Lexmark Printer Cartridge

Lexmark makes printers for a wide range of end users, from personal printing and small business printing to high-speed printing and oversized graphic printing. Having been in business only since 1991, it is no small feat that they have seized such a large market share. While not quite as big as HP and Canon, Lexmark has proven to be a serious competitor in the printing market.

OEM cartridges for Lexmark printers are a little more expensive on average than those for many Canon and Epson printers. Also, since they have less market share than their major competitors, the availability of remanufactured and new compatible cartridges is not as guaranteed. If you find a good replacement cartridge that saves you some money, buy it.

You may have heard of companies selling replacement cartridges with double the yields of OEM cartridges, or 50 percent better print quality, but for the most part, such statements are not true. While printer companies do inflate the costs of OEM cartridges, their products generally perform well. Usually, doubling a cartridge’s yield requires doubling the size of its reservoir. The main reason to buy third-party replacement cartridges is to save money, since prices are generally much better than those of OEM offerings.

Good remanufactured cartridges are quality checked for worn and failing parts before they are remanufactured and sold. This is not always the case, though, so ask before you buy. Compatible cartridges are wholly new cartridges, built to OEM specifications by different companies. Remans and compatibles also often come with at least a short guarantee against defects, which can ease your mind about the effectiveness of these cheaper cartridges.