Debunking the Myths and Rumors about Compatible Toner

I remember, a couple of decades ago, a statement that a customer made. "Compatible, generic or aftermarket; it’s all the same garbage" (not the word he used!). It got me to thinking: The public really doesn’t understand the truth about compatibles, and sadly, neither does my wife! They know “garbage” when they see it or buy it. They know that they’ve been burned and they know that they’re unwilling or have enormous trepidation about re-involving themselves in it again. People still use compatible and generic as interchangeable terms. Hopefully this article will help dispel some of the myths, lies and rumors. 

What is a compatible?

Compatible, as defined by Merriam-Webster is:

• Capable of existing together in harmony <compatible theories> <compatible people>
• Capable of cross-fertilizing freely or uniting vegetatively
• Capable of forming a homogeneous mixture that neither separates nor is altered by chemical interaction.
• Capable of being used in transfusion or grafting without immunological reaction (as agglutination or tissue rejection)
• Designed to work with another device or system without modification; especially: being a computer designed to operate in the same manner and use the same software as another computer

By the very definition, compatible will always be, well, compatible, or as commonplace language, generic. On the other hand, generic will not always be compatible or necessarily a recommended alternative. Why? Simple. The drug industry took generic as its own to symbolize "being or having a nonproprietary name," or as once again Merriam-Webster states, "having no particularly distinctive quality or application."

Now that we've got the "What" clarified, we'll move on to the "Why" with stopovers at "When, Where, Who and How."

Why compatible?

The most obvious answer to this question would be economics. With the downturn of the dollar, and competition being fierce for copy clicks, compatible makes more sense than ever.

The following are some good points and rebuttals:

Is compatible toner cheaper than the OEM? 

No, it is less expensive, but definitely not cheaper. Most compatible manufacturers spend tens of thousands on R&D and intellectual property (IP) investigation before releasing new product. The savings that they generate are from the choice of raw materials, but more on that later.

Will using compatible toner void my warranty? 

No, it won’t, according to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975. This act gives consumers the right to purchase and use consumables at their discretion. There is however certain obligations that the consumer must be aware of. The machine or device must be maintained reasonably well and that if a compatible supply has irrefutably caused damage to the machine or device that the manufacturer has the right not to service it under the warranty agreement. But if the balance of the warranty is still in force, that is, that the warranty cannot be cancelled or modified for the balance of time remaining.

Is compatible toner poorer quality than OEM?

No, if anything it is just the opposite. Most compatible toners go through rigorous testing during the R&D process, then through the QC and QA processes. Compatible toner cannot only save money, but also can give better image quality and yield.

Aren't all compatible toners the same?

No. Buying from a reputable source will save you not only money, but time, aggravation and customers. Always ask your supplier what tests have been done to insure the quality of the product. Are these tests internationally (ASTM, STMC, etc.) recognized? Does the toner match the performance of the machine? And finally, take time to visit your supplier. Those that are truly involved with quality will not only be happy to show you their facility, but will be proud of it as well.

Why do compatible toner cartridges sometimes look different than the original?

One word: patents. In the last decade, manufacturers have become aware that a viable compatible toner industry has made great strides in the ability to understand the relationship of toner to machine. With these strides, or improvements, the OEM has looked for ways to slow down the compatible market trade. Under the guise of creating a cleaner delivery system, we went from a simple bottle to add toner, to the more complicated cartridge system. In most cases, this accomplished two things: a cleaner delivery system and a much more expensive delivery system. With the advent of program chips, what once was a simple task of opening and pouring in a bottle of toner became installing a toner delivery system. These chips, whether they completely shut down the machine or just caused reset errors, added another layer of research and development to the products. And finally, even the color of the cartridge parts can be construed as proprietary.

When do compatibles become available?

In the early 1970s when compatibles (mostly generics) started, most were for older models of photocopiers, usually between four and six years. There were of course characters of questionable repute who claimed to have the latest toners for the newest machines; usually these companies sold product only once before disappearing. 

By the early 1990s, compatible supplies had gained a solid reputation as a good alternative to older, out-of-production machines, still in the four-to-six year range. These toners were produced with little or no patents issued by the OEM. Quality manufacturers and suppliers now outnumbered the “fly-by-night” operators.

By the beginning of the millennium, almost all “fly-by-night” operators were gone. Compatible suppliers were now involved with intellectual property awareness due to the OEMs filing not only for toner, but cartridge shape, operation and design as well. The biggest change came in fact that the compatible market now had the resources to develop their product and have it in the marketplace in as little as a few months after the OEMs released new machines, with the average being eight months.

source: Rechargermag