consider if you are trying to save money on your printing supplies. Remanufactured cartridges, which follow a similar concept as toner refills, are a less expensive option and are good for the environment. The difference is that your empty cartridges are sent to a reputable company or toner remanufacturer that properly cleans, examines and refills your cartridge. This method has much higher quality control and using these cartridges generally doesn’t affect the manufacturer’s warranty if the cartridges are compatible with your printer.
The other cost-saving alternative is buying non-OEM (original equipment manufacturer) toner cartridges. These cartridges will offer the most comparable quality at a better value than that of the OEM toner cartridges.
Although lowering costs is generally good, it’s important to consider what has been sacrificed to cut costs. Talk to a print provider about print cost-saving methods.
