Do cheaper printer inks sold on Lazada work ok?

[WorriedNoodle]

I've got this old Epson Office 620F printer and notice on Lazada they don't sell any Epson inks for it like I might buy in OfficePro - but they do sell much cheaper 'unboxed' versions 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/epson-141-ink-cartridge-14-bkcmy-nobox-i100172720-s100206725.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.8.5de32aefrCs3k0&search=1

that look identical from packaging. Whats the catch if any?

 

Are they refurbished/refill cartridges and likely to fail, looking for experienced purchasers of this feedback please?

[OneMoreFarang]

One problem with ink is how long it is visible, especially with sunlight.

I have an Epson ink printer with ink which is approved for long time document storage. I am not sure if Epson uses that ink for all model.

Often cheap ink will look good enough right after the print - but maybe not after some time.

 

[WorriedNoodle]

Thanks for reply. In this case the stuff on Lazada is advertised as 'unboxed' Epson ink cartridges, and the packaging looking identical to the real product sold in boxes by Epson besides missing the boxed packaging.

 

I suppose at the 75% reduced prices by Lazada I cannot expect much - but they do sell it as Epson ink, so must not be a copy?

 

Previously when I bought copy generic branded ink cartridges for another (Canon) printer they leaked into printer and I had to replace print head, cheaper to buy a new printer in the end.

[OneMoreFarang]

46 minutes ago, WorriedNoodle said:

Thanks for reply. In this case the stuff on Lazada is advertised as 'unboxed' Epson ink cartridges, and the packaging looking identical to the real product sold in boxes by Epson besides missing the boxed packaging.

 

I suppose at the 75% reduced prices by Lazada I cannot expect much - but they do sell it as Epson ink, so must not be a copy?

 

Previously when I bought copy generic branded ink cartridges for another (Canon) printer they leaked into printer and I had to replace print head, cheaper to buy a new printer in the end.

Do you also buy a Rolex with 75% discount because the seller assures you it's real?

[Formaleins]

One other thing to think about before you go and buy cheaper inks, how much printing do you do?

I bought an Epson a few years back and had it modified to use cheapo external ink tanks. When I first bought it I was busily printing anything and everything just because I could and it was fantastic. Then as the novelty wore off I began to use it less and less. This is where the cheapo inks fall down. Unless you are using the printer on a regular basis the cheapo inks I had (and they were from about 4 different suppliers - so it was a varied selection) all ended up drying out in the ink cartridges and ruining the print heads. No amount of cleaning would fix it - I even had the heads out and washed in water /IPA vinegar, sunlight liquid - Nothing would fix em.

I have since stopped using them as I now hardly print anything. I use a Canon Pixma, but only ever fit the genuine horrifically overpriced ink cartridges (it only uses two thank God) but I can leave the cartridges in the printer for 6 months or more, and it will fire up and print perfectly on the first sheet.

The older Epson tank jobbie, used to need about 6 gallons of ink just to go through the head cleaning process and that was after a week or two - leave it any longer and the print heads were clogged as if with concrete.

[WorriedNoodle]

Thanks for feedback. Here's our experience. I bought the heavily reduced price Epson ink cartridges on Shopee in the end - but same price on Lazada. They were only 260THB whereas an original product I might have expected to cost over 1400THB for four Epson cartridges BCMY. They were delivered promptly by Kerry logistics courier and well packed. I couldn't see any difference between the cartridges and originals (except these were without boxes, just wrapped plastic but looked brand new). The chip on the new ones seemed to have slightly different circuit layout on some but when I put them in printer the Epson driver liked them and said the printer cartridges were all full again. However nothing would print correctly. A test page produced a faint Y and M output but no B or C at all, black prints came out blank. Gave up in end, didn't mind the cost loss as only 260THB as I wanted to test.

 

Now instead on buying new genuine Epson ink which is very hard to source for the 7 year old printer I bought a new Canon printer which costs about twice the cost of the Epson ink alone would have done but comes with tanks and about 10 times the volume of genuine Canon ink - so should last much longer(?). Will see how long this lasts, we don't print much either, just a shame the waste created having to change printers every few years... manufacturers should stop messing with formats/inks and make a color printer that lasts a lifetime.

[adammike]

Epson printers are well known for the print heads blocking when non Epson cartridges are used,even when i used Epson cartridges because I didn't use the printer much I used most of the ink on maintenance so I used cheap ink and it just stopped working.went to a print shop and sent them emails of my ticket and visa application forms perfect copies for a €1.If I ever get another printer it will be a black and white laser.

[ELVIS123456]

4 minutes ago, adammike said:

Epson printers are well known for the print heads blocking when non Epson cartridges are used,even when i used Epson cartridges because I didn't use the printer much I used most of the ink on maintenance so I used cheap ink and it just stopped working.went to a print shop and sent them emails of my ticket and visa application forms perfect copies for a €1.If I ever get another printer it will be a black and white laser.

Great advice.  Either use a print shop (very cheap in Thailand) or get a Laser printer. 

The ink in a Laser printer lasts a lot longer and the replacement ink is much much cheaper (per page printed).

If you do get a Laser printer then get a Xerox - if you cant afford a Xerox, then get HP, Brother or Canon.

 

 

[robblok]

1 hour ago, ELVIS123456 said:

Great advice.  Either use a print shop (very cheap in Thailand) or get a Laser printer. 

The ink in a Laser printer lasts a lot longer and the replacement ink is much much cheaper (per page printed).

If you do get a Laser printer then get a Xerox - if you cant afford a Xerox, then get HP, Brother or Canon.

 

 

I never knew laser printers used inkt.. I always thought they used toner. I guess they changed the process while i was not looking.

 

I have a laser printer I will never go back to ink, not sure if its cheaper but I just like it better. I don't have a color laserprinter. Just a black and white copier printer fax from HP.