 Many
people are unaware that not all toner
cartridges are created equal. The
most common misconception is that the
terms “new” and “OEM” are
interchangeable, when in fact they can
be quite different. To keep from
getting stuck with the wrong product
it is important to
understand the following distinctions when purchasing toner:
-
OEM (Original
Equipment Manufacturer) – These are entirely new MICR toner
cartridges* that have been manufactured
and approved by the manufacturer of the printer itself (sort of the
printer equivalent of “Genuine GM Parts” for your car). Typically,
these are the most expensive types of MICR toner cartridges, but they
also tend to be superior in quality to both “compatible” and
remanufactured MICR toner, and most importantly, with OEM MICR
cartridges you do not run the risk of voiding any service warranties
that you may have.
(* A Side
Note About OEM Cartridges: Some brands of OEM cartridges actually begin
as standard toner cartridges to fit the non-MICR version of the
printer. The standard toner is then removed and replaced with MICR
Toner. Since this can leave some residue of standard toner that can
affect the MICR signal strength, it can be argued that a “New
Compatible” cartridge is actually better than a refilled OEM cartridge.)
-
New Compatible – Compatibles,
like OEM cartridges, are 100% brand new, but they are typically not
approved by the MICR printer manufacturer. They are essentially
imitation products, much like buying the store brand ketchup instead of
Heinz. With some MICR toner cartridges, you can’t tell the difference,
but with others, it’s night and day. The same is true of Compatible
MICR toner cartridges – some are quite good and make fine and often
significantly less expensive substitute for an OEM MICR toner cartridge,
while others are clearly inferior in quality. The biggest issue,
however, is that although they can save you some money, using
Compatibles will often void the service warranties on your MICR
printers, regardless of the quality. For this reason, we recommend
checking with the manufacturer before using Compatible MICR cartridges.
Otherwise, you should be prepared to pay for service that might normally
be covered by your warranty.
-
Remanufactured
– This is a MICR toner cartridge that has been used, refilled with new
MICR toner, and re-sold – possibly with a new print drum or other
components as well. “Re-man” MICR toner cartridges are typically the
least expensive, but they also tend to be the poorest in terms of
quality, and will almost certainly be blamed by the service tech for any
printing problems that occur. MICR toner residue from the MICR
cartridge’s “previous life” can negatively affect print quality and
adhesion, and damage to the carcass can also cause printing problems.
However, depending on what you’re printing, buying Remanufactured MICR
toner can make sense, and will certainly cost less than either OEM or
New Compatible MICR toner cartridges.
There are valid arguments to be made for and against each
type of MICR toner cartridge, and for this reason, Relyco sells all
three types. We can’t make the decision for you, but as with most
products you get what you pay for in terms of quality. If you’re doing
an important job like printing checks, you should consider using OEM
MICR toner cartridges, especially if you’ve invested a lot in the
printer you’re using. On the other hand, with a more “down and dirty”
job such as printing internal reports, it might be more economical to
use New Compatible or Remanufactured MICR toner.
Still not sure which type of
cartridge is for you? Call or
email Relyco today to speak with an
experienced sales representative about your
application. We’ll be happy to help
make your decision an easier one! |
