The Disadvantages of Compatible Inkjet Cartridges

Before you rush to buy, ask this important question: Does the refill have a compatible inkjet cartridge or not? These days it is more tempting that it has ever been before, to look for generic or third party suppliers for your office supply needs when it comes to injet inks, because the prices of the inks are very expensive, and the savings offered by off-brand retailers are up to 70 per cent off what the big companies want to charge for the product which is apparently the exact same thing with a different brand name. So what is the big deal with compatibility, after all, you aren't getting married you are just shopping for some ink to use in your printer.

The big deal with compatibility is that there can be issues that come up after you spend your money, and that are impossible to rectify after the fact. You may have a compatible inkjet cartridge, and everything will work out just the way you had planned and you may save yourself a bundle of money in the process.

But here is one scenario regarding compatible inkjet cartridge shopping that is worth considering, before you rush out to buy the cheapest thing on the market. Some companies that make inkjet cartridges have started putting little secret computer chips in them, that you probably do not know about unless you are a savvy tech oriented person or you read lots of nerdy high tech magazines that explain this kind of obscure stuff. The chips sometimes regulate the way the ink moves from the cartridge, or they may help the computer to line up with the ink container, or in some way or another, they are communicating with your printer electronically. If they don't communicate, or they speak a different language, your printer won't recognize the cartridge and will not work at all. Other companies aren't as drastic about doing things like making chips in their products that will disable your printer, but they may put in chips that will keep you from enjoying certain features of the cartridge – like for example the feature that tells you when it is about to run out may be disabled if you use an off brand of ink.

So before you leap, look. Find out if the product you are buying is going to be a compatible inkjet cartridge, and then enjoy the relationship without any nasty little surprises after the money changes hands.