Comments on: Using Recycled Ink Cartridges Means I’m a Pirate Now? http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544 Independent Tech News and Product Reviews from former VP and head of CNET.com and Longtime Computer Shopper Columnist, Alice Hill author of the popular "Hard Edge" column. Originally named AliceandBill.com. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:31:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Mr. Harding http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-380679 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:00:37 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-380679 I've been refilling cartridges for years on dozens of printers I've placed into local schools. NEVER had any problems refilling, only with the chips in newer ink cartridges. Canon was great for years but then also jumped on the chip band wagon. It's not piracy in any sense of the word. Once I buy the product I can do with it as I please. If I do anything to void the warranty that's my problem. I've seen more problems related to FAILED chips then on any cartridges that were refilled. Even with warranty covered you have to forgo using your printer for several days until you get the warranty covered replacement. This should be illegal because you could argue that the manufacturer could deliberately cause a chip to fail (like a date code) knowing the vast majority of people will just buy a new cartridge. I’ve been refilling cartridges for years on dozens of printers I’ve placed into local schools. NEVER had any problems refilling, only with the chips in newer ink cartridges. Canon was great for years but then also jumped on the chip band wagon. It’s not piracy in any sense of the word. Once I buy the product I can do with it as I please. If I do anything to void the warranty that’s my problem. I’ve seen more problems related to FAILED chips then on any cartridges that were refilled. Even with warranty covered you have to forgo using your printer for several days until you get the warranty covered replacement. This should be illegal because you could argue that the manufacturer could deliberately cause a chip to fail (like a date code) knowing the vast majority of people will just buy a new cartridge.

]]> by: Toner Cartridges http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-222235 Thu, 05 Jul 2007 23:25:55 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-222235 It's hardly as ridculous as it seems, its not the fact that just ink is overpriced, but more so that everything is overpriced, mass produced,and made to fall apart. Think people would pay more for machines to pay less for ink? I know I would if and only if the machines were built to last, but that would never happen. Since that is how the companies make their money. It’s hardly as ridculous as it seems, its not the fact that just ink is overpriced, but more so that everything is overpriced, mass produced,and made to fall apart. Think people would pay more for machines to pay less for ink? I know I would if and only if the machines were built to last, but that would never happen. Since that is how the companies make their money.

]]> by: Joey http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-216332 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 21:32:12 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-216332 >>>And remember: printers are cheap because the printer companies make their money on toner and ink. You don’t even want to THINK about how expensive the equipment would become if the manufacturers lose their revenue stream from ink and toner. >>>And remember: printers are cheap because the printer companies make their money on toner and ink. You don’t even want to THINK about how expensive the equipment would become if the manufacturers lose their revenue stream from ink and toner.

]]> by: ridn4free http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-215892 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:04:17 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-215892 FATWALLET RULES - SD DROOLS FATWALLET RULES - SD DROOLS

]]> by: JohnB http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-215879 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 14:43:26 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-215879 One consideration on buying refills is the printhead. It it is a part of the cartridge, the life expectancy of the printhead and the cartridge may be the same, and refills may not be worthwhile. If the printhead is part of the printer, the ink formulation may have a significant impact on printer life. So -- be careful... One consideration on buying refills is the printhead. It it is a part of the cartridge, the life expectancy of the printhead and the cartridge may be the same, and refills may not be worthwhile. If the printhead is part of the printer, the ink formulation may have a significant impact on printer life. So — be careful…

]]> by: Chuck Eckert http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-215210 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:45:20 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-215210 I use refilled cartridges I get for my HP from a business here where I live called Cartridge World. It is a national chain and they will either fill your cartridges or just swap then out. No problems what-so ever so far. As to the comment by Mike about inventing some way for his printer to use bottles of ink--sorry Mike--but that has already been done. I saw the device at a computer show here in Florida not long age. Uses bottles of ink and hooks up to any make or model of printer. What I find interesting about this is-you can buy refilled cartridges from the different manufacturers--I think anyway--so how does one know for sure that they are really using their ink and not having one of the various refill companies fill them with whatever ink they use. I have never had any damage done to a printer by ink--from any source--that I know of anyway. I use refilled cartridges I get for my HP from a business here where I live called Cartridge World. It is a national chain and they will either fill your cartridges or just swap then out. No problems what-so ever so far.
As to the comment by Mike about inventing some way for his printer to use bottles of ink–sorry Mike–but that has already been done. I saw the device at a computer show here in Florida not long age. Uses bottles of ink and hooks up to any make or model of printer.
What I find interesting about this is-you can buy refilled cartridges from the different manufacturers–I think anyway–so how does one know for sure that they are really using their ink and not having one of the various refill companies fill them with whatever ink they use.
I have never had any damage done to a printer by ink–from any source–that I know of anyway.

]]> by: Randall Lind http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-215185 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:09:30 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-215185 This is why I brought a Used HP Lasejet 4000 off ebay with a 30,000 page count. The black toner cartrisge does 10,000 pages before I need to buy a new cartridge. Cost me $115 14 months ago and it still printing nice in dark. I don't care about color. This is why I brought a Used HP Lasejet 4000 off ebay with a 30,000 page count. The black toner cartrisge does 10,000 pages before I need to buy a new cartridge.

Cost me $115 14 months ago and it still printing nice in dark. I don’t care about color.

]]> by: Mort http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-215144 Thu, 28 Jun 2007 23:31:55 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-215144 Its unreal that anyone would go along with this your BUYING the printer not some sort of license for it, you should be able to do as you please. If you bought a car would you let yourself be locked into only one brand of gas? With Marks reasoning in a comment above YOU would be a pirate. The consumer is becoming a sheep led to slaughter by corporate greed with the help of the politicians you elect. Its unreal that anyone would go along with this your BUYING the printer not some sort of license for it, you should be able to do as you please.

If you bought a car would you let yourself be locked into only one brand of gas?
With Marks reasoning in a comment above YOU would be a pirate.
The consumer is becoming a sheep led to slaughter by corporate greed with the help of the politicians you elect.

]]> by: Clint http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-214883 Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:34:00 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-214883 Canon's newer printer have cartridges with chips in them, which is why I stopped buying Canon. I agree when I have to buy the expensive OEM cartridge I will just stop printing. Canon’s newer printer have cartridges with chips in them, which is why I stopped buying Canon.

I agree when I have to buy the expensive OEM cartridge I will just stop printing.

]]> by: Mark http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-214878 Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:28:59 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/4544#comment-214878 Keep in mind that there are numerous scam artists out there who provide shoddy product that provides very little actual ink and that causes real damage to equipment. It's not unreasonable for printer manufacturers to want to protect against this sort of true "piracy" (which is a term used in the copier world for a very real and very damaging problem). It's unfortunate that the casual user and honest purveyor are caught up in the net, but sometimes that can't be helped. And remember: printers are cheap because the printer companies make their money on toner and ink. You don't even want to THINK about how expensive the equipment would become if the manufacturers lose their revenue stream from ink and toner. Keep in mind that there are numerous scam artists out there who provide shoddy product that provides very little actual ink and that causes real damage to equipment. It’s not unreasonable for printer manufacturers to want to protect against this sort of true “piracy” (which is a term used in the copier world for a very real and very damaging problem).

It’s unfortunate that the casual user and honest purveyor are caught up in the net, but sometimes that can’t be helped. And remember: printers are cheap because the printer companies make their money on toner and ink. You don’t even want to THINK about how expensive the equipment would become if the manufacturers lose their revenue stream from ink and toner.

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