In some cases, your printer’s warranty will void if it’s damaged by third-party ink. When buying, look for a company that offers a money-back guarantee or tests its cartridges before selling them. You were thrilled to find that new inkjet printer for such a great price-but you weren’t thrilled the first time you had to buy more ink.

The major printer manufacturers set prices low for their printers-and they make their real profits through ink sales. Because of the high cost of original ink, there’s a big demand for cheaper cartridges sold through third-party and remanufacturing companies. The brand names are fighting these businesses in court and working hard to tell consumers that off-brand ink will ruin their printers-but they haven’t won the battle yet.

There are three ways you can buy an ink cartridge for less than the major brands sell them for: by buying OEM-compatible or remanufactured cartridges, or by refilling them yourself. Each type of discount cartridge has its benefits and drawbacks. Here’s an overview of how you can save money on your cartridges-and what to watch out for when buying discount cartridges.

Third-party cartridges. For inkjet cartridges, “compatible” or third party cartridges are made entirely by a third party company that has the same technology and standards as the original manufacturer. These cartridges are sometimes referred to as OEM-compatible (”OEM” stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer).

OEM-compatible cartridges are usually considered the best option for cheap ink. They often have a better success rate than remanufactured cartridges, because they’re the only discount cartridge made new. They’re made to the same specs that the original cartridges use, and they can cost half to one-third the price of an original cartridge. However, because some major brands have been successful at suing these companies, third-party cartridges are not always as widely available as refilled ink cartridges.

Refilled or remanufactured cartridges. “Refilled” and “remanufactured” are terms for recycled inkjet cartridges. For toner, the term “compatible” can also apply. Consumers send their used brand-name ink cartridges to a remanufacturing company, which takes apart the cartridges, replaces any worn-out parts, and refills them with ink. You can buy refilled cartridges for a cheaper price than you’ll find with originals; many cost up to 50% less than new cartridges.

With refilled cartridges, the cartridge itself is brand name-but the ink is not. Although the major brands do their best to cast doubt on the quality of their products, Consumer Reports has rated some remanufactured brands perfectly safe for printing. Not every remanufacturing company creates quality ink, however; if you’re not careful, you could wind up with a cartridge that clogs your printer heads and damages your printer.

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