Due to fictitious warnings and alerts from manufacturers, as well as false information being passed around the internet, many consumers avoid the purchase of compatible and remanufactured ink cartridges. This false information informs consumers that using cartridges other than those produced by original equipment manufacturers (OEM) will void their printer warranty. If you have used compatible or remanufactured ink cartridges, you may have seen the warning messages pop up on your computer after the installation of such a cartridge. So, can printer manufacturers really void your printer warranty for not using their specific brand of ink cartridges? The answer is No, they cannot. In fact, it was established to be illegal by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as stated in the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Federal Commission Improvement Act. Basically, the attempt of manufacturers to require the use of their supplemental products is restraint of trade and an effort to control the market. This means that consumers are free to choose whatever print cartridges they want, and manufacturers cannot void a warranty as a result.

On the other hand, if the printer becomes damaged due to the use of compatible and remanufactured cartridges, as well as refill kits, the repair of such damages will not be covered by the warranty. In this case, your printer warranty will still cover other damages that were not a result of the ink cartridges. It is up to the manufacturer to prove, undoubtedly, that the damage was truly caused by the use of non-OEM cartridges. Most compatible and remanufactured cartridge manufacturers today produce their products based on ISO 9001 standards. This means that these products have met quality standards and have a reduced likelihood of damaging your printer. With the reduced costs of such components and the high quality provided, these items are something to seriously consider when shopping for replacement cartridges.

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