Are shoppers for Epson ink cartridges best served by original or compatible options?
The Japanese electronics company Epson, less commonly known as Seiko Epson Corporation, has long attracted a strong reputation for the computer printers and imaging related equipment in which it specialises. This remains the case in more recent times, with the likes of the SX Series, S Series, RX Series, PX Series and more having attracted critical acclaim. However, for many of the home and business users of Epson printers, a key question begs to be asked… should one choose original or compatible ink cartridges?
Traditionally, it is the original, “genuine” Epson ink cartridges that have been easily the best choice if printing quality is the biggest priority. Indeed, this remains the case with most suppliers, although the most reputable third party companies should be able to supply compatible ink cartridges of such a high standard that the actual difference in print quality is barely discernible. Nonetheless, the original branded Epson ink cartridges remain the safest choice for those who need to print very important, image-heavy documents in high definition.
However, there are also many reasons for customers to carefully consider compatible cartridges when they are shopping for Epson printer ink. The best companies that specialise in these ‘remanufactured’ cartridges will, after all, have a high level in expertise, and will almost always be able to offer their cartridges at a lower cost than the official Epson equivalent. Indeed, the combination of often barely discernibly poorer print quality and the savings that can be made over time make compatible cartridges a good option when only less important, exclusively text-based documents – such as invoices – need to be printed.
There are other potential influences on the results that can be achieved by either original or compatible Epson printer ink cartridges, such as the quality of paper that is used. Nonetheless, in general, the above are good guidelines for ensuring the most suitable choice of ink cartridge for an Epson printer.
