Ten Common Cartridge and
Printer Myths
Myth #1. Use of a Remanufactured
Cartridge Will Void Your Printer Warranty
Fair trade laws absolutely forbid making use of a specific product a
condition of a warranty unless the product is provided at no cost to the
user!
In that HP, Canon, Lexmark and others derive their profits from cartridge
(not printer) sales, they will never provide free cartridges!
United States: Sherman
Anti-Trust Act and Magnusson-Moss
Warranty Improvement Act
United Kingdom: WEEE and RoHS Directives
Australia: Federal Practices Act 1974
Myth #2. Remanufactured Cartridges Are Inferior to New Ones
Government, major corporations, and independent testing laboratories certify
that properly remanufactured toner cartridges perform as well or better than
cartridges made and sold as new by major printer and cartridge makers.
"Try using remanufactured toner cartridges which now have the same quality of
new ones at much lower cost." - M.I.T. News
"Remanufactured toner and ink cartridges will perform as well as or better
than new ones." Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board -
MN
"Remanufactured toner cartridges compare favorably to new ones in terms of
print quality and product life - but cost less money." - NYC
Wastele$$
Myth #3. Hewlett-Packard Is the World's Largest Printer and Cartridge
Maker
All of Hewlett-Packard's printers and cartridges are made by either Canon or
Konica. HP has never made a laser printer or toner cartridge!
Canon makes HP products in communist China and Japan. Canon makes 60% of
laser printers and cartridges worldwide in Japan and communist China!
Konica makes HP and Dell products in Japan.
PS: Dell does not make any printers or cartridges either.
Myth #4. Lexmark Makes Its Products In the US
More and more Lexmark, Dell and IBM brand printers and supplies are made in
China. New Dell color laser printers will be made by Konica. PS: Konica makes
HP's high speed laser printers too!
October 2004: US Consumer Products Safety Council
requires recall of nearly 40,000 printers because of shock hazard.
They were made in communist China for Lexmark and sold as Lexmark, Dell
and IBM laser printers.
Myth #5. Lexmark Cartridges For Use In
HP Printers Are Bargains.
Lexmark Linea cartridges for use in HP printers may contain as many as 70%
reused parts and cost more than any other cartridges made for use in HP
printers.
Myth #6. Dell and Lexmark Printers Are So Inexpensive That They Cost Less to Use
Than Other Brands
Consumer Reports Magazine warned readers that Dell products "cost more to use
per page than all others and that Lexmark products are close behind them."
Myth #7. Empty Cartridges You Return to HP, Lexmark
and Others Are Reused
- Only 20% of empty cartridges are recovered by anyone.
- Independent cartridge remanufacturers recover more empty cartridges than
all of their original makers combined.
- Millions of empty cartridges fill landfills here and litter rural third
world villages.
- HP/Canon grinds them into powders that are then made into pellets for use
in making low grade plastic products such as CD cases and cups.
Myth #8. Defective Toner Cartridges Damage Printers, Causing Expensive
Repairs
- Toner cartridges are largely self-contained and make limited contact with
the parts of printers.
- All cartridges deposit some toner inside of their printers. The worst that
happens is that toner from a failed cartridge must be removed from the
printer.
- Properly remanufactured cartridges do not damage printers or create more
wear than cartridges that are properly assembled by or for printer makers.
- Removing toner deposits is part of routine maintenance required to
maintain printer warranties.
Myth #9. Remanufacturers Reuse
Toner In Their Cartridges
- Toner becomes contaminated during the printing process by paper dust and
electrical charges rendering it unusable.
- Only in rural China will you find anyone recovering toner from empty
cartridges, as this boy is doing with a stick and a bucket!
- If they did, none of the cartridges would work!
- Every cartridge model requires a different toner formulation.
- Combining contaminated toners would compound problems.
Myth #10. Remanufacturers Just Replace the Toner In
Cartridges
- Professional remanufacturers replace every worn or damaged component in
their cartridges.
- Many parts are failing at the end of their initial use as a result of
engineering decisions made in Japan and China.
- As a general rule, the lower the price, the fewer parts have been
replaced.
- If the seller does not want you to return your remanufactured empty, most
of the parts are beyond reuse because they didn't replace any before they sold
it to you.
- Single reuse remanufacturers are cheating you and the environment.
- Expensive imaging drums must be cleaned, tested, and usually replaced.
- Charge rollers and other major parts are similarly treated.
- Microchips must be replaced to restore full functioning.
- Every part must be cleaned examined, and eventually replaced.
Our special thanks to International ITC Imaging Technology
Council
www.i-itc.org www.consumerchoice.info
Together We Can
Do Better!
Photo Courtesy of BAN and the
Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
