Original vs Remanufactured vs Compatible/ Refilled/ Recycled

Toner Cartridges

When Laser Printer & Toner Cartridge first introduced in our country

In past years, whatever people named it, there is only original versus the local recycled toner cartridges.

Is the original must be new/ invulnerable of defection in any terms? It’s actually not, as manufacturers of printer themselves claimed to be responsible to environment friendly, in other word, recycling & reused their product. There is still possibility of original product would defected, of course a lot less than local made.

Back in early of 90s, locally made recycled toner cartridge are mostly refilled product, as this product are welcoming by markets of it’s price, 50% cheaper than the original. The margin for recycled cartridge maker is 200% by that time. 

The honey moon period of recycled cartridge maker ends up fast, as many people seeing this opportunity & get started this business. When demands vs supply imbalance, recycled cartridge maker started to seek of other solution.

Whether improve of quality, or increased of quantity (as in selling at really low price). Here’s local cartridge maker headed on a junction, and departed towards different destination.

Heading towards different way

Those chosen quality started R&D, installed equipment & setup a proper recycled cartridge manufacturer lines, through product quality to maintain their reputation & market shared, even their margin has already lowered by 100% compare to honey moon period. Here’s where a real remanufactured toner cartridge started selling to end user. 

At the other side, who had chosen quantity, through a pricing strategy to attract end user. As most end user unable to tell whether the product is good/ bad, as long as whenever it print it produced image, the “notorious” refilled product keep selling to market, tagged with “remanufactured” name, as taking a free flight, and they are getting 150% of margin still.