HP has long been advocating the use of only genuine inks in its printers — not just for high-quality printing and prolonging the life of the printer, but to protect against potential hazards.
If you’re a purchasing officer at a small and medium enterprise or the head of a household, you might presume that you’re cutting costs by purchasing unbranded, compatible ink cartridges compared to original ones.
While the initial, up-front cost may appear lower, there are hidden costs that ultimately add up in the long run—not to mention potential risks to your equipment, your health, and the environment.
The clear advantages of original printer inks
Firstly, the use of non-genuine inks can actually cost the user more, as the damage it will cause will be quite significant. Toner leaks and clogging the printer heads are common occurrences when using fake inks.
A technical study done by Market Strategies International reveals that out of the 71,231 printers that are normally serviced in the course of a year, 28% are actually caused by the use of non-original inks. Non-genuine inks are manufactured using inferior materials, which normally crack and leak — thus, causing permanent damage to the printer’s internal hardware.
Secondly, the use of non-original inks also voids the warranty of the printer. It would be a waste to spend on a good HP printer only to scrimp on using original inks. Using imitation inks forfeits the chances of getting quality technical support covered by the printer warranty. Users, more often than not, pay much higher fees to have their printers repaired when it breaks down.
Then, there’s the possibility of poor-quality printouts. HP printers are designed to work with specific color configurations and using non-genuine inks greatly affects print quality.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, is the little-known fact that non-genuine inks are known to use Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) and high levels of styrene — both known to be carcinogens. It would be difficult to determine just how much TVOC and styrene these imitation products contain as they are manufactured without any quality control measures and are largely unregulated. Counterfeit ink cartridges are often not properly disposed of, adding even more e-waste into our landfills.
So before you issue that purchase order towards replenishing your office’s ink cartridge supply or before you shop online for your home printer ink replacements, consider why using original HP ink cartridges brings true value for money, reliability, and safety. Also, to ensure that the HP ink you’re getting is genuine, you can perform verifications such as scanning the QR code on the label or examining the holographic features on the box. For bulk orders, you can also request a free check online or on-site.
For more information on HP inks, visit www8.hp.com.
