Resources for Printer Ink and Toner

Printer Ink and Toner

Businesses are becoming more paper-free as more work moves to being digital, but printed documents are still necessary for a number of business functions. That's why printing is an expense you need to consider into the budget for your business, no matter its size. Ink and toner can get quite expensive depending on what kind of machinery you use, how often you print, and the quality level you need in your printed documents. It's critical to consider the benefits, pitfalls and pricing considerations of various printing methods and options. Issues regarding recycling, heat damage, warranties and shipping should all be factored into your buying decisions.

Benefits

Regardless of what type of business you own, you are going to need materials printed, which means you will go through a lot of ink or toner cartridges. The choice between laser and inkjet printers will come down to your budget and how heavily you use your printer. The choice between printer ink and toner will be decided mostly by which type of printer you have.

Toner

Toner is used in copiers and laser printers, and it is sold in cartridges that can be refilled. Toner is a very fine powder containing different polymers dependent upon its intended use. Though toner is typically more expensive than ink, it lasts longer and can print many more pages than ink. Unlike ink, toner does not clog, make blotches, or smear. High quality toner is super fine, and lower-quality toner can be slightly grainy. Toner is also known to add a gloss to the finished page. If your business needs more printing at faster speeds, a toner-based printing system may be the way to go.

Ink

Ink is used in inkjet printers. It also is sold in cartridges. Ink is typically regarded as cleaner to work with than toner. Inkjet printers are smaller and much more lightweight than laser printers, so you can save some much-needed office space by switching to them. Inkjet printers are also less expensive than their laser counterparts.

Refills

Refilling your ink and toner cartridges instead of buying all new ones is a good way to save a lot of money in the long run. Many businesses are unaware that they can manually refill old cartridges—both ink and toner—or are simply apathetic. The truth is that refilling your ink and toner cartridges is much more cost-effective than throwing them away and purchasing new ones. Manually refilling an inkjet cartridge is a painless procedure, whereas refilling a toner cartridge can get messy.

Recycling

The environmentally conscious business owner is probably interested in the recycling capabilities of used printer cartridges. According to the Miami Herald, about 70% of the hundreds of millions of used printer cartridges end up in a landfill, even though they can be easily refilled or recycled. In some areas your business can even get paid for recycling used cartridges, saving you additional money. Online sources exist that supply a prepaid shipping label with which to mail cartridges for that extra cash, so you don’t even have to leave your office.

Pitfalls

Pitfalls of Refilling Printer Ink and Toner

According to the University of Illinois, the printing industry brings in $83 billion annually in the United States. This figure includes money spent with offsite printing companies, as well as money spent on printers, ink and toner for in-house business use. If your business does a lot of printing, you may find you have to replace your printer ink and toner often. You have a few options when doing this. You can choose to purchase original replacement cartridges, generic replacement cartridges, or refurbished replacement cartridges. Another option is to refill your current cartridges. At first glance, you may decide that refilling the cartridges is right for your business because it seems most cost-effective; however, you must consider some pitfalls before you purchase a refill kit.

Low-Quality Printing

If your printed materials are only meant for in-house use, you may not mind the low-quality prints associated with using printer ink and toner refills. Oftentimes, the pages appear smeared or streaked. If you are using the printed materials as handouts or for people who aren’t your employees, the low-quality prints will likely make your company seem like a low-quality or cheap company.

Damage to the Printer or Printer Head

As your printer prints, it generates heat, which causes a risk of reused ink and toner cartridges suffering slight damage with regular use. If you continually refill the cartridges, they may become so severely damaged that your printer or printer heads begin to suffer damage.

Voided Warranties

If you have a fairly new printer, it may still be covered under warranty when it is time to replace the ink and toner for the first time. Most printer companies specifically state that the warranty for your printer will be voided if you use printer ink and toner refill kits. This is due in part to the damage that is likely to be done because of the weakened cartridge.

Cost

While you may save a few dollars with each printer ink and toner refill, you may end up spending more money in the long run when you have to buy a new printer. Because of the reduced quality of the ink in most ink and toner refill kits, you will probably have to purchase refill kits after printing fewer pages than you would be able to print with a replacement cartridge. Additionally, you have to consider the cost associated with having the refill kits shipped to you.

Pricing

Finding Your Ink or Toner Price

Printer ink and toner costs vary depending on the equipment you use. The Apple Laserwriter Select 300, for example, uses cartridges that range in price from $70–$90. Finding the cost of a toner or ink cartridge for your printer or copier is as easy as looking online. For instance, 123Inkjets.com offers a variety of cartridges and toners for a multitude of machines. The types of ink and toner are broken up into sections for each company, so you can easily find your model.

Conclusion

When considering what types of printer (or printers) are best for your business, as well as whether printer ink or toner is best for you, it's probably best to start off by projecting how much you need to print in a given quarter or year, along with how important quality level is in your documents. You can save a lot of money with refill kits, but the quality level of the printing might not impress your customer base—if that's something that matters to your business. Determine whether printer ink or toner is a better fit for you. If having an environmentally conscious business is important to you and your company's image, you'll want to consider the recycling options available to you, especially mail-in options that save you time and money. Keep a close eye on how your printer use affects warranties on the machines. Online sources provide a wealth of information on pricing, so you can get exactly what's best for you.