FAQ

What is a compatible cartridge?

Compatible ink (or compatible toner) is manufactured by third party manufacturers and is designed to work in designated printers without infringing on patents of printer manufacturers. Compatible inks and toners may come in a variety of packaging including sealed plastic wraps or taped plastic wraps. Regardless of packaging, compatible products are generally priced lower than original equipment manufacturer (OEM) brand inks and toners.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compatible_ink

What is the difference between Compatible, Branded and Re-manufactured cartridges?

• Compatible - Also known as "Generic" or "Alternative Brand"
• These cartridges are manufactured from scratch, they are not used cartridges that have been refilled or re-manufactured. They are produced by a third party companies and sold under different brand names. Often compatible cartridges may vary slightly in look, design and page yield to their genuine counterparts due to certain patents that restrict the exact copying of designs. Compatible cartridges are a cost-effective alternative to the OEM and many have exceeded the quality of the OEM. They can also be manufactured to contain more ink than the OEM versions, depending on the design of the cartridge itself (and cost aspects as well). Starprint.co.za supplies compatible cartridges.
• Branded - Also known as "Original Equipment Manufacturer" or "OEM"
• These are manufactured by printer manufacturers. Manufacturers offer certain guarantees when you use genuine brand toner in your printer and makes certain threats if you don't, voiding warranty is a typical accusation made, although in many countries this is illegal. Genuine cartridges are more expensive than refills, compatibles or re-manufactured cartridges.
• Re-manufactured
• A process by which the OEM or other compatible cartridge is dismantled after the first use. Any worn or defective parts are replaced and the cartridge is cleaned then it is refilled with toner. The re-manufacturing process differs from one factory to another, as well as the quality of toner that the cartridge is filled with. These are important factors to take into account when purchasing re-manufactured toner cartridges because they can ultimately lead to leaking, printer malfunction, or even damaging the printer altogether. Starprint.co.za does not supply re-manufactured cartridges.

Does HP, Canon and other brands give permission to those that sell compatible cartridges?

The compatible cartridges are not branded with the OEM logo or name. The cartridges are compatible in use in the OEM printers. As such permission is not required from the OEMs.

Do compatible cartridges cause damage to the printers?

Compatible cartridges are new cartridges manufactured to the same specifications as an OEM cartridge.
Damage to the printer will result from an OEM cartridge or compatible cartridge mainly due to the way the printer and cartridge are handled.
The most common problem in both the OEM and compatible cartridge is a faulty chip. This can occur if the customer touches the chip itself.

What is the cost of getting a compatible toner cartridge compared with an OEM?

Typical savings are 40% to 70% of the cost of an OEM cartridge.

Why are compatible cartridges so cheap?

Compatible cartridges are on average 50% cheaper than the OEM equivalent. The compatible cartridges provide the same quality and in most cases more pages of print than the OEM equivalent.
These days to replace OEM cartridges in a printer costs as much as the purchase price of the printer. OEM printer ink is now known to be the most expensive liquid on the planet.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/08/the-high-cost-of-wasted-printer-ink/index.htm