Frequently Asked Questions

Laser and toner cartridges can be reused, or remanufactured, by disassembling and cleaning each cartridge, replacing any worn parts and refilling the cartridge with toner. The practice was originated in the early 1980s and has advanced to a scientific process.

Today the remanufactured cartridge industry is a $6 billion industry served by an international trade association.
 

What is remanufacturing?
The toner cartridges in your printer or copier can be remanufactured instead of being thrown away. Many companies are in the business of remanufacturing these cartridges.

A remanufactured cartridge is one that has been used at least once and prepared for reuse. Laser and toner cartridges can be reused, or remanufactured, by disabling and cleaning each cartridge, replacing any worn parts and refilling the cartridge with toner. The practice was originated in the early 1980s and has advanced to a scientific process.

What are OEMs?
OEMs, or original equipment manufacturers, are the companies that manufacture imaging supplies equipment including cartridges. A few of the most commonly known OEMs include Lexmark, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Canon, Brother, Epson, Xerox and Ricoh.

Why should I buy remanufactured?
1. Save money – Whether it is for your business or home use, remanufactured cartridges cost on average 30-50 percent less than original manufactured cartridges.

2. Help the environment – Cartridge remanufacturing keeps more than 42,000 tons of plastic, metal and toner out of the waste stream.

For example, for every cartridge that is remanufactured, a “core,” or spent cartridge, is reused. Each core is made of approximately two and a half pounds of plastic, and, but for remanufacturers, that core would end up going into the waste stream. The plastic used in a typical cartridge is industrial-grade and does not begin to degrade for at least 10 centuries, or 1,000 years.

By ensuring that your empty cartridges go to a local remanufacturer, you know they will be reused. The OEMs do not reuse cartridges. They are either ground up or abandoned in third world countries. Visit www.consumerchoice.info to read about the affects of e-waste on a small town in China.

How much can I save?
The real issue is not on how much money you can save per cartridge, the real issue is how much you can save on each page you print.

The lowest priced remanufactured cartridges may not be your best bargain. And the one that prints the most pages might cost you more per page.

Ask your source of remanufactured cartridges:
1. What is the page yield of this cartridge using ASTM standards?
2. Using that number, what is the cost to print a standard five percent page?

Why are OEM cartridges so expensive?
Because, as a great bank robber used to say when asked why he robbed banks, “That’s where the money is!”

Just as in the past century, razor blade companies sold their razors at cost or less so that consumers would have to buy their blades again and again, printer manufacturers sell their machine (laser or ink) for little more than cost—sometimes less. They make all of their profits on selling the cartridges and that profit is astronomical. According to a Boston-based research firm, Lyra Research, Inc., one OEM (Lexmark) realizes as much as 50 percent profits on its supplies stream.

You may have noticed that the cost of printers is becoming cheaper and cheaper. You may have bought your home printer for under $100 and office printers have gone under the $1,000 mark—a huge departure from the past.

Did you also notice that the prices for supplies for those printers are not decreasing? This is a common marketing scheme. Sell the machine cheaply and make money on the supplies. The OEMs make the lion’s share of their profits in these supplies, because they have adopted a razor and blade business model. The OEMs sell their printers at low or no profit, because they make up their lost profits – and then some – on the supplies.

How do I go about remanufacturing my cartridges?
You cannot do it well yourself. There is much more involved than simply refilling the cartridges with ink or toner. The companies that sell do-it-yourself kits have very few repeat customers. See www.consumerchoice.info for examples.

There is a state-by state list of Int’l ITC members and how to contact them on the www.consumerchoice.info website. There are hundreds of dealers who will offer products and buy back cartridges. To find a dealer nearest you, click on the Find a Dealer logo.

What should I look for in a remanufacturer?
The quickest, easiest and sure way to find a reputable cartridge remanufacturer near you is by using the Find a Dealer tool on www.consumerchoice.info. Once you have identified companies in your area, research each company website to find its product offerings or call or e-mail a sales representative. You will want to ask:
1.) What type of service guarantee do they offer, and
2.) Is the company STMC certified, which means that its products have been quality tested by an independent third-party.

Also, beware of scams and fraud, especially from toner-phoners who call with deals too good to be true. See the Smart Consumer section of www.consumerchoice.info.

Choose Remanufacturing
It’s the Smart Choice