Inkjet Cartridge Terms and FAQ.

Terms to know when buying inkjet cartridges:

OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer, these are new inkjet cartridges manufactured by the same company that made the printer.

Compatible - New inkjet cartridges manufactured by a company other than the printer manufacturer (3rd part manufacturer). The are made with all new parts and are designed to meet or exceed the printer manufacturer specifications.

Remanufactured - Recycled cartridges that have been rebuilt and refilled to meet the printer manufacturer standards. The rebuilding usually involves disassembling, cleaning, inspecting, replacing worn parts, refilling, and testing.

Refill Kits - These kits let your refill your cartridges yourself. Basically most are a bottle of ink, a syringe, and tools to open, hold and reseal the cartridge.

Exchange Paks - Mail in kits that allow you to recycle your inkjet cartridges by having them remanufactured. Basically you buy a mailer that includes the remanufacturing cost. When your cartridge is empty, drop it in the mailer. In about 2 weeks your remanufactured cartridge will be returned to you.

Why cant I find Compatible cartridges for my printer - Some OEM cartridges include patented parts that means 3rd party compatible cartridges are not available for many cartridges, including most Hewlett Packard, Lexmark and Compaq cartridges plus many Apple, Brother, Canon, and Xerox ink cartridges  (can't build the patented parts). For these cartridges remanufactured cartridges, refill kits and exchange paks are the only alternatives to buying new OEM cartridges.

Will using non-OEM cartridges void your warranty - No, the use of replacement cartridges does not void a Printers Warranty. Using non-OEM parts is covered by US Congress Legislation under the MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY ACT.

Counterfeit Ink - 1 in 20 OEM name brand cartridge sold in the US is fake! They can make a mess of your print job, your printer or even damage your printhead. Protect yourself. 1) if the price is too good be suspicious. 2) Know your seller, buy from established shops. To earn on our list the inkjet seller has received positive reviews and been with us/in business over two years. For more info or to report suspicious cartridges see www.isc-inc.org