How to Spot Counterfeit Ink

Posted by Ann Barr in Customer Service | no responses

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Like fake watches, fake sneakers, and fake Picasso drawings, counterfeit ink is designed to look like the real thing–in this case, ink sold by big-name printer manufacturers such as HP, Canon, or Epson. At best it is inferior to the real McCoy, producing lower-quality images. At worst, it jams and leaks, damaging your printer.

Don’t confuse counterfeit ink with off-brand or discount ink, which is made to spec by honest companies and can be a viable, inexpensive alternative to brand-name ink. But whereas discount ink makers are looking for happy, long-term customers, counterfeiters are looking for hit-and-run profits. Protect your printer and your wallet by following these simple precautions.

Source: Mark Shea, PCWorld

Mind the Vendor

Buy ink only from retailers you trust. Anonymous online deals may be enticing, but what can you do if some seller you don’t know sends you a fake ink cartridge? Reputable retail stores are sometimes duped into selling counterfeits, but at least you’ll have some recourse if the ink you receive turns out to be fake.

Examine the Packaging

For years, printer companies have been adding seals–holographic or otherwise–to verify the authenticity of the products they sell. Tilt the box and see whether the security seal behaves in the way the manufacturer says it should. Many major printer sellers, such as HP, offer help on their Websites in identifying their genuine packaging.

Examine the Cartridge

Original vendor products never have ink splashed on the exterior of the cartridge or inside the box. There should be no black toner dust or damage to the cartridge either. Original products have pull-tab tape seals–sometimes several–across the ink ports.

Watch for Substandard Quality and Quantity

Fake cartridges often leak, clog, and print in inaccurate colors or distorted text. Keep an eye on the quality of your printer’s output. If it looks bad, especially out of the box, contact the manufacture about the potential counterfeit. The printer industry has a major financial stake in keeping fake cartridges off the street, so you can expect prompt customer service. Also, keep track of the number of pages you print per cartridge: Any sharp decline in page count with a new cartridge is a sign that something is amiss.

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/212183/how_to_identify_counterfeit_ink.html

Finding Aftermarket Printer Ink

The aftermarket for printer ink can be a tricky place to shop. Third-party cartridges cost less than the manufacturers’ brands–which is why people buy them. But it can be a lot harder to tell whether a third-party vendor sells high-quality ink products.

One time-tested method is to shop at an established retailer (online or brick-and-mortar) that guarantees the quality of its products. But finding third-party ink for your specific printer model can be a challenge, particularly if your unit is very new, very old, or not very popular. Before driving around town to find the right cartridge, do a little homework online. At today’s insane gas prices, you could end up spending $20 on fuel just to save $10 on an ink cartridge.

Check out our Weekly Sales Tips Sponsors: ACM Technologies and InkForYourPrinter.com for top-quality, reliable cartridges.

About The Author

Ann Barr is a telesales marketing success coach with a passion for teaching. She loves helping people who are starting out in new telesales careers and working with experienced sales reps who are looking for new ideas and tips. In addition to presenting monthly e-classes, she writes and edits direct-mail marketing letters and emails for clients. Sign up today for Ann’s free Weekly Sales Tips and get marketing tips and ideas to increase your sales!