HP and Lexmark Ink Cartridges

For a number of years the battle has been intensifying. The market for home printing has exploded with the growth of the home pc market as a result of ever higher internet usage and expanding array of applications for which a computer is used.

So much for the paperless office!

Whilst some of their main competitor in Epson, Canon and Brother chose the option of manufacturing ink cartridges, which from a technical perspective where simple to legally manufacture alternatives for, (whilst no doubt also reducing their own costs of production) HP and Lexmark took what must have seemed a more costly root.

In hind sight what may have seemed a frivolous and potentially wasteful precaution to prevent the erosion of aftermarket sales of ink cartridges, may now be seen as a sound strategy.

Consumers haven’t taken long to appreciate that a new compatible ink cartridge for Epson and Canon printers offers in most cases more than adequate results. However, the same cannot always be said of remanufactured products. The remanufacturing of cartridges is a process fraught with problems, not least the inability to determine how old a cartridge is and therefore how able the print head is to provide quality printing results.

It only takes one bad experience to put some consumers off for life. It could be argued that that this could drive the more astute and thrifty consumers towards printer brands for which new compatibles are available. And this is likely true for a small percentage. But what Lexmark and HP know is that in many cases the purchaser of the cartridge is not always the decision maker when it comes to office hardware. Additionally what Lexmark in particular have pursued vigorously, is the inclusion of their printers with computer packages aimed at home users – so again the luxury of choice is again not afforded.

Many of us do however find that using remanufactured ink cartridges offers perfectly adequate results. A recent report by Which? Showed that some brands of re-manufactered ink cartridges offer near perfect results - with little apparent difference between the original HP and Lexmark ink cartridges and the alternative brands.

Additionally, it’s likely that the more environmentally conscious consumers choose a remanufactured cartridge over the original for green reasons. But what is notable with regard to more recently launched ink cartridge models is that the remanufacturers seem either unwilling or more likely unable to refill cartridges. These models include the Number 339, and Number 343 and Number 348 ink cartridges used in popular Photosmart printers. Compare this to the situation with the HP 56 and HP 57 ink cartridges and the situation is different.

Lexmark inkjet printers remain ever popular regardless of the cost of the original cartridges. The popular 10n0016 and 10n0026 ink cartridges have been in short supply, perhaps something Lexmark have been able to control. After all Lexmark is known for its returns program it operates for toner cartridges. With careful marketing and the inclusion of free post recycling pouches it wouldn’t be difficult for Lexmark to channel empty cartridges away from the remanufacturer.

Its through tactics such as these and the inescapable issue of cartridge failure that means as things stand Lexmark and HP could be seen as the winners in aftermarket profit.

Perhaps soon we will see both Epson and Canon follow suit as both their share of the market and the printing market as a whole increases sufficiently for them to pour greater funds into development of cartridges that the compatible manufacturers are unable to copy.

What ever happens the consumer will demand a cheeper alternative and what could become more mainstream is the use of continuous ink systems which whilst cumbersome, offer huge savings versus original cartridges. At the moment only very high volume printers tend to use such systems but in the face of little alternative its likely that many more will opt for this option.

Ink Toner UK Ltd carefully select the remanufactured products they offer to ensure they outstanding. Every product is accompanied by a total satisfaction guarantee and a warranty to protect against unlikely printer malfunction is also provided.