Re: Recommendations for remanufactured cartridges

Dave C. wrote:
> I need a new HP97 color cartridge and considering a remanufactured one
> rather than a brand new one. What has been the experience with these
> vs new ones?
>
> Whatever I get, I would refill it myself as needed.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dave C

I've had some good luck with the #56 and #57 carts my printers use, and
I've had some that were duds out of the box. More so the duds lately,
but my experience is limited to just a couple of retailers. I had one
retailer, Omnipro, that started off great, but the last year or so the
tricolor carts were bad when opened or shortly went that way. The black
ones have been MUCH better. I believe they changed their source, and the
new one wasn't as good at testing and cleaning as the old one. Some
"remanufacturers" are just refillers in disguise.

A lot depends on how many times the cart has been re-used. If at all
possible, get some that have been "certified" as single-use carts.

I've started to buy expired but sealed carts on Ebay, and so far that's
worked OK. But, I've only done that with one cart, so perhaps that might
not always work so well, either. As with anything like this, YMMV.

TJ

Dave C. wrote:
>
> Thanks, TJ. I usually refill them myself. The last new one (HP) had
> only took two refills then it indicated bad and would not print.
> Previous ones I was able to refill a half dozen or more times. Maybe
> HP has somehow are trying to defeat the refilling.
>
> I think I will by a new cartridge from a local retailer (HP97, $39.95)
> and see how the refilling goes. If I continue to have limited
> refilling, I can always but new ones online for a few dollars less.
>
> I notice that there are HP97s on sale for $10.95 or so? What is the
> story on these, maybe they old and beyond the expiration date.
>

If they are "genuine" HP carts, they probably are expired. They should
be OK if not too old. I think the carts are warrantied about six months
beyond the date on the box, but don't quote me on that as I'm not sure.

If they aren't in "genuine" boxes, or at least in the HP sealed bag,
then they are most likely "remanufactured."

I have successfully refilled one HP #57 cart over two dozen times, but I
get far fewer than that with the remanufactured carts. My bulk ink is
getting very, very old, however, and that may be part of the problem. I
regularly get a couple of dozen refills on the black #56 cart, but my
black ink is much newer.

TJ