Thursday, 01 Jun 2017 14:18 GMT

HP warns over cheap toner and ink cartridges

HP, one of the leading wide-format print manufacturers in the industry, has warned customers to avoid buying cheap toner and ink cartridges online as there is a strong possibility that these products are fake.

The company says that the cheap versions of toner and ink may not be what they seem, and also could be harmful to the printing press, and not even be fully loaded. 

Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) brand inks and toners are designed specifically for the printer and have been tested and approved by the manufacturer.

HP said in a statement: “The sad truth is that some consumers, choosing to buy original ink and toner made by the manufacturer of their printer, end up as the victims of this crime—often unwittingly until problems arise. 

The sad truth is that some consumers, choosing to buy original ink and toner made by the manufacturer of their printer, end up as the victims of this crime—often unwittingly until problems arise

“Some are mis-sold cheaper—but legal—alternative products, and, at worst, some are supplied completely faked branded goods. Attractive deals advertising greatly reduced prices online may save some money now, but the consumer or business usually ends up paying over the odds further down the line. 

“Firstly, using non-OEM supplies can cause performance and reliability issues. Testing done by Buyers Labs has shown that original HP ink cartridges surpass non-HP alternatives by producing on average 50 per cent more pages. The same test revealed that more than 40 percent of non-HP ink cartridges failed either being dead on arrival or expiring prematurely. 

“Should your printer break as a result of using counterfeit printer ink or toner, you could also have issues with your manufacturer’s warranty becoming not applicable. The short-term gains simply aren’t worth the potential long-term problems.”