So you thought you got a great deal on that laser printer, which comes out to be $89 after rebate. You’re stocked, because you remember a laser printer 10 years ago used to cost $300 or more. The new little laser printer is faster than its old and bulkier predecessors and it’s way cheaper! You’re a happy camper…until you ran out of that “starter toner” which came with the machine. And as you begin to shop around for replacement toners you realize, “holy crap”, each toner cost about the same as the printer, if not more!

Welcome to the 21st century, where businesses sell you something cheap upfront, only to get you in the back-end, as they call it. Yes, they planned that. The toner cartridges you buy over and over again is where the money and profit is for the manufacturers.

Well, the good news is, you can save about 50% or more if you start using recycled toner cartridges not made by the original manufacturers of the printer. Yes, they will often try to scare you to thinking that you will void the warranty, for using cartridges not made by them. But the Sherman Clayton anti-trust acts already made that illegal. It’s like saying if you buy a Sony mp3 player, you are required to use Sony batteries or else your warranty is void. Doesn’t make sense, does it? Basically the only time they can void the warranty is if they can prove that your printer in warranty is damaged directly as a result of using the “off brand” cartridge. Believe me, it’s not easy to prove that even if it was true.

Another thing is, warranties are often just for one year, so if you are worried about that, just start using recycled toner cartridges AFTER the 1-year period. You’re on your own after the warranty period anyway, so why keep wasting money on original cartridges when you can do just as well with recycled products or compatibles?

One thing to keep in mind however, is that recycled/compatible cartridges are not all created equal. Some will have a high defect rate and some will be pretty reliable over all. Just know that most will carry a 6-month to 1-year guarantee so in case you come across a defective, you can always get it replaced. Just be sure to do it within that time frame and stick with a decent/reputable company.

Enjoy the site and the many tips we have gathered here on the topic of printing, printers, and toner cartridges. We hope you get the best bang for your buck when it comes to printing!