Printer Ink: OEM vs Generic: We get a lot of questions about using OEM or third party generic printer ink. From my experience, it's a crap shoot. I've had flawless results from third...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

We get a lot of questions about using OEM or third party generic printer ink. From my experience, it's a crap shoot. I've had flawless results from third party ink, indistinguishable from OEM. I've also had cartridges that the printer couldn't recognize, and ink that was not very vivid. Below are examples from a Canon iP4500. The better quality is OEM. The other is from a third part seller. I've bought from several suppliers, so I don't want to guess who sold it to me.

For plain text printing, I've never had a problem with black ink, except when the cartridges weren't recognized. On the plus side, generic ink is so cheap that getting a bad cartridge isn't a major financial loss.

OEM Ink

Generic Ink
Generic Ink...

Cameraman

Hi:

It is not just about the quality of the ink or the fact that sometimes the printer does not recognize the cartridge.

I used to get my HP Printer cartridges refilled at Costco. It worked for some time and one day my printer stopped working and the refilled cartridge had damaged it and I had to get a new printer!

So you are taking a big risk.

Cameraman

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Cameraman wrote:

Hi:

It is not just about the quality of the ink or the fact that sometimes the printer does not recognize the cartridge.

I used to get my HP Printer cartridges refilled at Costco. It worked for some time and one day my printer stopped working and the refilled cartridge had damaged it and I had to get a new printer!

So you are taking a big risk.

Cameraman

Yes, I suppose there is a risk factor, but I like to live dangerously (not really). : )

Aside from ink problems, the printers have been okay.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

The generic looks washed out to me.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

jerryc41 wrote:

We get a lot of questions about using OEM or third... (show quote)

I just stick (and always have) to OEM inks, that takes out any guessing, so I know I do not chance anything and I'll get the results I expect! No brainer in my book!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

speters wrote:

I just stick (and always have) to OEM inks, that takes out any guessing, so I know I do not chance anything and I'll get the results I expect! No brainer in my book!

Ditto.

pendennis

This is an old problem. When we bought toner for Xerox copiers, we always had sales folks coming in to sell us their brand of toner for the copiers. We tried a few of the generics, and they always performed below the Xerox standards. We also had similar problems with H-P printers. The down time simply wasn't worth the few cents savings.

The same applies to my Canon Pro 100 and my HP 8600. My up time is far more important than a few pennies.

I've always used the maxim from John Ruskin -

Quote:

There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I just looked on Amazon, and a large black OEM cartridge for my HP costs $62.00, compared with $6.00 for generic. That has 25% one-star ratings. Not very good.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Cameraman wrote:

Hi:

It is not just about the quality of the ink or the fact that sometimes the printer does not recognize the cartridge.

I used to get my HP Printer cartridges refilled at Costco. It worked for some time and one day my printer stopped working and the refilled cartridge had damaged it and I had to get a new printer!

So you are taking a big risk.

Cameraman

How can you be certain the refilled cartridge is the culprit? Sometimes printers break without cartridges having anything to do with it. Most HP printers are rather flimsy and cheaply made to begin with.

Cameraman

You asked:
How can you be certain the refilled cartridge is the culprit? Sometimes printers break without cartridges having anything to do with it. Most HP printers are rather flimsy and cheaply made to begin with.
How can you be certain the refilled cartridge is the culprit? Sometimes printers break without cartridges having anything to do with it. Most HP printers are rather flimsy and cheaply made to begin with.

And I say...
It is not my opinion taht it was the cartridge and not the HP printer. I took the printer to a reliable repair shop which is in business for the last 20 years and I have used them before to clean the printer.
It would have been in his interest to repair the printer if possible and charge me but he could not.
In fact he did explain to me how the bad cartridge damages the printer - I have forgotten the details but the conclusion was clear to me and I will never use non-HP cartridges in my HP printer.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

jerryc41 wrote:

We get a lot of questions about using OEM or third... (show quote)

Don't forget the long term quality of the print. Some time back MT Shooter showed a comparison he did between OEM and a 3rd party ink. He let two photos hang on the wall. One was OEM, one was 3rd party. Over time the 3rd party ink faded dramatically. I don't remember what the inks were.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

I use both, depending on what printer. For B&W laser printer and general ink jet office I have used both oem and third party. For ink jet photography, I only use oem.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

I use ink farm, never had a problem. I just clean the printer head every coupla months

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

jerryc41 wrote:

We get a lot of questions about using OEM or third... (show quote)

It's a major financial loss if it dumps ink all over the inside of your printer. My printers are worth OEM ink or I wouldn't buy them.

HamB

My home printer is a convenience.
A set of OEM inks cost almost as much as a new printer.....
I only buy third party ink, if the fourth or fifth use of third party ink kills the printer, so what.
I've saved the cost of a new printer and then some!