Ink FAQs

Ink FAQs

Common Questions

What does OEM mean?

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. OEM’s, such as Epson, Canon, Hewlett-Packard and Lexmark, are the companies that produce your inkjet printer, as well as the printer cartridge that is used in it. We realize many people purchase OEM products when first buying their printer. However, spending that extra money is unnecessary!

What is a remanufactured cartridge?

A remanufactured cartridge is one that has been disassembled and its worn parts replaced. The print cartridge then receives a new print head, is refilled with printer ink, and is tested in the factory to guarantee print quality. It is basically the recycling of an empty cartridge. Remanufacturing is considered more comprehensive than refilling alone. You can purchase remanufactured toner cartridges and remanufactured inkjet cartridges. Your printer’s print head cleaning utility (described in your printer’s operating manual) SHOULD ALWAYS BE RUN 1-2 TIMES AFTER INSERTING THE REMANUFACTURED TONER CARTRIDGES OR INKJET CARTRIDGES! Although the cartridges may test print fine in our factory, they may have problems after shipping. Remember, color cartridges are the most difficult cartridge and we recommend you always buy cartridges in pairs so you always have a spare on hand. In the rare occasion you get a defective cartridge, you can still get your printing done and return the defective one to us for a full 100% purchase price credit.

What is a compatible cartridge?

Generic cartridges are specifically manufactured to meet or exceed OEM specifications and high standards of quality and reliability while offering high-quality printing results. Manufactured 100% brand new, containing only new components, they are an economical alternative to expensive name-brand cartridges and supplies.

Use of generic replacement cartridges DOES NOT VOID PRINTER WARRANTIES. The use of compatible or remanufactured cartridges/toners does NOT void your printer’s warranty, which is proven by the following U.S. Congress New Legislation: Magnuson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act – United States code annotated Title 15 Commerce and Trade Chapter 50, Consumer Product Warranties 15 Section 2302:

(c) No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied Warranty of such product on the consumers using, in connection with such Product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade or Corporate name; except that the prohibition of this subsection be waived by The commission if: 1) The warrantor satisfies the Commission that the warranted product will Function properly only if the article or service so identified is used in connection with the warranted product, and 2) the Commission finds that such a waiver is in the public interest.

This is your lifesaver for purchasing your inkjet cartridges from a wholesale supplier. Under no circumstances may any company or associate, salesperson or service technician deny you service or warranty work that would otherwise be covered under the warranty program.

What should I do if there are white streaks on my printed pages?

First check to see if the cartridge is empty. If not, place the cartridge on a soft tissue, allowing some ink to leak out. Allow the nozzle to sit for a few minutes before gently wiping it with a soft tissue or cotton swab. Reinstall the cartridge, run the print head cleaning utility (described in your printer’s manual) and attempt to print again.

Why should I buy a recharged, or remanufactured cartridge from Ink Spot?

Because you probably already have … but maybe don’t know it. Our cartridges are manufactured with a combination of new and reusable parts, MUCH LIKE HP. Most HP cartridge boxes note that the cartridge CONTAINS RECYCLED PARTS. Our cartridges carry a 100% satisfaction warranty AT A MUCH LOWER PRICE. The defect rate for HP is HIGHER than ours although we charge much less for our products. There is absolutely no risk. Why spend more of your money than is necessary to get the same results (or better)? We know you won’t be disappointed once you give us a try. Then the only problem you will have is what to do with the extra money left in your pocket.

What is an Inkjet Printhead?

Many printer manufacturers make their cartridges and printheads into one unit, however CANON printers differ in that many of their printers have separate printheads. This is useful in that it brings the cost of cartridges (tanks) down, as they have less components in them. The printhead is the part of the printer that controls the amount of ink that is “jetted” onto the paper. Some EPSON printers also have replaceable printheads; however, these are designed to be replaced by an engineer rather than a home user.

How Does An Inkjet Printhead Work?

Ink from the cartridge percolates into the printhead via small tubes and is usually held via surface tension, which stops the ink from running out of the open tubes and onto your paper. To overcome this surface tension and to deliver the exact sized drop of ink onto the page, the tubes contain heating elements that create a small bubble of air, which displaces a drop of ink out of the tube and onto the paper.

Why Would I Need To Change A Printhead?

The printhead DOES NOT need to be replaced each time the ink cartridges are replaced, only when print quality deteriorates and running a head cleaning thru your printer’s software, does not resolve the problem.

After a while, a printhead may become blocked by paper debris or solidified/dried ink. Also, after many hours of extensive printing, the heating elements may fail as they are switching on/off hundreds of thousands of times. If you notice your print quality is suffering or the printer fails to print at all, it may be time to change your printhead.

No special knowledge is required to fit the printhead and full detailed instructions are included when you purchase a printhead from Canon. Epson printheads require a technician/engineer to replace them. You may also need to perform a head cleaning after installation of your new printhead and also a re-alignment would be suggested. Refer to your printer’s user manual on instructions for this if you are unsure.

Can I or should I refill my laser toner cartridges?

We do NOT recommend using refill kits for toner cartridges. We do NOT recommend taking your empty laser toner cartridges to refill stores. The reasons are simple. The most important part of a laser toner cartridge is the drum. When we sell you a compatible or remanufactured toner cartridge, we always provide a NEW drum. Sometimes other parts on the toner cartridge also need replacing for satisfactory results and you don’t get that with the “drill and fill” franchise stores popping up all over. Trust Ink Spot with all your laser toner purchases and know you always get a new long life drum with your purchase.

Is it good to use universal or generic inks in my printer?

Simply put, the answer is no. Different printers require different ink formulations. There is no such thing as one ink that will work great in ALL printers. That is why we don’t sell refill kits. Some inks will not perform well if used in the wrong printer. This is the main reason you don’t want to go to refill stores or drug store chains to refill your cartridges. They fill your cartridges with the same ink, regardless of type of printer. You will be disappointed in the results and it may clog your printer nozzles too. Sometimes when the price of a refill is too good to be true, there’s a reason for it. Our business is based on REPEAT CUSTOMERS. We won’t compromise just to be the lowest price out there.