I’m spending too much on print cartridges, should I switch to compatible Xerox toners?
Well, yes, of course! Switching from original manufacture (OEM) Xerox cartridges will not just save you money (potentially thousands of pounds if you’re a business that uses many of them throughout the year), using a compatible cartridge may be better for the environment too! Here at Zinetic, we have supplied a myriad of different businesses, organisations and individuals with compatible Xerox toners for their printers. Understandably, we get a lot of questions about the advantages and disadvantages of switching to non-OEM products – so here, we’re going to look at them in more detail.
Switching from OEM to compatible Xerox toners
What’s the difference between OEM and compatible?
OEM (often referred to as ‘genuine’ or ‘original’) toner is manufactured by the same company who made your printer, whereas compatible can be either remanufactured cartridges or new ones made to fit the appropriate printer model. Remanufactured toners are subjected to maintenance and refilled with new ink – the only difference is that they aren’t ‘brand new’. Essentially, printer manufacturers will try to subsidise the cost of each machine by making a profit on their ink cartridges – by switching to good-quality compatible Xerox toners you can save as much as 90% of your printing costs. This saving is possible due to the vast majority of costs being down to a printer’s consumables (i.e. the ink).
But what about the quality of a compatible Xerox toner?
In most cases, you will see no disenable difference between the print quality of an OEM and good-quality compatible toner. The only caveat to this is if you intend to print high-quality images on different types of paper – OEM has been tested and calibrated for certain types of paper, whereas there is no guarantee that a compatible toner has. It’s always best to check with your vendor beforehand. For general document printing requirements, Xerox compatible toner is the best option to balance great quality and cost – the added bonus is as they’re meant to benchmark against OEM toner, compatible cartridges will last just as long.
What about my printer warranty? Will compatible print cartridges cause damage?
No, absolutely not. It’s a common myth that non-OEM cartridges invalidate a printer warranty – trade laws do not allow the use of a specific product as a condition of warranty unless it is provided at no cost to the user. A printer manufacturer cannot void your warranty because you have chosen a different brand of toner cartridge. Another common myth is that compatible cartridges are somehow ‘of a lesser quality’ in their manufacture than OEM. As mentioned, remanufactured cartridges are maintained before any new ink is placed into it – this means that it is cleaned and checked for defects. So, the quality is comparable to OEM – the cheaper prices comes from the fact that no additional costs are made in creating the cartridges.
Why is switching to compatible Xerox toners better for the environment?
As a compatible Xerox toner reuse the original cartridge, it prevents it from being thrown into landfill. If you consider that it takes hundreds of years for the materials used to create a printer cartridge to break down (let alone the oil used to produce the plastic), it’s easy to understand why compatible cartridges are the more environmentally friendly option. Even ‘new’ compatible cartridges are made from materials that have been recycled, further reducing waste and saving energy.
Browse our range of compatible Xerox printer cartridges
If you’re looking for compatible toners for your Xerox printer, we here at Zinetic can supply you with everything you need. We offer remanufactured printer toner cartridges at great value prices, saving you up to 90% on your printing costs. Why not take a look around our product range to learn more? Click on each product page for further information, including printer model compatibility and any other specific information you may require. If you have any questions about them or on anything printer-related in general, our dedicated team would be happy to help. Call us on 0118 328 2005 or click on our ‘Contact Us’ tab to send us an e-mail.