Whether you just recently bought a new laser or inkjet printer or have owned one for years, it doesn't take long to figure out that buying inkjet refills and toner or ink cartridges is where the majority of your money will be spent on a printer. Once the printer has been long paid for, you'll still have to pay for either do-it-yourself ink refills or new ink cartridges to be able to use your printer. As far as how much you'll spend...this depends solely on how many pages you print on a regular basis and how well you manage your printing to prevent wastefulness.

If you print many pages a day, the expense of replacing ink cartridges will add up quickly. That's why remanufactured ink cartridges have gained so much popularity among printer owners in recent years. For folks who own a business or even those with a home computer who love to print their own photos or other materials, remanufactured ink cartridges can save much money over the years.

Defining Remanufactured Ink Cartridges

Remanufactured ink cartridges are developed using recycled materials. Used cartridges are taken to a factory, disassembled, and then inspected for safety and durability. Next, the cartridges are cleaned and restored, then reassembled and filled with new printer ink. Factories also test the remanufactured ink cartridges to be sure they are working properly before sealing and packaging them for shipment to customers.

Though remanufactured printer cartridges are developed in such a way to make them compatible with brand name printers such as HP, Brother, Epson, etc., the cartridges are not usually manufactured in the factories of brand name companies.

Benefits of Remanufactured Inkjet Cartridges

There are several major benefits you'll enjoy when buying remanufactured ink cartridges. One is obvious - the money you'll save. Remanufactured cartridges are generally much cheaper than those that come directly from the maker or even generic cartridges. Even if you don't use your printer very often, ink is ink no matter how often you use it. You'll still have to replace the ink or toner sometimes, and it's always easier on your wallet if you can replace your cartridges with less expense.

Another benefit is remanufactured inkjet cartridges help the environment through recycling. You'll also find "recycled" ink cartridges that are not put through a cleaning and refurbishing process. Though there is a difference between buying remanufactured and recycled cartridges, both use the process of "recycling" to help the environment instead of the cartridges being simply thrown away.

You can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing remanufactured ink cartridges online. Websites offer many choices at various price levels to meet your needs. You can have your ink cartridges shipped to your home or office without needing to interrupt your daily routine to physically shop at a printer supply store.

What about Factory Warranties?

Some printer owners are concerned that their factory warranty will be void if they use remanufactured or recycled inkjet cartridges. This couldn't be farther from the truth. According to the Federal Trade Commission website, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prohibits this type of limitation on a factory warranty. A portion of the warranty act called "Tie-In" Provisions prohibits a company from requiring that a purchaser of the product buy an item or service from a particular company to use with the warranted product in order to be eligible for a warranty.

Shop for Value and Quality

Though you do want to save money on printing costs, you should still be a little choosey when it comes to buying remanufactured ink cartridges. Consider the manufacturing company's age and how much testing is conducted on each cartridge. Also, read their warranty carefully and ask for free samples if you plan to buy ink cartridges in large quantities. Always read the fine print to ensure you're getting the item you requested.

Go online today to compare pricing for remanufactured ink cartridges. Think of the printing savings you'll enjoy for years to come!