*NEWS*REFILL INK CTGS IS THE LATEST TREND

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Ink cartridges don’t die when the ink runs out
Refilling ink cartridges is the latest trend
NOV 06 There was a point in time, not too long ago, when the ordinary household or office printer cost a fortune for both managerial staff and the average shopper. (Those days, however, are long over.)It is now customary to purchase most types of printers at economical prices; some can even be bought at bargain basement cost levels. These printers have changed with the times and have become technically elevated with the movement, yet the prices are substantially smaller amounts than the times of yesteryear.The greatest expense in the printing industry is solely from the ink cartridges. That little cartridge is the key to the black-and-white copies or the coloured prints, and depending on how much and how frequently the printing is done, the more often it needs to be changed. A new trend has become an industry all of its own − stores that refill empty ink cartridges.The ink cartridge refilling industry has become a booming one in the last few years. Many strong leaders, in the now crowded marketplace, have emerged from the pack and imitators are now a dime a dozen. Customers buying this service, though, sometimes know little about the tune up they are receiving”One of the biggest benefits is that you save around 60 per cent off the price on what you would pay for a new cartridge,” said Nicole Azzi, manager of an Island Ink Jet location, one of the most popular and well-known chains in the ink cartridge retail market. “Another big benefit is that you are helping to save the environment since cartridges take thousands of years to decompose in landfills.” Azzi says that there are many misconceptions of refilling your ink cartridge. One is how long the process actually takes to be carried out. “It honestly takes only 20 minutes,” she said. She also says that the average cartridge can be refilled up to three or four times, depending on how regularly you use the cartridge. The more regularly you use it, the more times you can fill it. “If you are going to refill your cartridge, make sure you refill before the ink is all gone and dried out to make for more refills” said Azzi. Alfred Schall, a computer technologist with Abren Computing Services, has a slightly different view. When asked whether refilling is a good method, his answer is simple and succinct. “It is pretty much a combination of good and bad,” said Alfred candidly. “Sometimes, these companies do more damage than good. Sometimes, lower class stores use the wrong ink and can damage the printer, so you have to make sure the store where you get the refill at is a reliable and respectable one.” He was quick to point out that this practice can be a wealth of savings monetarily and environmentally.He also points out that refilling ink hurts the printer manufacturing industry, which has lowered printer prices since much of their money is made off of ink sales. The biggest risk he feels people should consider when refilling ink is that if the wrong ink is used, they suffer the chance of wrecking their printer; however, as long as you are diligent on your purchase, this can be avoided. Ink cartridge refilling is an industry that is growing continuously. In the end, its growth or decline will definitely depend on customer satisfaction, the quality of stores and the prices.

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November 6, 2006 at 12:03 PM