An article reviewed the negative affects counterfeiting cartridges has on the market and what to look out for.
Most people want a bargain as well as quality, reports Infoblog, but buying genuine inkjet and toner cartridges, either remanufactured or from the OEM, is more likely to save money in the long run, as the customer may be putting their printer at risk by using counterfeit items. The makers of counterfeit cartridges can make them look identical to those of the OEM by “illegally copying the design, parts and even the patents” and creating the illusion that the consumer is getting value for money.
However, there are ways of discerning the genuine from the illegal products, as manufacturers have ways of providing proof that a cartridge is original. Samsung’s logo changes colour when tilted from clear to cyan, as does the embossed picture, and HP Inc has a QR code on its “security seals” which can be scanned for proof of originality. Xerox uses a serial number and a bar code for its security label with a background that alters at different angles.
Buying online and shopping for bargains has its risks, so customers are told, when on a website, to check if the article is a much lower price, and if it appears too good to be true, “it probably is”. Side effects of using non-genuine products are defined by the printing experience, with ink or toner not be genuine either, which will lead to poor print quality and streaking as well as poor colour.
These cartridges can have a negative affect on the printer, and may lead to damage caused by ill-fitting cartridges or leaking ink, which in the long term will be very expensive as the printer will need to be replaced. The article concludes that ‘you pay for what you get’ stands true when it comes to quality and guarantees, and the right to a refund or replacement only comes with the genuine article.
http://www.therecycler.com/posts/how-to-spot-counterfeit-cartridges/
