The Ink and Toner You Use Can Affect Your Printer

When your printer tells you it needs a new cartridge, it's tempting to simply search for the cheapest option.

But have you ever stopped to think about what you're putting inside your printer?

Ink and toner aren't just generic consumables. They are an important part of how your printer operates, and the right cartridge can make a difference to print quality, reliability, running costs and the life of your machine.

Genuine doesn't just mean “the same brand”

Genuine ink and toner are designed, developed and tested specifically for the printers and multifunction machines they are made for.

The cartridge, ink or toner formulation and printing system are designed to work together.

That can help provide:

• Consistent print quality

• Reliable performance

• Predictable page yields

• Fewer compatibility issues

• Reduced risk of leaks, clogs and other consumable-related problems

• Less downtime and maintenance

For a business that relies on its printer every day, that reliability matters.

 Your printer is more than just a box that puts ink on paper

Modern printers are carefully engineered systems. With an inkjet printer, the ink needs to work correctly with the printhead and ink delivery system. With a laser printer, toner works with the imaging system, drum, transfer process and fuser. Using a poor-quality or incompatible consumable can potentially cause problems such as poor print quality, leaks, clogging, recognition issues or contamination of components. That doesn't mean every compatible cartridge will cause a problem. There are third-party products on the market that may work well.

But the risk and the responsibility can be different when you move away from the manufacturer's recommended consumables.

Is the cheapest cartridge really the cheapest?

This is where it pays to look beyond the price on the box.

A $50 cartridge might look like a bargain compared with an $80 genuine cartridge.

But what if the cheaper cartridge:

• Produces fewer usable pages?

• Gives inconsistent print quality?

• Requires additional cleaning?

• Causes wasted pages?

• Creates compatibility problems?

• Contributes to a printer fault?

• Means staff spend time troubleshooting the machine?

Suddenly, the $30 saving doesn't look quite so impressive. When comparing consumables, think about the total cost of printing, not simply the price of the cartridge.

Think:

Cartridge price + page yield + reliability + maintenance + downtime That's a much better measure of value.

 Page yield matters too

Not all cartridges will necessarily give you the same number of usable pages.

Genuine manufacturers publish expected page yields based on recognised testing standards for many of their consumables. That means you can make a more meaningful comparison between cartridges. Instead of asking:

“Which cartridge is cheaper?

”Try asking:

“Which cartridge gives me the best overall cost per usable page?” For a business printing hundreds or thousands of pages, even a small difference can add up.

 What about your printer warranty?

This is an important one. You may have heard that using a compatible cartridge automatically voids your printer warranty.

That's not quite how it should be explained. For example, Brother Australia states that not all third-party supplies will necessarily cause problems. However, Brother also states that if a Brother machine is damaged as a result of using non-genuine supplies, that resulting damage may not be covered by the Brother warranty.

So, the important point is: Using non-genuine consumables doesn't automatically mean your entire warranty disappears — but damage caused by those consumables may not be covered.

Always check the warranty terms for your particular printer and manufacturer.

 Genuine, compatible or counterfeit — what's the difference?

It's also worth knowing that these terms don't all mean the same thing.

Genuine: Made by the original printer manufacturer and designed for the specific machine.

Compatible: Made by a third party to work with a particular printer model. A compatible product isn't automatically counterfeit or automatically bad — but quality and performance can vary between products and manufacturers.

Counterfeit: A product that is falsely presented as a genuine manufacturer's product. This is a completely different issue and is another reason to be careful about where you purchase your consumables.

 Looking after your printer

Using the correct consumable is only part of keeping your printer working well.

It's also important to:

✔ Use the correct cartridge for your model

✔ Store consumables according to the manufacturer's recommendations

✔ Use suitable paper

✔ Follow the manufacturer's maintenance instructions

✔ Replace cartridges and maintenance components when required

✔ Keep the machine clean where appropriate

✔ Use the printer regularly if recommended for your particular model

And if something doesn't look right — streaking, smudging, leaking, unusual noises or repeated errors — don't just keep replacing cartridges and hoping for the best.

It could be a sign that your printer needs attention.

 So, should you always use genuine ink and toner?

For businesses that depend on their printers and multifunction machines, genuine manufacturer consumables offer a straightforward option designed specifically for the machine.

They can provide predictable performance, consistent print quality and known page yields, while reducing the risk associated with unknown or poor-quality consumables.

And when your printer is an important part of your business every day, reliability has a value too.

Our Tech Tip

Before you buy, consider: Don't just look at the price of the cartridge.

Is it the correct cartridge?

What is the expected page yield?

Is it genuine?

What happens if there is a problem?

What is the true cost per page?

Your printer is an investment. The consumables you put into it are part of that investment too.

Need help finding the right ink or toner?

Not sure which cartridge your printer needs?

Bring us your printer model number and the team at Connelly's

can help you find the right ink or toner for your machine.

Because when it comes to business technology, sometimes the little things make a big difference.

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