Three Ways To Spot A Counterfeit Printing Cartridge

Consumers need to be extremely careful when buying new cartridges for their HP printer. Printer cartridge counterfeiting is a booming industry and plenty of problems can arise if you happen to accidentally buy one of these counterfeit cartridges. For instance, you might notice a significant reduction in the quality of your printing and damage to your printer itself.
Are you wondering how to protect yourself? Here are three ways to spot a counterfeit printing cartridge.

Covered In This Article

The Packaging Is Not In Good Condition
The Price Is Much Lower Than Usual
The Security Label Is Coloured
How To Ensure Your Cartridge Is Not A Counterfeit HP Cartridge

The Packaging Is Not In Good Condition

Signs that someone has tampered with the cartridge packaging is a huge red flag. Avoid at all costs if the seal is broken or has been left open.

The Price Is Much Lower Than Usual

Counterfeit HP cartridges are usually sold at lower prices than the originals – hence the reason why some people might buy them willingly without realising the potential damage that they can cause.

The Security Label Is Coloured

All genuine HP ink cartridges are transparent. Also, be on the look-out for mismatched lines in the pattern, and any text changes that state: "Seal is void".

How To Ensure Your Cartridge Is Not A Counterfeit HP Cartridge

There are three simple ways to know for certain whether the cartridge that you intend to buy is indeed a genuine HP cartridge. Scanning the unique code on the HP security seal is the quickest and easiest way to check. You can scan it using the QR code scanner app or the HP SureSupply app.

Alternatively, you can inspect the security label and blue hologram for tell-tale signs. Be sure to check that the "OK" and "✓" in the hologram copy move in opposite directions when tilting the box top to bottom. The "OK" and "✓" should move in the same direction when tilting the box from left to right.

Finally, you can opt to head over to hp.com and enter the serial number on the label to receive validation regarding authenticity.

Maintain printing quality and the longevity of your HP printer by only ever buying genuine HP cartridges. You can expect to save money in the long run, especially when you consider your improved client retention rate (due to better quality printing) and the avoidance of costly printer repairs!