FAQ'S: Your Questions Answered - Ink Cartridges

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This list was last updated on Tuesday, August 3, 2004

 
• What is a 'Remanufactured' Cartridge
  This is an original cartridge that has been 'remanufactured' when it has become empty. Remanufacturing involves testing the cartridge, cleaning it and refilling it with the correct ink formulation, it is then re-tested before shipment. These cartridges are remanufactured by a third party and not the original Manufacturer.
  
  Remanufactured cartridges are generally only available for cartridges that contain a print head (HP, Lexmark and some Canon). For cartridges that do not contain a print head (Epson and some Canon etc) compatible cartridges are available.
  
  As the remanufacturing process involves refilling an empty cartridge, typically newer cartridges are not available until a number of empties have been collected and remanufactured.
  
  We offer a 'buy back' scheme on your empty original cartridges (not remanufactured), which enables us to be one of the first suppliers to offer remanufactured cartridge for newer cartridges and printers.

 
• What is a 'Compatible' cartridge?
  A Compatible cartridge is one that is not made by the original Manufacturer, but is compatible with your printer, it may contain a chip (like the original). Compatible cartridges have not been refilled or remanufactured.
  
  When empty Compatible Cartridges are empty, they can either be refilled or must be thrown away, they cannot be remanufactured. As a result we do NOT buy back compatible cartridges.

 
• How many pages will my cartridge print?
  There are many factors that control how many pages your cartridge will print:
  - Capacity of the cartridge - not all cartridges are the same.
  - Amount of page covered with Ink
  - Resolution and type of media used.
  
  Example: A Lexmark 12A1980 cartridge prints 275 pages @5% coverage. That's only 14 pages of full A4 colour prints, and if you use one colour more than others then it may not last that long!
  
  Where provided by the manufacturer we supply approx page yields for the cartridges we sell. Some manufacturers also provide 'High Yield' cartridges that contain more ink.

 
• What is a High Yield Cartridge?
  A 'High Yield' or 'High Capacity' cartridge contains more ink than a standard cartridge, but is the same physical size.(See Moderate use Cartridge).

 
• What is a Moderate Use or Light User Cartridge?
  Basically, this is a cartridge that contains less ink than a normal cartridge would typically hold (or half full!). Manufacturers offer these at a cheaper price but as they contain less ink they will work out more expensive in the long run.

 
• Which Cartridges come shipped with my printer?
  If there are two types of cartridges made for your printer they generally come shipped with low-yield or 'Moderate Use' cartridges as standard. High Yield Cartridges can be used instead, which make for a more cost effective way to use your printer.