What is OEM ?
An OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) is a company that builds a product (such as printers and printer cartridges) that it sells under its own company name and brand. An OEM, such as HP or Epson, will manufacture the product and assign a unique part number to that product. The largest OEMs are Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, Canon and Epson. These companies are often referred to as the “printer OEM.”.
What is a compatible cartridge?
Compatible simply means that though the product is not necessarily an original, or made by the printer OEM, it will still fulfill the same purpose. For example, most people do not use HP paper in HP printers; they use something similar that works just as well.
What is a remanufactured cartridge?
A remanufactured cartridge is a cartridge that has been manufactured from new and recycled components. It has been "rebuilt" to match the exact specifications of the "original". In many cases, OEM cartridges actually contain "recycled" or "recovered" materials (it's usually listed in fine print on the packaging in an inconspicuous place). In addition, some OEMs even sell their own brand of remanufactured cartridges. inkTone cartridges are remanufactured with only the highest grade of “empty” cartridges which use only top grade new replacement parts such as the drum and wiper blades.
Do compatible or remanufactured cartridges last as long as OEM?
All of our inkTone premium compatible or remanufactured cartridges are manufactured according to OEM specifications. They are guaranteed to perform as well as, or better than, the originals. Some inkTone brand products even outperform the OEM page yields!
How does inkTone ensure quality?
All inkTone cartridges are individually tested during manufacturing and must pass through multiple inspections before they made available to you. Our quality standards include testing each component prior to manufacturing, during production, and even after our products have reached the shelf. We even subject our products to extreme conditions such as temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, and simulated shipping conditions to ensure the product performs perfectly in every situation, every time. The result is a high performance product that produces crisp prints and sharper graphics - every time.
Why recycle inkjet and toner cartridges?
A discarded laser cartridge can add up to 4 pounds of non-biodegradable waste to the environment. Each year, millions of cubic feet of non-biodegradable laser & inkjet cartridges are thrown into our nation's landfills. Many people do not know that there are companies out there dedicated to recycling cartridges and providing various forms of recycling services. Remanufactured cartridges use a recycled “empty” which reduces the amount of non-biodegradable waste in our landfills.
Will I save money by refilling?
Depending upon your printer, you can save up to 50% by refilling. Many inkjet cartridges can be refilled 8 – 10 times without degrading quality. Over time that can save you about $300.
How do I become a V.I.P Business?
Becoming a V.I.P Business member is very easy. Businesses of every size are welcome to join our program. To set up an account call or visit your local inkTone retail cartridge center.
How is a Toner Cartridge remanufactured?
It depends on the company you are purchasing from. Some companies sell cartridges as remanufactured, but do not replace old and worn parts and do not thoroughly clean and test cartridges. They simply refill them with new toner and resell them.
inkTone products adhere to strict standards before leaving our facility. The first step is to start with what is known as a “virgin empty”. This means an empty cartridge that has never before been remanufactured, these “virgin empties” have only been used once as an OEM product and we ensure that all our remanufactured cartridges are made from only premium grade “virgin empties”. Many companies use what are deemed to be “non-virgin empties” which means they have no idea how many times a particular cartridge has been remanufactured or to what specifications and manufacturing processes it's been subjected to. Using a high quality empty is absolutely essential to having a premium quality product.
The empty cartridge is disassembled to remove toner and thoroughly cleaned before reassembly. A new/certified OPC drum is installed in every cartridge to ensure optimum performance and yields. Cartridges are generally machine-filled with custom blended toner designed to match both the OPC drum and wiper blade. We use toner powder designed to meet the stringent OEM specifications. In most every case, cartridges contain as much as or more toner than the OEM cartridge. All cartridges have a supply tank seal guaranteed not to leak in transit. Cartridges are all labeled with part numbers and company information. Quality audits are performed throughout the manufacturing process and every cartridge is print-tested and quality certified before leaving our factory.
The results of all this careful remanufacturing are outstanding graphics, high page yield, and exceptional quality, more environmentally friendly and better value.
Can I really save money by using compatible/remanufactured cartridges?
Absolutely! Your savings can be as much as 20-50% off of OEM cartridge prices. Depending on the number of cartridges you or your company uses, your savings can amount to thousands of dollars each year. Not only are you saving money, you are also protecting the environment.
How do ink and toner cartridges get refilled?
The empty cartridge is disassembled to remove ink or toner and thoroughly cleaned before reassembly. A new/certified OPC drum is installed in every toner cartridge to ensure optimum performance and yields. All toner cartridges are machine-filled with custom blended toner designed to match both the OPC drum and wiper blade. We use toner powder designed to meet the stringent OEM specifications. In most every case, our toner cartridges contain as much as or more toner than the OEM cartridge.
Will remanufacturing give me the same number of printed pages?
Yes, if not more. Our remanufactured cartridges are guaranteed to give you the same or more printed pages or your money back. We regularly perform page yield tests on our cartridges to make sure they meet or exceed the stated yields of the printer OEM cartridges.
What happens to my empty cartridges?
Depending on the condition of your empty cartridge it will enter our remanufacturing program and be refurbished and refilled for resale. Remanufacturing and refilling help save the environment by keeping otherwise useful cartridges from being dumped in landfills.
How do I get access to online ordering?
Customers can request an online ordering account at their local inkTone cartridge center. Anyone can request an account and it is very easy to set-up. V.I.P Business members are also assigned an online ordering account from their account manager when they enter the program.
How does the “drop-off” box program work?
Every inkTone cartridge center features an after hours drop-box making it easy for you to recycle your cartridges. Please see store for details.
