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Beginner’s Guide to Buying Printer Cartridges Online

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live our lives and the way industries operate. Many now work from home rather than from offices and shops are encouraging online sales more than ever.

For this reason, sales of printer cartridges for at-home use have increased, and consumers are left without the purchasing advice of IT managers.

It might seem like a simple buying decision, but printer cartridges are deceptively complex and varied. Without the help of a knowledgable in-store expert, many people fall into the trap of purchasing the wrong cartridge.

Although, if you take the time to do your research, learning which cartridges are the best value for money and most suited to your needs is not a complicated task.

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To find out, read this beginner’s guide to buying printer cartridges online.

Cover The Basics

There are many things to consider when purchasing a printer cartridge for your home printer, but there are some basic factors you may not have considered.

Here are some of the key questions to ask when purchasing printer cartridges online:

  • Does the product have a warranty?
  • What is the returns process?
  • Will the order arrive in good time?
  • Does the company have a reliable customer service team if something goes wrong?
  • Is the cartridge suitable for my printer?

You may already know the answers to some of these questions, particularly if you are ordering from well-known online stores. However, it’s always a good idea to go through this checklist in case any policies have changed.

Choosing Between Branded and Remanufactured Cartridges

After you’ve covered the basics, choosing between branded and remanufactured printer cartridges is one of the biggest considerations to make when purchasing online.

Essentially, remanufactured toner cartridges are brand cartridges that have been recycled, professionally cleaned out, and refilled with non-branded toner. As these cartridges have been recycled, they are better for the environment and typically 30% cheaper than branded cartridges. Therefore, they are a popular choice for many consumers.

Remanufactured printer cartridges are tested to ensure that they have a compatible quality to their branded counterparts. However, some remanufactured cartridge providers sell subpar products that do not offer the same quality of brand products.

If you choose to purchase remanufactured products, ensure that the company is transparent about the product’s verifications and that the product has positive online reviews. Yoyoink offers a full range of high-quality verified remanufactured cartridges at low cost.

Make Sure You Don’t Purchase Counterfit Products

It can be easy to be swayed by cheap online prices, but be careful as some dealers sell counterfeit products.

If you make the mistake of buying knockoff printer cartridges, you are at risk of seriously damaging your printer. These products are made from cheap ingredients that erode the inner workings of your printer and can cause irreversible damage.

Counterfeit printer cartridges are often made with cheap inks, so the quality of your printed work is likely to be disappointing.

If you want to avoid knockoff products, here are some things to look out for:

  • Be wary of badly designed websites. If a website looks untrustworthy, the chances are it is. Most reliable companies spend time making their sites look appealing.
  • Avoid extremely cheap products. Everyone likes a good deal, but sometimes prices appear to be too good to be true. If you feel like a price is too good to be true, it probably is.
  • Look at the product descriptions. If the website doesn’t provide much information about the product, its best to avoid the company altogether.

Ask Someone For Advice

Just because you’re working from home, doesn’t mean you have to make these decisions all by yourself. If you’re feeling particularly confused about which printer cartridge you should buy, why not reach out to someone who has a better idea?

Even if you are working from home, asking a member of your company’s IT staff for purchasing advice is a great idea. Alternatively, ask a friend who knows a lot about the topic.

If you don’t know who to ask, there are plenty of online resources that can help you make the decision, just like this one.

The Bottom Line

As long as you’re following these steps, and taking the time to consider your decision, keeping your printer running smoothly should be an uncomplicated process.

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Get the latest news, resources and tips to help you and your small business succeed.

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