If you’ve been looking around for a cheap way to stock up on cartridges for your home or office printer – you’ve no doubt encountered a number of appeals to off-brand but ‘compatible’ ink and toner cartridges. As one of Australia’s leading online retailers of ink and toner cartridges, we feel it’s important to help you understand why those products shouldn’t be your first choice.
Let’s take a look at the difference between brand-name and off-brand compatible cartridges, and why you’ll want to ensure that you’re only shopping with the likes of TonerCity for the cartridges that are designed for your printer.
What do we mean by ‘brand-name’ cartridges?
Brand-name cartridges are those made by the same manufacturer as the printer that you’re buying those cartridges for. If you own a Brother MFC Series then this would mean Brother ink cartridges, for a Canon FC Series, this would mean Canon toner cartridges.
Brand-name differs from merely compatible cartridges in that they are the specific product around which a printer is built, and vice versa. They will be designed and manufactured to a standard, and there will be no questions about whether or not everything has been accounted for.
Why might you be tempted into buying off-brand cartridges?
Off-brand cartridges are usually marked by a significantly lower price point – and that’s usually how they first draw you in. A quick look around online will usually turn up a slew of off-brand options that you can expect to see at a greatly reduced price.
You can expect to find broadly compatible cartridges at a price-point that can approach almost half the cost of brand-name cartridges. The old adage is true though, you really do get what you pay for, and you simply won’t find off-brand cartridges that cost less without having cut some important corners.
Why should you always buy genuine ink and toner cartridges?
We’re always advocates of shopping for the genuine article – and we’ve hinted at why. But it’s important that we take a detailed look at the risks that come with off-brand cartridges to help you understand why.
Compatible cartridges are the product of a company other than the original manufacturer – they usually seek to undercut the original brand by making their products cheaper. This is often achieved with less expensive materials, less comprehensive design processes, or just general lower standards.
Compatible cartridges can work fine in some cases, but they will often affect the quality of the print job, and potentially even the longevity of your printer. Some manufacturers will consider a warranty void for using non-brand name cartridges for these reasons.
Shop online with TonerCity
The most common reason to look for non-brand name cartridges is to save money. But with TonerCity, you can save a bundle and still get the high-quality brand name ink and toner cartridges you’re looking for. We run our business entirely online – which means we aren’t paying to run a brick-and-mortar store. And can afford to sell the best printing cartridges at super-low prices.
We even do free shipping on orders exceeding $50, so you can get yourself stocked up right here online with us. For any questions or queries, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 1300 330 242 or email us at sales@tonercity.com.au today!