Learn about the choices you have when your ink runs dry. This guide will help to show you what options you do have when replacing your ink cartridges, no matter what brand of printer you have. We hope you'll find this guide useful in making your ink purchasing decisions in the future.

OEM Cartridges

OEM cartridges are those cartridges that are manufactured by the same company that makes the brand of printer you have. Epson, for example, manufactures printers, but they also manufacture replacement cartridges for those printers as well. In fact, manufacturers will sometimes claim that you can only use their replacement cartridges when yours run dry. Why? The truth is that manufacturers make very little money on the printers they manufacture. They rely on the revenue from cartridge sales to keep their business going. So of course when it comes time to replace your ink cartridge they encourage you to use OEM cartridges because theirs are specially designed for the printer model you own. While its true that you must be careful about quality when purchasing other kinds of cartridges, you shouldn't take everything the printer companies say at face value. There are now other alternatives to OEM cartridges and it is against the law for a printer company to force you to use their cartridges by stipulating that use of other cartridges will void your warranty.

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Ink Refills

Another option you have when your ink runs dry is refilling your empty cartridge with fresh ink. Depending on the manufacturer, many ink cartridges can be refilled 3-10 times. The cost of the ink itself is much less than buying a new cartridge and you'll be doing your part to recycle and preserve the environment. However, there is a down-side to refilling your ink cartridges. If you choose to refill the ink yourself, the process can be quite messy, at least the first time. However there are companies out there that provide everything you need to refill your cartridges and explain the process with step by step instructions to make refilling easier. If you do decide you want to refill your own cartridges, here's one word of caution. Make sure that the company you buy the ink from provides ink for your specific brand of printer. Every ink manufacturer makes ink differently for each printer. So called Universal Refill kits may not provide the same quality you are accustomed to. If you're interested in obtaining refill kits to refill your cartridges, check out our refill kits page for more information on reliable ink sites that sell refill kits.

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Compatible Cartridges

Compatible cartridges are very much like compatible computers. You may remember that one of the first companies to manufacture computers was IBM. When other companies got involved in manufacturing similar computers, these computers were called IBM compatibles. While these computers were not IBM computers they performed the same basic functions without the brand name attached. In fact most computers today are IBM compatibles. In much the same way, many companies have begun to manufacture cartridges that are designed for specific printers, like Epson, Canon and others. These companies are not allowed to call their cartridges, Epson cartridges, but their cartridges are compatible with Epson printers. In most cases these cartridges perform the exact same function as their pricey counterparts, but for much less, since the brand name is not involved. We believe that compatible cartridges are by far the best choice when your printer needs more ink. Most companies involved in manufacturing compatible cartridges, provide the same quality you've come to expect from similar OEM cartridges. One word of caution... Be sure when you purchase compatible cartridges, that you buy them from a company that is known for quality. We've partnered with some of the best producers of compatible cartridges. For a list of ink sites we recommend just go to our Ink Site Information page. To find specific cartridges for your model of printer visit our Inkjet Cartridge page.

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Remanufactured Cartridges

Most printer cartridges made by Epson, Canon and others have compatible cartridge alternatives. However, certain brands of printers do not. Two such brands are Hewlett Packard and Lexmark. The reason is simple. These companies include the printhead as part of the ink cartridge and because of patent restrictions these cartridges cannot be duplicated. These cartridges are proprietary and thus much more expensive. If you have not yet purchased a printer, we might recommend that you consider brands of printers for which compatible cartridges are available. However, if you have a printer that uses cartridges that are proprietary you might consider purchasing remanufactured cartridges instead. Remanufactured cartridges are those that have been refilled and checked for quality assurance. Most remanufactured cartridges offer the same ink quality for less money than you'd pay to buy a brand new cartridge. We recommend several ink sites that offer remanufactured cartridges. For a list of ink sites we recommend just go to our Ink Site Information page. To find specific cartridges for your model of printer visit our Inkjet Cartridge page.

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