Q&A

Why Refill Your Cartridge?

Almost all cartridges can be refilled. Some can be refilled multiple times. Refilling has the potential to save you hundreds of dollars over the life-time of your printer. You can save 50% or more over the cost of a new name brand cartridge simply by refilling the almost new, name brand cartridge that you already have. So why not refill your ink-jet cartridge?

Can using a refilled cartridge in my printer cause damage to my printer and/or void the warranty on my printer?

Under US laws, Magnusson-Moss Warranty Federal Commission Improvement Act (Subparagrpah C, section 101), it is prohibited for the manufacturer to void the printer’s warranty for use of a compatible or remanufactured cartridge.

What is a Remanufactured/Recycled Inkjet cartridge?

A remanufactured cartridge is a previously used cartridge that has been reconditioned and refilled so that it is reusable. The reconditioning process consists of draining residual ink, flushing the cartridge with a cleaning fluid and refilling it. The process should also include testing the print head, and running a print test on the refilled cartridge before it’s repackaged. Remanufactured cartridges are generally cheaper than cartridges sold by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

What is a compatible cartridge?

A compatible cartridge is one that has been manufactured by a third party (not the original equipment manufacturer). Compatible cartridges function like OEM cartridges but are usually much less expensive. You will not see compatible HP or Lexmark cartridges because the print heads on these cartridges are patented and cannot be reproduced by third parties. However, HP and Lexmark cartridges can be remanufactured.

How many times can a cartridge be refilled?

There’s no definitive answer to this question. The electronics (heating element, print-head etc.) will wear out with use. With good care it may be possible to refill a cartridge 3-6 times, sometimes more. But there’s no guaranty. INK STOP USA does make a promise to regular customers that when your cartridge wears out we will make every effort to find you a replacement at the cost of a refill. This may not always be possible but we will always make our best effort because we want to keep you as a customer. If you have spare cartridges for your printer it will give us time to locate a low cost replacements without inconveniencing you.

How do I increase the life of my cartridge?

The following are steps you can take to increase the life span of your ink-jet cartridge. No cartridge will last forever. But with care you can extend the life of your cartridge. The longer it lives the more money it will save you.

1. Don’t let your cartridge run out of ink. Cartridges contain resistors that produce heat as they fire. The ink is a cooling agent that protects the resistors from burning out. At the first sign that you may be running out of ink stop printing and remove the cartridge. Place it in a resealable bag (a sandwich bag) and/or replace the clip over the print head to keep it from drying out until you can bring it to INK STOP USA for refilling.

2. Get the cartridge refilled as soon as possible to keep drying ink from clogging the nozzles in the print head.

3. Use some of the money you save by having your cartridge refilled at INK STOP USA to purchase a spare cartridge. By doing so you will save yourself some inconvenience until your empty cartridge can be refilled.