With the price of almost everything skyrocketing and budgets either remaining flat or shrinking, it’s easy to see why small office and home office (SoHo) businesses are trying to save money wherever possible.
One of the first areas they look to do this is by using generic printer consumables that claim to be as good as the manufacturer’s genuine products. However, in reality, they do not offer the same consistency, reliability, or longevity.
The use of genuine ink and toner cartridges is important for a wide range of reasons, such as quality and performance, as well as environmental sustainability and cost-effectiveness.
While it may be tempting to opt for cheaper, off-brand or refilled cartridges, these choices often come with a host of drawbacks that can ultimately prove more expensive and harmful in the long run.
Quality and performance
Keeping covered
Consistency is key
Thinking long term
Perfecting consumables
Genuine inks and toner cartridges are specifically designed to work seamlessly with the corresponding printer models. They are formulated to deliver optimal print quality, producing sharp, vibrant, and consistent results.
Using counterfeit or grey market ink, on the other hand, can lead to subpar print quality, including issues such as streaks, smudges, and colour discrepancies. This can be a particular problem for businesses that depend on professional-looking documents, as well as home users who value the quality of their photos and prints.
It’s also important to remember that printers need to last a long time, and are a significant investment for smaller entities. Using fake cartridges can negatively impact not only their longevity, but their performance too. These cartridges keep their cost down by using lower-quality ink or toner, causing excess wear and tear on the printer's components.
Over time, this can lead to expensive breakdowns and repairs. Genuine cartridges are designed to work in unison with the printer, extending its lifespan and ensuring smooth operation.
The majority of printer manufacturers offer warranties that are contingent on using genuine inks and cartridges with the printer. If non-genuine products are used, the company runs the risk of voiding its printer's warranty.
This means that any issues or malfunctions that arise during the warranty period may not be covered, resulting in severe financial repercussions.
Also, all printer cartridges end up as e-waste sooner or later, contributing substantially to a company’s carbon footprint and pollution in general. Counterfeit or grey market cartridges might not be designed with sustainability in mind, and the materials used in their production are not necessarily responsibly sourced or recyclable.
Genuine cartridges, on the other hand, are more likely to adhere to eco-friendly manufacturing practices, and many manufacturers offer recycling programs for their used cartridges, reducing their impact on the environment.
Genuine ink and cartridges, when coming from a leading vendor such as HP, are rigorously tested and manufactured to be compatible with specific printer models. This ensures that they work perfectly, minimising the risk of leaks, jams, and other printing issues. Non-genuine consumables may not have the same level of compatibility, leading to operational disruptions and additional costs.
In addition, using the right ink and cartridges enables the business to have a more accurate estimate of their page yield. This means they can depend on the stated number of pages that they will get from a cartridge.
With the illegitimate article, on the other hand, companies run the risk of overestimating their page yield, leading to unexpected and frequent replacements, which, in the long run, can be more expensive and wasteful.
While genuine ink and cartridges may seem to be a lot more expensive up front, they often prove to be more cost-effective in the long term.
Their consistent performance, higher page yield, and reduced need for frequent replacements offset the initial price difference. Fake or grey market inks and cartridges may be cheaper initially, but they can result in higher total costs due to their inferior quality and lower page yield.
In some instances, counterfeit or non-genuine cartridges have also been found to contain malicious chips or software that can compromise the security of the printer and potentially the entire network. Using genuine cartridges can help safeguard your printer and protect sensitive information.
Any small business that finds itself tempted by the cost savings to use counterfeit or grey market ink or other consumables, might want to rethink its stance.
HP invests billions of rands in research and development in imaging and printing. It takes between three and five years and up to 1 000 prototype formulas to perfect each new ink.
At the end of the day, original HP ink is not just coloured water, but rather carefully and scientifically formulated with very specific ingredients, proportions, and quality expectations. Black and grey market providers simply cannot hope to compete in terms of either long-term costs or quality.
Investing in genuine cartridges not only ensures superior print quality and performance but also contributes to a more sustainable and reliable printing experience in the long run. So, when it comes to your printing needs, talk to Tarsus Distribution about choosing genuine ink and toner cartridges for the best results and a more sustainable future.
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