Is it OK to Use Cheap Ink Cartridges?

Choosing  ink cartridges appears to be a straightforward task at face value. We do always want to save money; I know I always do, especially on things I need to buy like cartridges. Printing can be an expensive business so the possibility of saving some money by buying cheaper third party compatible or recycled ink cartridges instead the genuine manufacture originals. So the question is, is it ok to use cheap ink cartridges? In this blog I’ll set out the pros and cons of cheap ink compared to genuine OEM ink. I’ll also set out some useful hints and tips of what to look out for when shopping for compatible or recycled ink cartridges. 

Why are printer ink cartridges so expensive?

Original ink cartridges are expensive simply because that is where manufacturers such as HP, Epson and Canon make their money. Their printers are sold at cost, give or take, safe in the knowledge that their customers will continue to purchase the original manufacturer consumables. That business model clearly works, especially in HP’s case because  HP ink cartridge users keep going back time and time again because they keep getting the same consistently high levels of performance and reliability. 

The 2 main types of cheap ink cartridges

When I mention cheap ink cartridges, and when most people think about cheap ink cartridges it’s the compatible and recycled (remanufactured) cartridges. 

1. Compatible Cartridges: These are made by 3rd party companies that have no links to the original manufacturers. They are probably the cheapest available because the cartridge itself is a copy of its counterpart OEM. The ink inside is often an inferior quality. Both of these factors make compatible cartridges the cheapest on the market. 

2. Recycled Cartridges: These are the empty original manufacturer cartridge that has been cleaned, rechipped and refilled. The ink within this type of cartridge is, in most cases, an equivalent quality to the stuff the main manufacturers use. These are generally more expensive than compatible cartridges but they are also far cheaper than the genuine originals. 

Both types have their own pros and cons of course and I’ll drive straight in to those. 

Pros of using cheap ink cartridges

1. Price Price Price

This is arguably the biggest pro of using cheap ink cartridges. In most cases it’s possible to save up to 80% when purchasing compatible cartridges. You won’t see quite that level of saving if you buy recycled cartridges; generally speaking it’s around the 30-50% mark. Both options present serious savings regardless of what type of user you are.

2. More environmentally friendly

This really only applies to the recycled cartridges because compatible cartridges are still new 3rd party cartridges which use the same resources at the manufacturer originals. Recycled cartridges help reduce plastic waste and reduce the amount of natural resources used; they reuse rather than use or discard! There are plenty of companies that provide information and can  help with your cartridge recycling.

3. Warranties and shelf life

It’s possible to get compatible, recycled and genuine original cartridges quickly and easily thanks to the internet but what often sets cheap ink cartridges apart is the warranty and shelf life offered. Sometimes you’ll find recycled cartridges being offered with a greater than 12 month warranty that most of the big manufacturers offer on their originals cartridges.

Cons of using cheap ink cartridges

1. Inconsistent print quality

Using cheap ink cartridges can sometimes mean you’ll experience inconsistent print quality. You are more likely to find this with compatible cartridges because they are essentially copies of the original with a lesser quality ink.

2. Compatibility and warranty issues

Most of the main manufacturers will tell you that 3rd party ink cartridges won’t work with your printer. Some of them will even go as far as to release firmware updates that stop you using recycled or compatible ink with your printer. Thankfully this rarely happens now but you’re still likely to be told that using 3rd part ink in your printer will void any warranty provided. To alleviate this risk most reputable company selling cheap ink cartridges will provide their own warranty support for your printer.

3. Compatible cartridges can sometimes have less ink

This only really applies to compatible ink cartridges because they are copies of the original and aren’t always filled with the same amount of ink. Whereas recycled ink cartridges almost always have at least the same level, if not more ink than the counterpart originals.

4. Risk of printer damage

Printer damaged mostly happens when using compatible ink cartridges rather than recycled cartridges. I wouldn’t ever discount this possibility when using recycled or even genuine cartridges, but the changes are far less. Fortunately, as I mentioned earlier in this blog, most reputable companies will offer support if your printer gets damaged as a result of their own compatible or recycled ink cartridge.

When should you use cheap ink cartridges

When shouldn’t you use cheap ink cartridges is more the question as far as I see it. Recycled ink cartridges offer the same quality as a manufacturer original and cost far less so honestly I couldn’t think of a reason not to use them. For home users printing tickets or boarding passes, for students printing course work or assignments and even for business printing reports.

The only time I’d probably choose to use original cartridges would be using specific  Canon pigment printers for high quality professional photos.

Top tips for safely using cheap ink cartridges

If you’ve chosen to go down route of compatible or recycled ink cartridge, here are a few top tips to minimise potential issues:

1. Research and choose reliable retailers:

It’s not always the best choice to buy the absolute cheapest ink cartridges you can find. Take some time to look for established and trustworthy businesses,  check TrustPilot for example.

2. Check for compatibility:

No single ink cartridge is designed to work with every different printer model so make sure you’ve confirmed which specific ink cartridge you need before buying to avoid any compatibility issues.

3. Regular printer maintenance:

Performing regular printer maintenance is good practice when using any type of ink cartridge. Compatible ink cartridges are more prone to leaking so keeping on top of this will reduce any future downtime.

4. Have a backup plan:

If you have an important print job I’d suggest keeping a genuine original ink cartridge in reserve just in case.

My Conclusion: Is it ok to use cheap ink cartridges?

In short yes, it is definitely ok to use cheap ink cartridges, more than ok in fact. There will always be a place for compatible and recycled ink cartridges for almost every conceivable user, from the home user with super low usage to the home office worker and office user with medium to high usage requirements. There will be those that cheap ink cartridges perhaps won’t be suitable for, users wanting to print professional standard photos for example, but even then using cheap recycled ink cartridges with a set of genuine originals as a backup is a perfectly sensible solution, just slightly more expensive.

Ultimately as far as I’m concerned it’s about finding that balance between cost and quality for the individual user. Carefully consider the pros and cons, find a reputable seller, keep a back-up of genuine originals inks if needed and using cheap ink cartridges can be a choice you won’t look back on.

If you've enjoyed this blog you can read my most recent blogs by clicking any of the links below or jump straight to my  main blog page.

Blog Author: Simon Cross is the engaging and knowledgeable voice behind the insightful articles on printers and printer consumables at IJT Direct, an ecommerce store renowned for its comprehensive selection of printers, printer consumables, and hardware. View Simons author page to find out more about him.