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Remanufactured ink cartridges are used in printers. They are an alternative to buying new cartridges, refilling old ones or using a cartridge-refilling service.
Process
Empty printer cartridges are collected at office supply stores and through school fund-raising drives and returned to the manufacturer or a licensed remanufacturer. The cartridges are cleaned, refilled with ink, repackaged and sold.
Terminology
Remanufactured printer cartridges are also called "recycled" or "refilled" cartridges.
Advantages
Remanufactured ink cartridges are cheaper than new name-brand cartridges and are considered reliable for general, everyday printing.
Disadvantages
Remanufactured ink cartridges may not function well for technical, professional or detailed printing work. A study conducted by Quality Logic for printer manufacturer HP concluded that remanufactured cartridges have much higher rates of failure and malfunction.
Tip
"Compatible" cartridges -- new cartridges made by third parties to be compatible with name-brand printers -- are an alternative to remanufactured ink cartridges.
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